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Cheap AGP Card

Dr Zoidberg

Dr Zoidberg

Dr Zoidberg

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
710
Location
Somerset
I am looking to replace a radeon 8500 AGP card in a system with a cheap second hand card that has more up to date features,

Main thing being shader model, the 8500 is shader model 1
UT3 i think needs at least shader model 2

I dont want or need UT3 to play in all its greatness i just want it to play on this system,

Having a hunt around the bargain graphics card world i have found sveral models and was wondering which would rate higher at this level.

All cards are 256mb memory,

I have found the following
Radeon
X800 Pro
9550
9600
9800 Pro
9800SE
X1300
X700

Geforce
6200

all around the £20 mark,

I am assuming the X1300 would be the better radeon, but is this better or worse than the Geforce 6200?

The prices i am looking at are < £30

I am really out of touch with graphics cards as you can probably tell from the fact i still use a 8500 :D
 
x800 Pro is BY FAR the best there.

It's about 3-4 times more powerful than any other card there, with the exception of the 9800Pro where its about twice as fast.

The x1300 and 6200 cards are the weakest of the lot IIRC.
 
Thanks

How do the X1650 Pro or X1600 Pro both with 512mb stand up in that list?

I am assuming a lot better but then my last assumption was wrong
 
If they're DDR3 they're roughly the same speed as the X800Pro, but support SM3, which allows them to run a few newer games the X800 can't. The X1650XT card is faster. DDR2 cards are a bit slower than the X800.
To be honest you'll likely be very happy with an X1650 or X800Pro as long as they work fine, as they're about 5 times faster than your old card (which is about equivalent to a 9200). The x1650 should be capable of playing just about anything out, as you don't seem to mind skimping on resolution or settings.

ATI Cards series wise -

Generation Performance Band
X800 Pro 2 Generations Old High/Enthusiast End Part
9550 3 Generations Old Low-Midrange Part
9600 3 Generations Old Midrange Part
9800 Pro 3 Generations Old High/Enthusiast Part
9800SE 3 Generations Old Mid-Highrange Part
X1300 1 Generation Old Low End Part
X700 2 Generations Old Mid-End Part
X1650 1 Generation Old Midrange Part

This might help you -

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html

Tom's isn't brilliant for reviews, but there are worse out there, and the comparison chart can be really useful, the X800XL is closest card there to the pro, but is a bit stronger, so knock 10-20% off its score to get a Pro score.

Dons, I think linking this is ok, as the advertising is all for american sites, so not in competion with OcUK, if there's any issue, please remove it.
 
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The X16 cards i was looking at apear to be DDR2 so i think i will stick with the X800's

I dont mind skimping on res and settings - as long as it plays, and it will make games my 8500 can run look/play better,

I dont think SM3 is a must have for me, i have got away until now with SM1 so by the time i need SM3 it will probably be at SM5 any way :D
And i might have made the move to PCIE.

Time to go X800Pro Hunting in time for Xmas

Thanks for all the help
 
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