help with graphics card

[funkyspaceman]

Hi all, I hope you can help me.

I want to buy a new graphics card. I can use either an AGP 4x or PCI graphics card. I am aware that if I use an AGP 8x card in my AGP 4x slot, the card will run at the slower speed. Which would be faster, AGP 4x or PCI, and by how much? My pc's PSU is only a 250w supply, and I know that most of the 'better' graphics cards need at least a 300w/350w PSU.
My current graphics card is a Geforce2 MX400 64MB - AGP.

The graphics cards I am interested in are:

GEFORCE FX 5500 256MB DDR DVI TV - AGP
GEFORCE FX 5200 256MB DDR DVI TV - AGP
GEFORCE FX 5200 256MB Ddr Dvi & Tv Out - PCI

Which of the above cards would I benefit from the most?

My pc's specifications are:

Intel Pentium 4 2.2GHz
512Mb RAM
1x200Gb Hard Disk
1x80Gb Hard Disk
DVDRW Drive
CDRW Drive
250w PSU
Windows XP Home

Thanx for any help received!

funkyspaceman

 

[P90]

before u spend loads of money why not get an new pc like this one "Primo Vantage" Intel Pentium IV 630 'Prescott' 3.0GHz (800FSB) Hyper Threading DDR System (FS-002-OK) £340.69 and have an look at the other full pc range as well. could be just what u need if u play games a lot or not.

 

[Curio]

My advice would be to forget the GF 5xxx ones you've listed there as they're rubbish, frankly. Forget the fact they have 256MB RAM - you don't need it for that machine. Try and get hold of either an ATi 9600XT AGP 128MB (or 9600 pro) or a GF 5700 Ultra AGP instead. They'll be a good match for the rest of your system and be a nice upgrade over what you currently have. They also use very little power and your PSU should be fine.

 

[Mitch007]

What make of PC (or motherboard) have you got and what's your card budget?

I'd look at an auction site and look at the best card to get for the money you want to spend... check-out toms hardware.com and look at theri graphics card compare charts, that include the GeForce Ti4200 and select best from the pile you can afford from the auction site.

A 5500/5200 will check in at about 30-40 quid, you can get a Ti4200 or even better ATI 9700 pro for that at auction
and go AGP, PCI 5200's is slow.