Which basic video card to play WoW?

[yh]

Hello all,

I currently own a Dell computer system I bought 3-5 years ago.

My current spec's are:

processor: P4 2.6? (When I check from Windows XP, it sez 2.53.)
ram: 512 MB (I don't know the type other than it is DDR.)
video card: GeForce MX 420 64 MB

I have used my computer for games, but stopped playing FPSs since the first counterstrike. I now mostly play MMOs such as Guild Wars and World of Warcraft at 1024x768 res. on the lowest settings (25-45 FPS).

This has been fine with me forawhile, but now I am itching for better graphics I am also only looking for a cheap, temporary solution until I either buy a Xbox360 or build my first computer.

Could you suggest any cheap, but decent video cards please?

The current choices at a local retailer (TigerDirect.ca) are:

(under $50 Cnd)
GeForce 4 MX 4000, FX 5200 128 MB
Radeon 9250 128 MB

(under $100 Cnd)
GeForce FX 5500, 6200 128-256 MB
Radeon 9250, 9550 128-256MB

My goal is to get the lowest (hence cheapest) model of the above video cards just so I can play WoW at 1152x768 at medium to high settings with a min. 30 FPS.

Looking forward to your opinions. Much thanks in advance.

(( Long post, I know. Just thought the more details I give you, the better you guys can help me. ))

 

[courtney4]

dont get one of those cards from your local retailer. They seem quite expensive. I would recommend a radeon 9800 pro or a gefroce 6600GT. But they might be over your budget.

 

[cardcrash]

Yeah, hunt around and you ought to be able to find a 6600GT within your budget, they've come down in price alot lately. A standard 6600 will almost certainly fit your price range.

I'm from the UK and got myself a Gainward 6600GT 128MB DDR3 with EXPERTool for £79 the other day, which is pretty damn cheap here. That was from ebuyer and I didn't spend that much time looking around.

Try ebay, might find yourself a fantastic deal there, I got an X700 Pro 128MB for £50 inc. p&p, but decided to sell it in the end in favour of the said 6600GT above.

 

[Timbob87]

Take into consideration what your power supply can handle, also. I've done a good bit of researching the topic of video card/PSU compatibility and have recently put a 6600 GT in my Sony Vaio with a 305W PSU (which is running fine, by the way). However, I only have one HDD, one optical and 4 sticks DDR RAM.

Here's a link for a PSU calculator...

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

If you are able to use a 6600 GT, I can guarantee that you will be able to go back to playing FPS's.

Have fun!

 

[yh]

I hope you guys noticed that the prices I gave were in Canadian.

The 6600 GT was one of my first choices, also recommended by a friend, but after looking around the cheapest one I could find was one at $180 (Best Buy sells for $250.) Maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places?

(( Can someone explain to me why Best Buy is selling the 9800 Pro AIW selling for $400? Whereas a 7800 GT online for less...))

Nevertheless, $180 is way above my budget, as I don't want to buy a 6600 GT now only to buy a better video card for a new computer 2 months down the road.

Will any of the other video cards be decent enough to run WoW?

 

[yh]

I'll try to look for one.

Hey, I noticed you're using the 9550... How is that?

 

[mopeygoth]

Geforce3 64mb should be fine, wow has shitpoor graphics and should run on just about any card. People are running it fluently on FX5500 which are on par just a GF3. You should mind getting 1.5GB+ ram instead

 

[jeremy_pro]

I,ve read in some THG article that WOW is more ram demanding game. plain 6600 and 512 mb ram is my advice.

 

[Elminster]

yeah my wife and I went from 512 per machine to 1 gig a piece and it was like night and day on WOW, it is very ram intensive, not so much video

 

[doglips]

Hey try Newegg.com they have 6600GT for about $139.00

 

[spontayo]

I've got an MSI RX9800 pro which has the same core as the more expensive 9800xt that I would sell you for $100. Price is negotiable.

 

[Preecher]

Double your system memory. I run an intel 2.23 with a nvidia 6800 and I was still having issues until I bumped my memory from 512 to 1gig. Once I did that I am able to play wow at 1600x1200 with most effects on (except during raids where I need to turn alot of crap off [15+ peeps casing spells at the same time can kill fps]).

If you still have problems after memory increases, then try a new vid card.

Peace

 

[Preecher]

But yea your GeForce MX 420 64 MB kind of sucks. Get something with 128mb ram on it that supports DX9.0. Many of the above posts recommend decent cards. I personally prefer nvidia but thats just me. ATI is just as reputable.

 

[jeremy_pro]

I meant an extra 512 ram to add to his rig and a plain 6600. My bad.

 

[dvdpiddy]

the x1300 or the 7300gs