I'm planning on making one last upgrade to this computer so that it lasts me about a year longer. I want to put a new AGP graphics card in my computer that costs less than $100. So far, the ATI 1650, and Nvidia 7600 look just about right for me, but I can't really choose one. I've heard bad things about the ATI drivers being really unreliable and unstable so that was the main reason I wouldn't go with them (but the card is about $65). The 7600 on the other hand is about $80 after rebate, and has a lifetime warranty. Please tell me what you would do and why. Thanks in advance.

Current Specs:
AMD 3800+ X2
1GB DDR400 RAM
MSI K8T Neo2
Enermax 535W PSU
GeForce 4MX (6800 broke)

Currently out of stock, but if you are a gamer, this is by far the best AGP gaming card $100 (USD) can buy. It literally offers over twice the performance of anything else in it's price range(including the 7600GT) in some of the newer games (when not using fsaa).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102711

check out some performance links:
UT3 - http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] i=3128&p=4
HL2 ep2 - http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] i=3122&p=3
TF2 - http://www.legionhardware.com/docu [...] id=691&p=2
Crysis - http://www.legionhardware.com/docu [...] id=698&p=2
MOH:Airborne - http://www.legionhardware.com/docu [...] id=683&p=2


New drivers are fine, there are hotfix ones available for older drivers. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this card because some people have been driver challenged. As for ATI AGP drivers as a whole, that's just not true. I have owned an AGP X1650 pro and X1650XT for almost a year (edit: actually over a year), and have not had any driver related nightmares with either.

Thanks for all of the links, I never knew that the 2600 series performed that good. Now you got me really interested in purchasing one, I hope it is back in stock soon. Do you think I should maybe wait a month or two before I buy anything though? Because I hear that the Nvidia 9600 will be coming out soon and prices for video cards will be dropping, but I'm not sure if it'll affect AGP video cards.

It probably won't.

The thing to remember with the HD2600XT is that it often does great without fsaa but not when enabling fsaa. Without fsaa, it can almost keep up with the X1950 pro (sometimes equal, sometimes behind). But with fsaa, the X1950 pro leaves it behind. But you won't find the X1950 pro in AGP for $100. But, in newer demanding games, is fsaa really a big concern when talking about sub $100 AGP cards? IMO no not really. Older games it should do ok, newer demanding ones (crysis for example) no AGP card for the price will have power to spare for fsaa.


I don't think AGP prices will drop. Supply of X19x0 series and GF79x0 series AGP cards has basically dried up. The new top dog HD3850 is quite a bit more expensive, and the HD2600XT has already been dropping for a while. Also, I don't think anyone else sells these for near $100 like Newegg.

IMO Nothing below the 3850pro is even worth looking at atm. The difference between spending £20 - £30 more is literally double the performance.


The 2600's shouldnt really be looked at as they are soon to be replaced.

Hatman, he is on AGP and wants a $100 or less card. The 3850 AGP is over $200, and the HD2600XT is by far the $100 AGP leader in games.

Make sure you go for the 2600XT, not the Pro. GDDR3 versus GDDR2 is the main benefit. The prices don't seem to be too much different either.

I was looking at the 2600XT for a last-ditch upgrade to my AGP system, but I decided to go for a new system, which I'm going to do now.

However, your PC's better than my AGP one. Get the 2600XT, and if you can afford it, get another 1GB RAM, should keep you going.