Best Card For Around $30

[ishmoo21]

I'm going to be building a computer for my mom and the motherboard I have picked out has integrated nvidia 6100 graphics but I don't want to give her just that but I also dont want to add alot to the cost of the system. The only thing I could really find is a nvidia 8400gs for $30. Is there anything from ati thats better or anything that's more bang for my buck? Thanks

 

[Wolfshadw]

What's mom going to be doing that requires more than just onboard graphics? In my opinion, the only reason to get such a low-end card is:

1) The motherboard you've chosen does not include onboard graphics
2) The onboard graphics have failed.

- Wolf queries

 

[zenmaster]

A $30 is not going to do much more than an integrated card.

The Mobo you are selecting is quite old since 6100 Graphics have been around for about 3+ years now. You might be better off with a Dell.

Can you List the Budget, Your Current Build List, and what you want to do with it.

 

[rodney_ws]

$30 (especially when talking about new cards) ain't gonna get you much over what modern IGPs already do. I imagine a card like the 8400GS would help out if you're using Vista's Aero interface, but it probably wouldn't be anything dramatic.

 

[dirtmountain]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121082
but the integrated graphics should be fine

 

[Onus]

I was looking for something similar for a machine I plan to donate. I may use this:
ASUS EAH3450/DI/256M Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Low Profile Video Card - Retail $20 after $10 MIR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121259
=================
Two more reasons to go with such a low-end card over integrated, 1) you want HDMI which isn't on the IGP, and 2) you want to preserve your system's memory.

 

[Annisman]

If he is building one w/ windows Vista then a vid card can be a helpful pickup, otherwise I don't think it matters.

 

[ishmoo21]

here's the system

Lite-On 20X - $22 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827106228

Corsair XMS2 2GB RAM - $36 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820145590

MSI MBOX K9N6SGM Barebone - $95 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16856167009

Radeon HD 2600XT - $20 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814121082

Western Digital Caviar SE HD 160GB - $42 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822136075

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ - $66- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819103211

I made the switch to a Radeon HD 2600XT but would this Radeon HD 3450 you sugguested be better? and what do you guys think of the system?

 

[stevieheath]

Check newwegg for this 8600Gt at $49.99:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085&nm_mc=AFC-hardOCP&cm_mmc=AFC-hardOCP-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA

 

[terror112]

2600XT should be faster than 3450.

 

[halcyon]

What is is, precisely, that your mother would be doing/using that integrated graphics isn't strong enough for?

As was posted above, I'd think you'd need something strong enough to run Vista's Aero interface, now, or in the future, but beyond that what are you trying to accomplish with a discrete card?

Your mom may want reliability, responsiveness, ease of use, quiet computing, energy efficiency, reasonable audio, and perhaps even the ability to play the simplest of games? How is a discrete card going to impact this?

 

[ishmoo21]

I will be installing Vista on it so I need something that will be able to run the Aero interface and sometimes she plays games like the Sims and I'm just wondering if integrated graphics will be ok for the Sims 2 or Sims 3. I'm just trying to replace the computer she has now while spending not alot of money but I also want it to be able to last her for awhile. Right now she is running a 933mhz Pentium 3 with 348 mb of Ram and Windows ME.

 

[halcyon]

I will be installing Vista on it so I need something that will be able to run the Aero interface and sometimes she plays games like the Sims and I'm just wondering if integrated graphics will be ok for the Sims 2 or Sims 3. I'm just trying to replace the computer she has now while spending not alot of money but I also want it to be able to last her for awhile. Right now she is running a 933mhz Pentium 3 with 348 mb of Ram and Windows ME.

Good info, your mom likes to play the SIMS...cool. ...that coupled with the use of Vista's aero interface does justify, IMO, something better than low-end integrated graphics.

...and 2600XT should be more than enough...are those quiet cards though? ...because you don't want your mom asking you why her new computer sounds like a vacuum cleaner when she fires up the SIMS.

 

[ishmoo21]

Idk... I was hoping someone on here maybe had a Radeon 2600XT before and could let me know if its quite or not

 

[Paris Lee]

in the case used by your mom
why not build the system with althlon*2 5000+ and 790GX
this would be much more better than nvidia 6100