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  Tom's Hardware Forums » Graphic & Displays » Graphics Cards » Best Card For Around $30
 

Best Card For Around $30

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 Thread : Best Card For Around $30
 
ishmoo21
Profile: stranger
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n°1859171
08-29-2008 at 12:52:03 PM

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

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Wolfshadw
Profile: addict
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n°1859188
08-29-2008 at 02:48:46 PM

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


Message edited by Wolfshadw on 08-29-2008 at 02:51:52 PM

---------------
System Specs:
ASRock 939Dual-SATAII/AMD X2 4800+/2 Gig RAM
NVidia Geforce 8800GTS-640/Creative X-FI Extreme Music/XP-64
zenmaster
Profile: Eternal Poster
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n°1859190
08-29-2008 at 02:56:40 PM

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.


---------------
If its good in theory but not in practice,
its not good theory.
rodney_ws
Profile: Faithful Poster
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n°1859191
08-29-2008 at 02:57:49 PM

$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
Profile: Honorary Poster
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n°1859192
08-29-2008 at 03:04:52 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121082
but the integrated graphics should be fine

jtt283
There is ALWAYS a drone.
Profile: Ancient Poster
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n°1859193
08-29-2008 at 03:07:49 PM

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/Prod [...] 6814121259
=================
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.


---------------
There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
annisman
Jesus has set me free.
Profile: addict
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n°1859194
08-29-2008 at 03:08:01 PM

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


---------------
"trying to compare piracy to some sort of noble Robin Hood-esq defense of the poor is just retarded" -PurpleRat

 
ishmoo21
Profile: stranger
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n°1859232
08-29-2008 at 05:45:47 PM

here's the system

Lite-On 20X - $22 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106228

Corsair XMS2 2GB RAM - $36 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145590

MSI MBOX K9N6SGM Barebone - $95 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6856167009

Radeon HD 2600XT - $20 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121082

Western Digital Caviar SE HD 160GB - $42 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136075

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ - $66- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103211

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
Profile: stranger
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n°1859242
08-29-2008 at 06:17:09 PM

Check newwegg for this 8600Gt at $49.99:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-NA-_-NA

terror112
Ninja Vanish!!
Profile: addict
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n°1859244
08-29-2008 at 06:31:40 PM

2600XT should be faster than 3450.


---------------
// Intel C2D E6750 @ 3.2ghz 1.35v // Asus P5K P35 // 2gb Patriot 1000mhz // Sapphire HD4850 @700core 1100mem // Antec neo 500 HE // Antec 900 // SB X-FI // WD 250gb Sata-2 //
halcyon
The Order Odonata - We do what we must
Profile: Faithful Poster
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n°1859245
08-29-2008 at 06:32:49 PM

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?


---------------
Yes, I use an Intel Quad. Sometimes its a little overclocked, sometimes a bit underclocked. Yet, its always nice, the virtualiztion is sick. And?
ishmoo21
Profile: stranger
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n°1859285
08-29-2008 at 08:32:26 PM

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.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by ishmoo21 on 08-29-2008 at 08:36:13 PM
halcyon
The Order Odonata - We do what we must
Profile: Faithful Poster
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n°1859295
08-29-2008 at 09:04:13 PM

ishmoo21 wrote :

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.


---------------
Yes, I use an Intel Quad. Sometimes its a little overclocked, sometimes a bit underclocked. Yet, its always nice, the virtualiztion is sick. And?
ishmoo21
Profile: stranger
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n°1859306
08-29-2008 at 09:27:21 PM

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
Profile: newbie
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n°1859463
08-30-2008 at 02:13:26 PM

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