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Upgrade video card of old desktop PC.

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hwUser   01-14-2009 at 05:34:55 PM

Hello,

I need to upgrade video card of old desktop PC.
I tried "PNY NVIDIA GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 AGP" graphics card.

I'm looking for a new or used card BETTER than above "GeForce 6200 256MB" which is :
1. AGP
2. Economical - below $50 (I understand it means that card might not be of current generation)
3. Should have 3D Accelerated Video with 256Mb (512MB preferred) dedicated video memory & Pixel Shader 3.0 support.


Is "PNY NVIDIA GeForce 6200 256MB" card BETTER than ATI Radeon 9600 and NVidia Geforce Ti4200 ? By how much ?

I saw this card "Visiontek Radeon X1300 XGE 512MB AGP DDR2 Video Card" at: http://www.buy.com/prod/visiontek-ra...209199998.html.
Please compare it with "PNY NVIDIA GeForce 6200 256MB" ?


Please also suggest new/used video cards, meeting 3 criteria.


Thank You.

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dirtmountain   01-14-2009 at 09:08:01 PM
- 0 +

One thing that will help you is this graphic card hierarchy chart which shows the different relative power of graphic cards. It includes cards that are PCIex16 along with AGP cards, so make sure a specific card is available (many aren't) in AGP.
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 118-7.html

another thing you have to take into account is how much power each specific graphic card needs, some have high power requirements which might require you to also upgrade the power supply of your system.

The X1300, 6200, Ti4200 and ATI 9600 all perform at about the same level.
You might be able to find a HD2600 PRO or a HD2600 XT or a HD3650 at your budget... but i couldn't as those would be what i'd recommend.

Reply to dirtmountain
nerdnic   01-15-2009 at 01:29:59 AM
- 0 +

Best card for just under $50:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131134

If you can spend a few more dollars this card will be a lot better:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131136

Both of these cards meet your 3 standards.

Reply to nerdnic
hwUser   01-15-2009 at 05:27:54 AM
- 0 +

Thanks!

Is this the ranking in decreasing order of performance ?
* POWERCOLOR AG3650 512MD2 Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP
* POWERCOLOR HD2600XT 512M AGP Radeon HD 2600XT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP
* SAPPHIRE 100175L Radeon X1650PRO 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP
* POWERCOLOR X1650PRO 256/64 AGP Radeon X1650PRO 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 AGP
* ASUS AH3450/HTP/256M Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X (slowest ?)


Message edited by hwUser on 01-15-2009 at 06:15:43 AM
Reply to hwUser
nerdnic   01-15-2009 at 06:00:03 AM
- 0 +

3650 and 2600xt will be close, the ddr3 versions will be faster, though. 1650pro with 64bit ddr2 is slower than a the one with 128bit. Then there is the 3450.

Reply to nerdnic
hwUser   01-15-2009 at 06:25:43 AM
- 0 +

Thanks. So "ASUS AH3450/HTP/256M Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit" is slowest ?

Radeon HD 3450 is not listed in http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 118-7.html ?

Reply to hwUser
nerdnic   01-15-2009 at 06:31:07 AM
- 0 +

It's there. In the same level as the 9800pro.

If memory servers me correct, it is pretty much the same as a 4350, which is listed on the same level as a 2400xt.

Reply to nerdnic
boulard83   01-15-2009 at 06:09:35 PM
- 0 +

POWERCOLOR X1650PRO 512M 40$ after MIR

512MB 128-bit GDDR2 best you can get i think.

Seems to be the best Deal ... already listed from someone. Have fun with this "updgrade" !!!


Message edited by boulard83 on 01-15-2009 at 06:10:17 PM
------------------------------ __________________________Le Québécois_________________________
WCed Q9550 EO + P5Q @ 3.825ghz / HTPC - E5200 + P5Q @ 3.3ghz
BFG GTX285 OC2 + PC P&C 750w . / HIS HD4850 with Sharp 42" 1080p
 Reply to boulard83
evongugg   01-15-2009 at 08:07:57 PM
- 0 +

Radeon™ X1650 PRO AGP- Specifications

350-Watt power supply or greater

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeon [...] specs.html

------------------------------ Google is your friend and Bob's your uncle
 Reply to evongugg
hwUser   01-15-2009 at 11:44:47 PM
- 0 +

Someone recommended staying away from x1k, x2k series ?

Is it true that HD2600 is several times more powerful than the 3450 ?

Reply to hwUser
nerdnic   01-20-2009 at 12:01:31 AM
- 0 +

The x1 series is just old. The HD2 series didn't bring much to the table, they ran hot, used a lot of power, and were quite underwhelming. Though, the 2600 is a decent entry card and is much faster than the 3450.

Reply to nerdnic
megamanx00   01-20-2009 at 08:10:20 AM
- 0 +

The 3650 is pretty much the same as the 2600 series cards but it uses less power and adds support for DX 10.1 (big whoop :??: ). The 2600XT card is a little faster than the 3650 as it has higher clocks, but it also uses considerably more power.

------------------------------ Playing X-Men Origins: Wolverine Athlon 64 X2 5000+ @3.24 Brisbane | GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-DS4 | 4GB Mushkin DDR2 1066 | Plextor 760A| 2x 3850 512M CF| WD 1TB Black| Fortron Blue Storm II 500W | APEVIA X-Dreamer Black | Win XP Pro & Vista Buisness 32bit
 Reply to megamanx00
hwUser   01-21-2009 at 03:27:25 PM
- 0 +

Thanks.
I found this article about Radeon HD 2600 XT: http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 118-6.html

So 2600XT or 3650 ?

Which is nVidia card comparable to "Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP" ? 7600 gt ?
If a choice should I buy nVidia or ATI in this class ?


Message edited by hwUser on 01-23-2009 at 04:15:14 PM
Reply to hwUser
hwUser   01-23-2009 at 04:15:51 PM
- 0 +

Please tell should I buy FAN or FAN-LESS (less power requirement) ?


Message edited by hwUser on 01-23-2009 at 04:21:50 PM
Reply to hwUser
hwUser   01-23-2009 at 04:16:57 PM
- 0 +

Is FANLESS OK ? (no Fan to go bad, less power requirement)

How often does fan go bad ?


Message edited by hwUser on 01-23-2009 at 06:54:50 PM
Reply to hwUser
dirtmountain   01-23-2009 at 06:43:47 PM
- 0 +

Fanless are best used with a system that already has decent airflow, most prebuilt systems (Dell, HP, Compaq etc.) have pretty poor cooling, for those i'd recommend a fan design. I've never had a GPU fan go out on me, some with years of use, YMMV. I'd stay with the HD3650 DDR2, but the 2600XT would work. Both the 2600XT and the HD3650 are ATI.

Reply to dirtmountain
hwUser   01-27-2009 at 07:57:06 AM
- 0 +

Thank you guys for your help!

Between "X1650PRO 512MB 128-bit" AND "ASUS Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit", which is better for old titles (only pixel shader 3, no HD video) ?

How much difference extra 256Mb makes in X1650PRO ?

Can either play old titles, at acceptable quality, at higher than 1024 x 768 resolution ?


Message edited by hwUser on 01-27-2009 at 04:38:27 PM
Reply to hwUser
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