Best AGP Card For ~$160

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6:26 AM - 10/01/2007 by Don Woligroski
Radeon X1950 PRO
Codename: RV570
Process: 90 nm
Pixel Shaders: 36
Vertex Shaders: 8
Texture Units: 12
ROPs: 12
Memory Bus: 256 bit
Core Speed MHz: 575
Memory Speed MHz: 690 (1380 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model DX 9.0c / SM 3.0

The X1950 PRO is similar to the X1900 GT, the main difference being that it is not based on the X1900 XT, but a whole new and less power-hungry core. The card's main competition is the 7900 GS, which it beats in almost every benchmark and which costs notably more.

The X1950 PRO is a powerful card that will make AGP gaming viable for at least a year or two more, and these cards are becoming easier to find online. This is a great last stand for the AGPer.

Best AGP Card For ~$260

Radeon X1950 XT (by Gecube)
Codename: R580
Process: 90 nm
Pixel Shaders: 48
Vertex Shaders: 8
Texture Units: 16
ROPs: 16
Memory Bus: 256 bit
Core Speed MHz: 628
Memory Speed MHz: 700 (1400 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model DX 9.0c / SM 3.0

The X1950 XT - manufactured exclusively by Gecube - is, simply put, the most powerful card ever to grace the AGP bus. This card's closest competition is the XFX 7950 GT, which costs slightly more but is notably less powerful.

At $260, it is a bit of a tough pill to swallow for a dying interface. I would only recommend the X1950 XT AGP to someone with a very fast AGP system who already has a power supply with enough juice to handle the X1950 XT.

It must be noted, however, that if you have $260 to spend on an AGP card-and possibly an extra $100 for a power supply that can handle it-you may be much better off purchasing a PCI-Express motherboard and card.

PCI express graphics cards are cheaper than their AGP cousins. If you upgrade your system to PCI-Express and sell your old components, you may actually spend a similar amount of money compared to buying an expensive AGP card alone.

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