Good PCI video?

usslindstrom · January 25th, 2004, 07:24 AM

I have a friend that has a computer that is in EXTREME need of a video card. Problem is, that his $1600 Sony Viao piece of crap from two years ago only has PCI slots and no AGP. What's the best video card that he will be able to upgrade to? A local store here has GF2 MXs PCI for about $60. Any other options?

Jeordiewhite · January 25th, 2004, 07:48 AM

Well the sad part of it is pci isn't going to get any better no matter what you put in it, if it had a decent integrated AGP to save money on purchasing the system, he is pretty much SOL when it comes to playing any newer games.
I have had a friend with a PCI radeon 7500 and I have had a pci hercules 3d prophet 4000, the radeon 7500 wasn't all that much beter, while a nice card for somethings and still plays a number of games with an AGP of the radeon 7500.
The thing is, pci is very limmited and isn't going to be as great for him if he is expecting a big performance gap.
About the best i've seen is a geforce 4 mx pci card.
Sorry, i'm sure this probably isn't the answer you want to hear, but there isn't much that pci can do that maybe that onboard one cant.
Only way would be to get a new motherboard, but with the sony case, it might be hard to find one that would go in it and fit with any of the propriatary parts in it as well.
However that would be the only reasonable option if he was wanting to play some newer, more graphically intense games.

tony_j15 · January 25th, 2004, 03:14 PM

If he is in EXTREME need, buy the cheapest g2MX you can find, then start saving for a new motherboard and AGP card.

gambler2611 · January 25th, 2004, 05:49 PM

MY friend has a Geforce 2 PCI card, would there be any point in him possibly upgrading to a Geforce FX 5200 pci? would he see any improvement on direct x games like star wars galaxies (which sometimes runs at a miserable 0.2 fps).

Thanks

Andy

doddsy · January 25th, 2004, 06:03 PM

i have a hercules radeon 9000 64mb card running on a p4 2ghz with 512 megs pc2100 ram, win xp and it runs quite well.

some slowdown with halo, but who doesn't have.

i've completed cod on this pci card with no ill efffects and i'm currently playing XIII............looks and plays a dream.

I can also run the new far cry demo...........with the game settigs turned down

not bad for a pci.

that said next wednesday i'm gettin a new rig

amd a64 3000+
geforce 5900xt
512mb 400mhx ddr ram
80 gb sata hdd
asuskv8 deluxe mobo

i know that this bit is irrelevant but i just had to tell someone (else)

radeon 9000 is a decent performer

best of luck

doddsy

rourkchris · January 26th, 2004, 12:58 AM

GeXCube Radeon 9200SE 128MB (200MHz core/333MHz memory)which is $69.75 at newegg.com or the Chaintech FX5200 128MB (250 core/400 memory)which is $71.99 at newegg are your best bets. It's pretty bleak out there for PCI video cards. I would get as cheap a workable card as possible and do like tony_j15 suggested and start saving towards a new motherboard and graphics card.

Peter M · January 26th, 2004, 05:24 AM

Both the 9200SE and the cheap 5200 cards are crippled by their memory interface being 64-bit not 128. Avoid!
I'd rather look for a stock clearance deal on a Radeon 9000(pro) card. Exact same performance as the 9200, but being an "old" product, there might be a deal waiting for you.

usslindstrom · January 26th, 2004, 06:20 AM

I could go ahead and try the 5200. But I have an AGP 5600 in my wife's computer and I'm disgusted with the performance. I've seen some GF4 MX440s around, would that be a good option?

sm8000 · January 26th, 2004, 12:32 PM

Decent, but not great. If you can find a rare Radeon 9100 PCI, well that's the cat's whiskers there. I think Visiontek made them.

rourkchris · January 26th, 2004, 01:39 PM

I think you'll want to avoid the GF4 MX line as they have no T&L engine which will prevent you from playing most newer games. I have had problems with this. The need for a PCI video card is a bummer and there are very little options.