Help picking new video card please...

[thetmaxx]

I am looking for a new video card that can meet some of my requirements.

My Motherboard only does AGP4x, and PCI (no express)
PIII - 1Ghz
512 RAM
320Gb HDD
Windows XP Home SP2

I currently cannot run PVRX2, and I'm sure it's my video card (ATI 128 Rage all-in-wonder) and I need one that can run PVRX2.

Also, I currently own a cheap CRT TV so I need S-Video or composite output, but would also like VGA and DVI (i need the VGA because i have to hook up a monitor now and then to actually read whats on the screen if i'm doing anything maintenance related)

I'm not concerned about the DVI but i don't know if I ever get a new tv if it will have DVi only or VGA too?

I was looking at the nvidia FX5200, but it's either AGP 8x, or the PCI version doesn't have DVI. I'm really considering this though as DVI isn't needed now, and the computer still needs lots of other upgrades.

So if you can please make a suggestion of something you think will work. I'm kind of hoping for a legacy product so it will be cheaper.

[JavaWiz]

I've turned an old compac 800mhz into a client. It also does not support AGP or PCIe. I bought a NVidia GeFORCE FX5200 PCI video card for it w/256mb on-board.

Here is a similar one on NewEgg for $76.99 from CHAINTECH (It does have DVI out)

[prouton]

Another option, which will utilize the faster AGP socket on your motherboard, is a Radeon 9550 based card. These support DirectX 9 (required for full functionality under PVRX2). Spend a little bit more for a 128-bit memory path version of the card to ensure smooth rendering.

[Bathman]

I have used Nvida 6200A in the past without any problems and they are often fanless which is an absolute must for me.

I would also expect that you 1ghz pentium 3 might be running a little close to the minimum spec. I had a Via C3 1.2ghz that would only manage Overlay. I upgraded to a P3 1.0ghz and I was unable to get vmr9 to playback smoothly which is what you have to use with the new PVRX2 interface. You can however get faster P3 processors and if your motherboard supports the talutan core I dont think you would have any problems and they are pretty cheap off ebay these days.

Tell us what you use and how you get on.

[thetmaxx]

That card JavaWiz recommended looks nice. Fry's has a nice fx5500 with 256mb, 128bit. for 49$ after a 50$ rebate. But it has dual VGA and S-Vid. I was looking at TV's last night, and it seems they almost all have a VGA port, and I saw plenty of them that didn't have dvi, but HDvi. I also found adapter cables, but i was reading of people here running vga connections and having no complaints.

however, my mobo on supports the p3 1ghz MAX. it's like a 2000ish board so it needs updating badly. I'm thinking I'll begin slowly updating a whole new system with PCIe, and/or AGP8x some time, so I'm almost not worried if this card doesn't do HD stuff the best.

Anyways, Frys also have a 6200, and i think i read somewhere here that it is best to get 6150 or better because of some new technology that is way better? but the 6200 looks like the one javawiz linked, 256mb, 128bit made by PNY

and finally the ati 9550 looks nice (especially the price) but it seems to only come in agp8x, and my mobo only supports 4x, and I can only assume they are not backward compatible because of the different pin layout, is this correct? this was my main reason for focusing on PCI cards.

[Deusxmachina]

however, my mobo on supports the p3 1ghz MAX. it's like a 2000ish board so it needs updating badly. I'm thinking I'll begin slowly updating a whole new system with PCIe, and/or AGP8x some time, so I'm almost not worried if this card doesn't do HD stuff the best.

Look out, party crasher comin' through...

If you get a halfway decent AGP and it winds up working fine, this PC could then be used as a client in the future if wanted, so I guess it has some value that way, although I doubt it will have any chance of playing HD. Bathman with the same speed says his won't even do VMR9. Add in CPU usage for commercial skip or whatever, and things get worse.

But otherwise, every dollar you spend on this is a dollar thrown away. When you can get a decent PCIe motherboard for $50-ish and a decent cpu for $50-ish and a decent PCIe card for $50-ish, the total is somewhere around $150-ish, and it will play HD. Well, ok, it will need DDR2 memory, too, which is currently pretty cheap.

Heck, you can have my PCIe 2400pro and 1gb of new OCZ 800 gold memory for $65 shipped if you want.

It might be hard to get an AGP card for under $50 that has dual outputs like you want. If you can catch a deal for cheap, great, but $50 on one is $50 towards a computer that is actually fast enough to run this stuff, including HD, and using this card in a future motherboard may not happen since AGP is already dead. If you put an HD computer together now, it should be good for 10 years and is enjoyable immediately.

Just sayin'.

[Jaggy]

and finally the ati 9550 looks nice (especially the price) but it seems to only come in agp8x, and my mobo only supports 4x, and I can only assume they are not backward compatible because of the different pin layout, is this correct? this was my main reason for focusing on PCI cards.

I have a 9600pro in my test/development machine that is agp8x but the Asus motherboard I am running only supports agp4x & it works fine.

[zeroexecutioner]

I'm using a rage 128 pro card in a p4 client currently and I can't run pvrx2 either. However, I have a RADEON all in wonder which is able to in a P3 900Mhz(currently being used as a linux box) that has been able to run pvrx2 and shouldn't cost so much. The 9550 that was suggested is 4x/8x, but that wouldn't run in my p4 box (which supports 4x supposedly)so I had to build a whole different computer to make use of it(which isn't that bad of an idea, but can be expensive if you're not careful).

This card on ebay is the same one as I have and should do what you want to do. There are a few like it on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-All-In-Wonder-Ra...dZViewItem

[thetmaxx]

Deusxmachina :
I know, I really do know this computer is a lost cause.
What I want to do, is have this one running decent, and buy a nice new case, and start building the HD machine into that. ( I have to watch my spending and spread it out over a few months.)

I just think for now i could benefit from a better card, and then once the HD machine is running, sell it on ebay or something.

I found a website that more thoroughly describes AGP compatibilities: http://www.playtool.com/pages/agpcompat/agp.html
it looks like that cheap radeon 9550 will work with my computer and should get me much improvement in performance for now, and then i can work on another project on the side.

[stustunz]

even the 9250 would do for standard playback
you dont want to waste money on something you cant use in the next machine but that will make this machine an ideal client machine for when you do build your new machine