sorry another video card?

[1stepBehind]

Hey All,
Great forum u have here
been coming here and reading for quite awhile now, (just joined)
I have been slowly putting together the pieces for my new comp (first time builder) useing the vast amount of info here, with the help of the search button, have had most every question answered for me, but this vid card thing has me head spinning.
I see the most popular card being recommended is the 6600/6800 's , but they are out of my price range, :(
so i will need to go alittle cheaper, would like to get one under $200Canadian including taxes(Dam taxes 15% Ouch!)
my new system is so far:
- XP2500+ MOBILE Unlocked Barton OEM (plan on overclocking sometime down the road)
- Thermaltake Silent Boost A1889-01
- Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe
- Kingston HyperX 1GB (2X512)
- Tagan 420-U01 PSU
- XBlade case/ with LED

now as to what the computer will be used for, how about alittle of everything lol, backing up movies/games/music, watching movies, some gameing, not into playing the firstperson shooter on the comp (like my xbox for them) but do like some of the stratagy games, and would even like to be able to do some CAD
open to any and all suggestions
thnks

[kram 2.0]

Welcome to PC Mech forums :)

Kudos for using the Search tool. Few suggestions. I would suggest considering ditching the Athlon XP-M in favor of a Athlon 64 Winchester or Venice if affordable. Athlon XP, while a good processor on its own right, is a generation old and is practically discontinued for all purposes. I know the Venice core is overclocking heaven, but Winchester is less expensive.

For graphics cards, the <a href="http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=9863&vpn=102A0751800079764&manufacture=SAPPHIRE">Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro</a> would be the best option out there - stellar card, great performance for 185 CDN.

kram

[glc]

Perhaps he already has the motherboard and the processor.

I concur with a 9800 Pro for general use.

[1stepBehind]

your right glc, I have already own the MB & the CPU
I know it is not the newest and greatest(reason for the screen name ;) ), but had to keep things in the budget.
its funny u both recommended the 9800pro ,as it was the card I was starting to lean towards, seems to have the best of both worlds right now, preformance & price
thnks to the both of u for your input

[kram 2.0]

Perhaps he already has the motherboard and the processor.

I concur with a 9800 Pro for general use.
My appologies 1stepbehind - didn't read carefully enough.

kram

[1stepBehind]

My appologies 1stepbehind - didn't read carefully enough.

kram

no apology needed kram, thats the very reason i joined up here, lots of people willing to help.
and thnks for the welcome :)

got another quick question
I have found a ATI Radeon 9700 PRO 128MB 256 bit ,for a good price ,is it a comparable card to the 9800pro? not sure if comparable is the correct wording as I would think the 9800 is better, but maybe better wording is the 9700 a Giant step backwards from the 9800? I see they both have 8 pixel pipes(not sure what they do but from what i have been reading definately seems the more the better)

[Prew]

For what you want to do, and given your Mobo and CPU- the 9700 is fine- the 9800 would not make much difference since almost all of what you want to do involves 2D applications; and Strategy games generally don't require the processing power that FPS's do. On the other hand, given that both cards are somewhat dated- is there a price difference between the two?