best budget video cards

[ironzombie99]

I want to know the best video card under $100. I mainly play games. I know im not going to get great performance with a card under $100 but its my bidget. If i got a radeon 9000 and OCed it, how much better would it be?

I am looking at putting this with a Athlon XP 1700+ cpu and prolly 256MB of DDR.

[glc]

Radeon 9100.

[ironzombie99]

Is there a big difference between the 9100 and 9000?

[DrZaius]

Not sure about the Radeon 9100 glc ;) but the Radeon 8500 or 8500LE is a good choice.

[ironzombie99]

I just looked at some test on toms hardware and the 8500LE beat the 9000. Which should I go for a 64MB or 128MB?

[DrZaius]

Go for 128MB, the cost difference is minimal.

[Hot Rod]

I know the advice I have gotten in the past is to go with the Radeon 8500 over the 9100.

[ironzombie99]

there is a $16 price difference between the 64MB and 128MB 8500 LE at www.newegg.com. IS there a big difference between the two?

[glc]

The 9100 is simply a renumbered 8500, 8500's are getting hard to find. You are both thinking about the 9000. ATI renumbered the 8500 to 9100 to more accurately reflect the card's capabilities and performance.

[ILLPHIL]

its kinda funny that the same companies old card out performed their new one. I could see if they were different companies, but they were the SAME company. Its crazy i tell ya.

[whargoul]

Need I bring up the GeForce MX series? :p

[homer15]

i saw a radeon 8500 le with 128 mb ddr memory on newegg for 90 bucks.

[glc]

Newegg also has a Sapphire Radeon 9100 with 128 megs for $89, this will outperform both an 8500LE and a 9000.

[lil Jimmie]

I agree with Glc here the Sapphire 9100 is a great card for that price.

[morriswindgate]

Sapphire makes very sturdy high quality cards using the ATI chipset at slightly lower prices.

[ironzombie99]

Heres my list I have compiled of low cost cards

ATI Radeon 9100 64 MB 73.00
Sapphire Radeon 9100 128MB 89.00
ATI Radeon 8500 LE 64MB 72.00
ATI Radeon 8500LE 128MB 88.00
ATI Radeon Atlantis 128 MB 82.00
ATI Radeon 9000 Atlantis Pro 128MB 97.00

These are all prices from www.newegg.com. I configured a system with the 8500LE 64MB on paper and got a total cost of around 504 without monitor or shipping. I should be able to go up in price a little. From the list above, which would you choose?

[Tuf]

I would choose one of the 9100's. If the RAM was rated at the same speed or greater on the 128MB card that would be the one I would choose.

[lil Jimmie]

I would go with the Sapphire Radeon 9100 128MB for 89.00.

[Computer Hobbyist]

What does the rest of your system look like?

CH

[ironzombie99]

this what i was thinking

AMD Athlon XP 1700+ (I will OC it)
512 PC2100 DDR memory
40GB HD
16X DVDROM
Onboard Audio (for now to kee cost down)

Will there be a big difference in the 64MB 9100 and 128MB 9100?

[Computer Hobbyist]

The difference is enough to pay the very few bucks involved.

What mobo?

CH

[ironzombie99]

Biostar VIA KT400 model #M7VIT