Gaming Video Card for $100 or less?

[jimhannon]

I was wondering what Video card you might suggest for lightweight gamer? My All-In-Wonder-128 32 meg PCI card isn't cutting it with a new game I got, (The Lord of the Rings by Black Label Games). It seems to work fine on other games such as MOH Allied Assault. The requirements on the new game are as follows.
Direct X compliant video card (32 mg video card with single pass, multi-texturing and T&L)
Direct X compliant sound card
Pentium III 600, 128 mb ram

I don't do a lot of gaming and am wondering what AGP card would work at $100 or less. I see a lot of people suggest Geoforce but what version and what company? I see quite a few companies make these.

Thanks

[scott_d]

i have an evga.com egforce mx440 w/ 64 megs of ddr and it seems to be pretty nice...all be it i have little expieriance w/ video cards and am a "medium weight" gamer....it cost me about 79.99 from a store that is similarly priced as newegg.com

woops...its a gf4

[Alienware_Dude]

If you can find a GeForce3 card for under $100, it would be a steal. Plus, they are very good gaming cards. I have one, so I would know.

[TwoRails]

Hi jimhannon,

The price of GF 3s and GF 4s are actualy very close! Check out Newegg.com and go thru all the vid cards manufactures like Asus. Many to be had for around $100.

Also, you should stay away from the "MX" cards. Even the GF 4 MX is less of a card then the GF 3!!

HTH

TwoRails

[Alaron]

You can pick up an Asus Geforce 4 Ti4200 for only $129. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1

A Geforce 3 Ti200 Golden Sample from Gainward is only $113.http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1

Both are excellent cards, just a little over your budget. The Ti4200 is the best bang for the buck.

Another option which is a perfect all around card is either a Radeon 7500 or 8500. The 64meg 8500 is $99. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1

[Furius92]

You can look at ATI cards too. OEM Radeon 8500LE 128MB cards are not much more than $100 (maybe $102 or something, maybe under $100). You can definitely overclock them, if you need, up to Radeon 8500 specs. I think it would fit your needs nicely. Be sure to order from www.newegg.com or www.mwave.com, whichever has better prices, although I like Newegg's shipping options better.

[Colb]

My 7500 ran really good on MOHAA, so an 8500(for around $100) should be plenty enough for a game like that.

[Alienware_Dude]

Why do people constantly diss the G4MX cards? Sure, it ain't a Ti, but for around $80, the one in the family system can play MOHAA and JKII very smooth. Not to mention NHL 2003, etc. If you absolutely can't go over $100, then the MX 440/460 cards are very good. If you can afford the extra $30, then go for the Ti.

[jimhannon]

OK,
Thanks for the posts.. Is the GeForce4 Ti 4200 64Mb by Inno3d or by Visontek a decent card? ($109.00)

Or the Inno3d Geforce4 MX 440 MX440 128MB 128-bit DDR w/TV Out 4x AGP Heatsink Cooling Fan? ($78.00)

Which would be the better card and do the job for the money?

[RobH]

Originally posted by Alienware_Dude If you can find a GeForce3 card for under $100, it would be a steal. Plus, they are very good gaming cards. I have one, so I would know.

www.computergeeks.com has a MSI Geforce3 Ti-200 for around 79 bucks.hth

[glc]

The reason we diss the GF4 MX is because it's really just an updated GF2. It doesn't even have the capabilities of a GF3, it's a crippled chip. The Radeons are better cards than these.

[Alienware_Dude]

At least the G4MX cards have reliable drivers.

[Colb]

What good are drivers when the card is crap?

[Alienware_Dude]

Have you ever used the G4MX cards? I think they're great, just not for hardcore gamers.

[Tiretool]

While they aren't total crap... the name of the GeForce 4 MX cards is misleading. They aren't based on the high end GeForce 4 core that the 4000 series cards are based on. They're more closely related to the GeForce 2 core. And while there's nothing really wrong with them, they're not much better than a GeForce 2 or 3. Since there's nothing wrong with either of those though... GeForce4 MX cards are not crap. They're merely inferior to the GeForce 3 Ti and the GeForce 4 4200,4400,4600 cards.

For the gamer on a budget... these cards actually cater nicely. If you've got a little more to spend, go 4200. If you've got a fistfull to spend, go with the 4600 or even a Radeon 9700 (if you're into ATI, which I'm not).

Bottom line is... they're economical cards... and for someone who doesn't even know about the other video cards... these would seem like a good deal that put out excellent graphics.

[Colb]

OK, I take it back. "Crap" was not a good descriptive word to use. But do you understand the point I made? Basically Tiretool summed it up.

It just makes me laugh when I see ads sayin:
"S A L E-->GeForce 4 for ONLY $80(or whatever), limited supply hurry and buy" , when actually this MX is not on "sale", this is the regular price. But the average Joe does not know this. And to be honest, for this card to be labeled GF4 is a little misadvertising. Of course, IMO.

[glc]

Exactly - it's a GF2 in GF4 clothing. In that price range I would rather have an ATI and get the better 2D video than Nvidia has.

[Furius92]

Besides, a Radeon 8500LE 128MB would consistently outperform a Geforce 4 MX card. ATI's drivers have gotten quite reliable, so I wouldn't worry about them. Plus, with any new ATI card you always get the added bonus of hardware DVD decoding.

[ktkendall]

Go with the geforce3 ti with 64 meg ddr mem, I have been seeing them for right around the 100 dollar range! I wish I would have waited a little bit longer as I had just purchased the G2ti earkier this year, but I got them for 70.