Building a computer, need video card suggestions

potent

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Oct 8, 2003
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Im going to be building a new computer in November, I will be building a:

AMD AthlonXP 3000+ 400mhz bus
Asus Motherboard Model# A7N8X NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra SPP chipset
512MB CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, Low Latency PC-2700LLPT

and Im on a budjet and only have around $130.00 to spend for a video card. The computer will primarily be used for gaming (FPS: Counter-Strike, Q3, etc.). I was wondering what you think I should do? Should i just but a low end Geforce4 ti-4200 64MB for now and just save money for the ATI Radeon 9600XT? (because I do plan on playing Half-Life2). Or should I go for a better one now? If so what are some suggestions? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Stupid People Suck!
 
well i was trying to get the 400mhz bus. it would be nice not to have to overclock my computer right away, and if i overclocked i would have to spend more money on fans.

Stupid People Suck!
 
Totally agree with Runcooler.

You won't see a perceptable difference in-game between a 2500+ and a 3000+, 400mhz bus or not.

But if you buy a radeon 9700 or 9800 non-pro with the cash you save, your gaming rig will be WAYYYYY better than it would with a Geforce4 Ti.

------------------
Radeon 9500 (modded to PRO w/8 pixel pipelines)
AMD AthlonXP 2400+ (O/C to 2600+ with 143 fsb)
3dMark03: 3586
 
hmmm, alright I will really consider that. Ill do a little additional reading on the 2500+ also, but I think if I do that Im going to use that saved money on the Radeon 9600XT because it's supposed to be revolutionary, and its only around $200

Stupid People Suck!
 
They're both giving you real good advice, as long as the mobo supports the 400mhz bus you can always upgrade to that later in a matter of minutes once you can get the processor for 100$. I wouldn't even OC, I would just go with a 2500 and get a better vid card.

Shadus
 
On the overclocking note. My 2500 does 2.3ghz on stock voltage, and would easily be cooled by the stock heatsink and fan! The newer batches would easily do 3200 speeds on stock voltage!!! No extra cooling needed.... And should you need help overclocking (not much to it these days with nforce 2 boards and 400mhz memory) just post in the oc section and we will see you right...

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7000747" target="_new"> 3D-2001 </A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1284380" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)
 
Well I've already planned on getting two fans:
Thermaltake VOLCANO 11+ Xaser Edition
& a basic fan that comes with the case

and one with the powersource:
Aspire (Turbo Case) 500W 12V Dual Fan Aluminum Power Supply Model ATX-AS500W 12V

Stupid People Suck!