HELP Selecting a card for an old pc.

[computer05648]

Hi.

I was wondering if you guys can give me some recomendations towards a GF card that would suit my brother's old PC.

I want to buy him a card that can handle games at an OK level, since i don't want to spend too much money because his computer is pretty old now. It is an AMD xp2000+, 768ram, a 128mb fx5500 and the MB only support 4X AGP.

I noticed he plays a lot of CS2, but the FX5500 doesn't seems to handle the game that well.

What do you guys think of these cards that i've been looking at?

Ati 9700pro (I can get one for about $90 Australian USED)
Ati 9800pro ($140 AUS used)
Ati 9600pro ($115 Aus NEW)

Nvidia 5700 ultra ($140 Aus used)
Nvidia 6600LE ($150 Aus new)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Datman]

The 9800pro would be the best pick, it's the fastest of your selection, and should match the system well. X800pro would be good also but costs more, sweet overkill.

 

[cleeve]

9700 PRO will deliver 90 to 95% of the performance of a 9800 PRO.

They are both 8-pipeline, 256-bit memory cards, the ONLY difference is that the 9800 PRO is clocked faster.

For the money, the 9700 PRO is definitely the best pick in the list you have.

For pure performance, the order from best to worst:

Ati 9800pro ($140 AUS used)
Ati 9700pro (I can get one for about $90 Australian USED)
Ati 9600pro ($115 Aus NEW)
Nvidia 6600LE ($150 Aus new)
Nvidia 5700 ultra ($140 Aus used)

 

[marneus]

what board is in this machine??

only AGP 4x ?? if its 1.5v rated then any 9800/9700/9600 would be good, i would recommend you avoid nvidia cards unless you go for a 6600gt or higher

 

[cleeve]

Marneus, there's really no tangible performance increase with AGP 8x over AGP 4x.

It doesn't make a difference... if you're gaming, get the best card you can afford (unless you can afford to upgrade to PCI-E!)

 

[baracuda73]

I would avoid the 9700 pro, they had a very high failure rate. Of the 3 i have 2 have been replaced and the third one is ready to die and will be replaced. Only good thing is that the 9700 pro built by ati has a 5 year warrenty. I have a 9800 pro as well and it never gave one minutes trouble.

 

[twall]

I used to play counter strike source with 9600 pro, and it was doing its job. Really smooth i might add.