Minimum Spec video card

[gooofy123]

Hi Experts

I have inherited an old AMD x2 3800+ system with a crappy geforce 2 GTS graphic card. This machine was never used for gaming.

What minimum spec (cheapo) graphic card would you recommend so that the CPU is not a limiting factor ?

PS ... I know the system is old and will not cope with today's super hires graphics ... but I intend playing old games like Titan Quest

Many Thanks,
Newbie

 

[itisravi]

ATI - 4650/4670
Nvidia - GT220

 

[shadow187]

Don't bother with the GT220, nVid's attempt at 40nm failed.

The HD4670 is a gret card, as ravi has typed.

 

[capt_taco]

It depends on what kind of expansion slots the motherboard has.

If it's AGP, the 4650/4670 are nice; the 3850 is probably a little bit better card if you think your power supply has enough juice and connectors to handle it (be warned, it requires an 8-pin or a 6+2 pin PCIe connection).

If you've got a PCIe x16 slot, you can pretty much get any card you want, although the really high-end cards are probably a waste because the CPU will be the limiting factor. I'd only go with a 5xxx or 4870/90 if you plan on using the card in a future system.

Also, whatever you do, don't get a card with a regular PCI interface. They do make versions of a lot of otherwise decent cards in regular PCI versions -- but the transfer rate of the slot itself is several times slower than a PCIe x16 or even an AGP slot, so you're not going to get very good performance. Reserve regular PCI slots for peripherals like ethernet cards, controllers, external devices, maybe a sound card -- but never a video card.

 

[Wolfshadw]

I'd agree with what everyone else has said. Probably nothing above the 8800GTS 640 on Tom's Hardware Graphic Card Hierarchy chart.

-Wolf sends

 

[brockh]

HD 4670.