Graphics cards - VGF

Blue Yoshi · 07-26-2006, 07:01 PM

I was hoping someone here knew something about cheap graphics cards. Good ones cost way too much ($1000!?!) and the one that came with this computer can't usually run 3D (there are exceptions, I'm referring to recent games). It's not like I'll get one anytime soon, just wondering if there were any that didn't cost a month's wage.

Serial Miller · 07-26-2006, 10:03 PM

1000? 300 should land you something decent. Don't know what the hell you're looking at.

***Ace Mercury*** · 07-26-2006, 11:07 PM

Well, if you're talking absolute, bleeding edge, a thousand smackers sounds about right. (Mind, thought, I'm thinking in Canadian dollars) But, like ^ said, the price reasonable people buy video cards hovers below $300.

Check for prices on Google (or, Froogle); if you find a cheapo discount computer store near your place, you can score something reasonable for around $100. What sort of apps are you planning to run, anyways?

DarthButcher · 07-27-2006, 02:34 AM

A GeForce 7950 GTX won't even run you $1000. Around $500 likely, but not a thousand. My suggestion would be to get a GeForce 7900 GT for around $200-$300.

FXGlobal · 07-27-2006, 08:08 PM

Go to eBay. Theres probably lots of good Cards at low prices there. But CompUsa.com will work.

Blue Yoshi · 07-30-2006, 10:13 AM

Another problem would be whether or not it could even be used on this computer. It excels in all departments but graphics (once again, modern graphics), but there are different types of slots for cards and things like that, depending on the computer. I read that somewhere. So how do I figure out what cards go with this computer?

***Ace Mercury*** · 07-30-2006, 02:11 PM

There are a couple of different types: AGP and PCI express (and also regular PCI, if your computer was made, like, in the early nineties). The most direct way to find out is to open up your computer and look at where your video card connects to the motherboard (AGP vs PCIe); if you can't tell from what the slot looks like, there's usually some writing on the circuit board that says AGP or PCIe.

If that doesn't work, lookup the motherboard (or computer model if it's a packaged PC from Dell or another big company) and look at the specs. You can also check out the documentation for your current video card, if you have it.

I'm sure there's an easier way to check, like in software, but I'm at a loss.

StealthKnight · 07-31-2006, 07:52 PM

You could use Riveratuner to look it up. It's also a good low level overcloking software. Look in the download section of Guru3d.com
Just look under graphics subsystem dianostics under the customize menu. Look at bus type, that will tell you what you need to know

07-26-2006, 07:01 PM	#1
Blue Yoshi Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: DOES NOT COMPUTE Posts: 962 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Points: 542.25 Bank: 10,818.52 Total Points: 11,360.77 Donate	Graphics cards I was hoping someone here knew something about cheap graphics cards. Good ones cost way too much ($1000!?!) and the one that came with this computer can't usually run 3D (there are exceptions, I'm referring to recent games). It's not like I'll get one anytime soon, just wondering if there were any that didn't cost a month's wage.

07-30-2006, 02:11 PM	#7
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 18,867 Thanks: 356 Thanked 1,469 Times in 769 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 94,617.87 Bank: 10,210,130.19 Total Points: 10,304,748.06 Donate	I'm not an expert but... There are a couple of different types: AGP and PCI express (and also regular PCI, if your computer was made, like, in the early nineties). The most direct way to find out is to open up your computer and look at where your video card connects to the motherboard (AGP vs PCIe); if you can't tell from what the slot looks like, there's usually some writing on the circuit board that says AGP or PCIe. If that doesn't work, lookup the motherboard (or computer model if it's a packaged PC from Dell or another big company) and look at the specs. You can also check out the documentation for your current video card, if you have it. I'm sure there's an easier way to check, like in software, but I'm at a loss.

07-31-2006, 07:52 PM	#8
StealthKnight Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Maine Gender: Posts: 166 Thanks: 15 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Points: 1,504.70 Bank: 455.76 Total Points: 1,960.46 Donate	A solution You could use Riveratuner to look it up. It's also a good low level overcloking software. Look in the download section of Guru3d.com Just look under graphics subsystem dianostics under the customize menu. Look at bus type, that will tell you what you need to know

07-26-2006, 10:03 PM	#2
Serial Miller Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 15,679 Thanks: 416 Thanked 1,046 Times in 585 Posts Points: 14,162.59 Bank: 1,556,398.07 Total Points: 1,570,560.65 Donate	1000? 300 should land you something decent. Don't know what the hell you're looking at.

07-26-2006, 11:07 PM	#3
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 18,867 Thanks: 356 Thanked 1,469 Times in 769 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 94,617.87 Bank: 10,210,130.19 Total Points: 10,304,748.06 Donate	Well, if you're talking absolute, bleeding edge, a thousand smackers sounds about right. (Mind, thought, I'm thinking in Canadian dollars) But, like ^ said, the price reasonable people buy video cards hovers below $300. Check for prices on Google (or, Froogle); if you find a cheapo discount computer store near your place, you can score something reasonable for around $100. What sort of apps are you planning to run, anyways?

07-27-2006, 02:34 AM	#4
DarthButcher Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arizona Gender: Posts: 2,518 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 31,488.96 Bank: 510.00 Total Points: 31,998.96 Donate	A GeForce 7950 GTX won't even run you $1000. Around $500 likely, but not a thousand. My suggestion would be to get a GeForce 7900 GT for around $200-$300.

07-27-2006, 08:08 PM	#5
FXGlobal Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: In that one place. Yeah... Gender: Posts: 1,375 Thanks: 49 Thanked 32 Times in 29 Posts Points: 5,907.62 Bank: 92,776.41 Total Points: 98,684.03 Donate	Go to eBay. Theres probably lots of good Cards at low prices there. But CompUsa.com will work.

07-30-2006, 10:13 AM	#6
Blue Yoshi Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: DOES NOT COMPUTE Posts: 962 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Points: 542.25 Bank: 10,818.52 Total Points: 11,360.77 Donate	Another problem would be whether or not it could even be used on this computer. It excels in all departments but graphics (once again, modern graphics), but there are different types of slots for cards and things like that, depending on the computer. I read that somewhere. So how do I figure out what cards go with this computer?