AGP Video Card Upgrade Advice

Wiens · 08-17-2006, 07:04 PM

All,

I need your advice.

I have a 3 year old Dell GX270. Pentium 2.8 HT, 2 gigs memory, Mx 440 video card AGP 8X(replaced with BFG Tech 6200 OC card this spring, I'm still not happy), stock 275w psu, 3 HD's, Zip drive, 2 DVD RW drives and 19" monitor.

My son and I mainly use this computer for internet and playing games like Flight Simulator and NASCAR. I would like to upgrade the video card and power supply to be able to take advantage of all the graphics and eye candy in the new Flight Simulator (FSX) and NASCAR. I replaced the video card this spring with the BFG 6200 OC because my psu could handle it as most other cards require a 300w or greater psu. I have searched newegg.com for a recommended card and come away confused. I have also found pcpowercooling.com as a supplier of Dell replacement psu's.

I'm not afraid of the local computer stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA) to buy from, I just don't trust their advice. I will be building a new system (thanks to this forum) in one to two years after Vista and DX10 are out and prices for hardware have somewhat stablized. I realize that the next new OS and DX 11 will be out then; I just don't want to be on the bleeding edge of the technology/price ratio!

Please offer suggestions and advice as to a video card and/or psu that would perform better than my current one. Budgeted amount is $150-250.

As an alternative, if the BFG Tech 6200 OC card is "OK" are there suggestions as to settings.

Thanks in advance!

Kevin

SirKenin · 08-17-2006, 07:08 PM

Hmmm. You are wise to ignore the advice of Worst Buy and the likes, young Padiwan.. We can help. lol

A young fellow in another thread recommended this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131427

I happen to agree with him.

Wiens · 08-21-2006, 06:51 PM

SirKenin,

Thanks for your reply! How does that card match up with the NVIDIA cards, ie 6800, 7300, 7800 etc.?

Kevin

Iluvpenguins · 08-21-2006, 07:02 PM

Its around a mid class 6800 i believe,so its fairly good,will play new games

bebopin64 · 08-21-2006, 09:58 PM

I was playing FSX with my X1900XT 512 and it lagged a bit on full settings. The eye candy wont be there with any AGP card.

SirKenin · 08-22-2006, 01:24 AM

That's not true at all. I have an aging AX800 Pro VGA and I get tons of eye candy at 10x7, 4x FSAA, 16x Aniso details maxed, even in Quake 4.

bebopin64 · 08-22-2006, 01:26 AM

I'm talking about FSX not Quake.

martyvice · 08-08-2007, 03:18 AM

I had a X1600 Pro and it ran all the latest games, mind you not on max settings.

Don't expect to run FSX really well though.

08-17-2006, 07:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wiens Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KS Posts: 83	AGP Video Card Upgrade Advice All, I need your advice. I have a 3 year old Dell GX270. Pentium 2.8 HT, 2 gigs memory, Mx 440 video card AGP 8X(replaced with BFG Tech 6200 OC card this spring, I'm still not happy), stock 275w psu, 3 HD's, Zip drive, 2 DVD RW drives and 19" monitor. My son and I mainly use this computer for internet and playing games like Flight Simulator and NASCAR. I would like to upgrade the video card and power supply to be able to take advantage of all the graphics and eye candy in the new Flight Simulator (FSX) and NASCAR. I replaced the video card this spring with the BFG 6200 OC because my psu could handle it as most other cards require a 300w or greater psu. I have searched newegg.com for a recommended card and come away confused. I have also found pcpowercooling.com as a supplier of Dell replacement psu's. I'm not afraid of the local computer stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA) to buy from, I just don't trust their advice. I will be building a new system (thanks to this forum) in one to two years after Vista and DX10 are out and prices for hardware have somewhat stablized. I realize that the next new OS and DX 11 will be out then; I just don't want to be on the bleeding edge of the technology/price ratio! Please offer suggestions and advice as to a video card and/or psu that would perform better than my current one. Budgeted amount is $150-250. As an alternative, if the BFG Tech 6200 OC card is "OK" are there suggestions as to settings. Thanks in advance! Kevin

08-21-2006, 07:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Iluvpenguins Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kitchener Ontario Posts: 1,249	Its around a mid class 6800 i believe,so its fairly good,will play new games __________________ My computer: Intel Core2Duo E6550 @ 3.01ghz Gigabyte P31-DS3L Patriot 2x1GB DDR2-800->Currently 860mhz EVGA GeForce 8800GTX Antec 500W w/32A on 12v rail WD 80GB HDD,WD 500GB HDD

08-21-2006, 09:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
bebopin64 Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 19 Posts: 683	I was playing FSX with my X1900XT 512 and it lagged a bit on full settings. The eye candy wont be there with any AGP card. __________________ GREAT DEAL ON GREAT COMPUTER http://www.computerforum.com/88421-p...comp-sale.html **********

08-22-2006, 01:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
bebopin64 Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 19 Posts: 683	I'm talking about FSX not Quake. __________________ GREAT DEAL ON GREAT COMPUTER http://www.computerforum.com/88421-p...comp-sale.html **********

08-08-2007, 03:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
martyvice Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Red Deer, AB, CA Posts: 191	I had a X1600 Pro and it ran all the latest games, mind you not on max settings. Don't expect to run FSX really well though. __________________ AMD Athlon XP 2800+ 2.08 GHz 1 GB Ram 120 GB 7200RPM Ultra DMA hard drive ATI Radeon X1600 Pro AGP 512MB

08-17-2006, 07:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	Hmmm. You are wise to ignore the advice of Worst Buy and the likes, young Padiwan.. We can help. lol A young fellow in another thread recommended this card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131427 I happen to agree with him.

08-21-2006, 06:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wiens Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KS Posts: 83	SirKenin, Thanks for your reply! How does that card match up with the NVIDIA cards, ie 6800, 7300, 7800 etc.? Kevin

08-22-2006, 01:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	That's not true at all. I have an aging AX800 Pro VGA and I get tons of eye candy at 10x7, 4x FSAA, 16x Aniso details maxed, even in Quake 4.

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