graphic card confusion

I am looking to upgrade my graphic card in order to run the sims2 better.

I am sooooo confused, I am not wanting to spend much, 40 to 55 pounds, all these letters after numbers eg. fx5700LE, what's that all about!

I don't know whether to go for the processor or the memory, I have seen some with 256 memory in my price range but should i choose 128 and a better processor.

I have gone on loads of sites showing benchmark tests, my head is hurting! Pleaaaase help.


These are the cards I have considered so far:
GF FX 5700LE - 128 MB £54.76 inc. VAT
RADEON 9200 - 256 MB £55.21 inc. VAT
Radeon 9550 256MB DDR + TV + DVI 128 BIT £56.81 inc.
RADEON 9600 SE - 128 MB £48.97 inc. VAT
RADEON 9250 - 256 MB £51.96 inc. VAT
GF FX 5700LE - 128 MB £52.62 inc. VAT
GF FX 5500 - 256 MB £53.77 inc. VAT

My pc is a pentium III - 1002.3 MHz
512 SDRAM
AGP 4 - current card - RIVA TNT2 Model 64

Thanks
thumpertwinkle (in memory of the rabbits)

i would have to say one of the nvidia geforce 5700 le 128mb out of that list u have there is your best bet. as for the amount of memory on board, 128mb is perfectly fine for the lower end cards, 256mb is a waste really on such cards because they really dont have the power to use it.

as for ur system processer, you could do with a faster 1, but if all your going to play is sims 2 then its not really critical. and upgrading a pentium 3 is really not all that worth it, ur best bet is too pick up a cheap amd athlon xp motherboard and processer if u really need the extra processer power, but then i think u will new system mem if urs isnt ddr.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thumpertwinkle

Radeon 9550 256MB DDR + TV + DVI 128 BIT £56.81 inc.

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thats your kiddy :)

Go for 128mb, u dont get a good 256 4 that price. I have heard that sims2 works better on an ati so i would go 4 the 9600.

This may or may not help...

thanks for reply's

gone for a 'Sapphire ATI Radeon 9550 256MB AGP8X Graphic Card with DVI & TV-Out' 54.99 free delivery from amazon.

read loads of good reviews at e-buyer.

hadn't been able to access this site last night or this morning.

anyway if it aint right i can send it back.

thanks again
thumpertwinkle.