Graphics upgrade on the cheap, AGP

[Rack]

I built a PC for a friend a year or 2 ago, he didn't want any gaming capabilities, so I used a 9200 graphics card. Now his son got AOE-3 for christmas and it's slow as anything.

It's a P4 3GHz Northwood with 1G of ram, the gfx is pretty much the only thing holding it back. Considering it will only be for minimal gaming use, can anyone recommend a gfx card for <£60 AGP? I was thinking 9800Pro, but I'm guessing they still go for more (?)

TIA

[iranu]

http://www.retekdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Video_Cards.html

or you could try second hand here on the for sale/wanted forums.

[maverick77_uk]

The best budget cards at the moment, I'd say, are the Geforce 6600's (GT rather than the vanilla variety. New they cost about &#163;100, but second had could probably be got for your &#163;60.

Thats what I would get if I were buying one now. Alas, my Radeon 9550 will have to live a bit longer untill the bank balance looks healthier after Xmas!

[Smokey21]

http://www.retekdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Video_Cards.html

or you could try second hand here on the for sale/wanted forums.

44quid for a 9700Pro is a great deal.

[8bit]

44quid for a 9700Pro is a great deal.

Right enough, a 9700pro isn't that far off a 9800pro so I'd say that looks pretty tempting on that budget.

[cptwhite_uk]

I had a Radeon 9700 (non-pro) running in an Athlon 2200

and a 9800SE (soft modeed to 9800 standard) in an Athlon 1800

the 9800SE soft mod seemed to perform much better than the 9700

I know that's not a very good in-depth analysis but from my experience I'd definately pay the &#163;20 and get the 9800pro...it's performance will definately be adequate - I wouldn't trust anything less (&#163;6 over budget but so what?)

I'd also add the 6600GT isn't much better than 9800pro (the 9800pro is actually better in flight sim for example) it's very tit for tat depending which application you're running.

[StormPC]

The 6600GT is much better for newer engines like Doom3 and Quake4.

[Smokey21]

A 6600GT is double the price of a 9700pro. For the money the 9700Pro is awesome.

If your gonna spend more, then you might as well get a 6600GT, and not a 9800pro.

[mofo's]

6600GTs are now going for 60-65 on various forums, 9800s are overpriced at 60 (still a good card but not worth imo)

[kalniel]

I would second the call for the 9700 pro - it's really quite a good card and should be more than suitable for your friends needs.

The other option is to scour ebay and see if you can get an x800gt or something at a good price.

[Rack]

I think not all 9800SE's will softmod, so it's a risk. I notice there are 256bit memory interface cards on that site for £5 more than the 128bit ones.

Thanks guys, I think I'll go for the SE 256bit.