PCI Graphics Card

Started by Andikins, 16 September 2004, 15:08:26

Previous topic - Next topic

Andikins

Hi

My old computer has died and I've come by a dell server PC (2.4Ghz, 512 RAM) - the idea being it's rock solid so I can't kill it!

Unfortunately it doesn't have an AGP slot at all so I'm going to be restricted to a PCI Graphics Card.

What do people reckon is the best PCI graphics card to get? I guess price isn't going to be too much of an issue seeing they'll all be out of date but I wouldn't want to spend more than, say,  £150. Will the card be able to support the most recent games (doom 3?)?

cheers!
 

ArchAngelCD

#1
There aren't many up to date PCI video cards. I have seen nVidia GeForce4 MX440, nVidia FX5200, Radeon 9000 and 9200 cards and not much else. None of those cards are really current and able to play the new games coming out well. The more current cards are being made for PCIe rather than PCI bus. I think your best bet is to find a 128Mb nVidia FX5200 PCI for your system. It's not super fast but it's the only one that does DX9 from the choices I listed.

-edit
I see you are from the UK so I did some searching there and came up with this. I don't know if this is a good price in the UK or not but here is one I found:
http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/graphicscards/productView.htm?quicklinx=34CY
____________________________

Asus P4P800 i865PE | Intel 3.2 GHz P4C | 2048 Mb Kingston PC3200 Dual Channel DDR SRAM | 160 Gb Western Digital SATA HD | NEC ND-3520 16X DVD-RW | WinXP Pro SP2 | ATI Radeon X850 Pro | 6-channel AD1985 audio CODEC | 3Com 3C940 Gigabit LAN | Diamond Monster 3D II 24Mb SLI

Andikins

 

Andikins

Hi

I found a XFX GeForce FX5200 256MB PCI on ebuyer:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=1931470950&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=66312

Is this better/worse than the one you recommended? I'm only asking because I was thinking 256Mb would make it better than the 128Mb - but are there other factors?

thanks again
 

secretfj

Actually for this kind of low end card, it can't get any power gain from a lot of memory, 128 is more than enough
No way a 3DFX collector...just a 3DFX die Hard Player~~

let the VooDoo Roars!!

P4 Extreme Edition 3.4GHz
Asus P5AD2 Deluxe i925x
2GB DDR2 667 DDRRAM
Voodoo 5 5500PCI

ArchAngelCD

I don't think the extra memory is worth the money and I don't know anything about the manufacturer of the card you posted. Save the money for your next system. IMHO :)
____________________________

Asus P4P800 i865PE | Intel 3.2 GHz P4C | 2048 Mb Kingston PC3200 Dual Channel DDR SRAM | 160 Gb Western Digital SATA HD | NEC ND-3520 16X DVD-RW | WinXP Pro SP2 | ATI Radeon X850 Pro | 6-channel AD1985 audio CODEC | 3Com 3C940 Gigabit LAN | Diamond Monster 3D II 24Mb SLI

Andikins

Don't Rub it in ;)
Cheers for all the help
 

Andikins

Looks like I was wrong about my computer. It's actually got the following slots:

2 x 64-bit/100MHz PCI-X (Supports 3.3v or Universal cards)

2 x 64-bit/66MHz PCI (Supports 3.3v or Universal cards)

2 x 32-bit/33MHz PCI (Supports legacy 5v or Universal cards)

(full spec here: http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/pedge_1600sc?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&s=bsd&~tab=specstab#tabtop)

Does this make any difference? I'm a bit confused about the difference between the 64-bit PCI and the PCI-x slots.

I think I'm right in saying that PCI-X isn't the same as PCI express? But would I be able to get a better graphics card for a PCI-X slot than a PCI one?
 

secretfj

if i can remember, there is no special display cards designed for PCI-X or PCI 66
but plugging ur PCI 33 cards into the PCI 66 slot can improve it a bit (coz PCI 66 don't connect to Southbridge, instead it connected it to northbridge, so it has more bandwidth)
No way a 3DFX collector...just a 3DFX die Hard Player~~

let the VooDoo Roars!!

P4 Extreme Edition 3.4GHz
Asus P5AD2 Deluxe i925x
2GB DDR2 667 DDRRAM
Voodoo 5 5500PCI

Andikins

OK thanks. Is that: there's unlikely to ever be a PCI-X graphics card or is it: there isn't one yet?
 

NitroX infinity

Unlikely.
Especially now that PCIe (PCI Express) is becoming mainstream.
 

Flash

QuoteOriginally posted by Phalanx

Unlikely.
Especially now that PCIe (PCI Express) is becoming mainstream.
Actually R9200 256Mb is quite enough to play most games at 1024x768x32

Can you stop the hurricane ?