Best way to upgrade video card...

hello,

What is the best cheapest way to upgrade my video card? Im talking 128 or 256 mb for less than $100?? Where should i buy it?

 

I will not suggest an actual card because there are many good ones around now. I myself use Nvidia cards.

But I can suggest how to install the new.

Uninstall the old card drivers and set the Video back to standard VGA and restart the system at least once to be sure it stays there. This will be more certain of the old drivers not being used.

Then shutdown ( power down ) remove the old card an install the new.

DO NOT let Windows install ANY drivers other than standard VGA drivers during the reboot. Regardless of what MS would like to think Windows does not alwasy know best.

Once you are sure the card is picked up by the system, restart the OS and then install the drivers for the new card after the machine is booted up.

BillyBob

 

In that price range, you're talking about a 128MB video card. Assuming you're looking for a card to meet an "average" user's needs (no CAD/CAM or high-end apps), a very good card would be one using the ATI 9600 chipset. An even cheaper alternative would be one using the ATI 9200 chipset.

A "9600" card would let you do some gaming aside from being a good all-around card. A "9200" would be more limited for gaming but again, another all around good card. I'm assuming you're using Windows XP.

I can only recommend ATI cards as I gave up on Nvidia when they suffered from their "FX" cards debacle. They have straightened their act up since then but I'm only following their very high-end cards which are $400 and up.

And if online shopping is cool with you, get the card at newegg.com . It's the best online vendor in the US - period.

Gary

 

when they suffered from their "FX" cards debacle.

??? I do have to ask.

What is wrong with Nvidia ? I have two FX 5200 cards. One on 98SE and the other on XP Pro. I have had the best luck with them.

We play MS Links LS 2003 Golf over the Internet. MY Wife and I play LAN games with no problems.

I have had no problems AFTER I got the old drivers out and let the new ones in PROPERLY.

I myself have found most ( or a least a lot of ) Video problems to be IMPROPER installation. Just pulling one out and putting the other in does not cut it.

That is the reason for my suggestion earlier.

BillyBob

 

ok, best gaming card?

Well, what i want to do i heavy gaming. Which would be the better option for the cheapest prize? Nvidia or ATI?

 

It may not be the Video card alone that matters. It may well be which one works best In YOUR system,

There is no part of the system that works alone.

Apparently Chiles4 has had good luck with ATI. I have had better luck with Nvidia.

Sometimes the MotherBoard & CPU combo play a part in things too.

BillyBob

 

I can 100% vouch for that too.

NVidia was USELESS on my Asus MB with an Intel CPU. But ATI worked fine.

Now on these MSI MBs with AMD Processors Nvidia works just fine.

BillyBob

 

I can play Day of Defeat at full details with an Intel P3 933MHz processor, 256MB RAM, and a Radeon 7000 with 32 MB of VRAM. I can also play Unreal Gold, Battlefield 1942(@ Medium Video settings), and Halo. This system is like 3 or 4 years old, and the video card was bought second hand. It all depends on the overall system. If I put a brand new top of the line Nvidia or ATi card in it, it still wouldnt run games like Far Cry.

 

Hi,

www.gamespot.com will have the system requirements of all the games you are thinking of using.

I prefer a Radeon (ATI) card. ATI and nVidia are the big rivals, their cards will be at a similar price for each equivalent model.

You should not need 256mb of memory. There are virtually no programs that will utilise more than 128mb.

Matt