frznmnky
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When it comes to buying graphics cards nowadays i see people going into bestbuy and blowing away an extra 200$. They don't know what to look for, or how much it should be. So i felt like making this tut for you guys, i hope you enjoy it.
THE EXAMPLES ARE MADE IN AMERICAN DOLLARS
When it first comes to buying a g-card (g-card = graphics card for short) you will have to figure out what kind of slot you have. I found a picture and edited a little.
Those are the kind of slots a PC might have. The best go in order from:
PCI-Ex16>AGP>PCI-Ex1>PCI
Your PC will have atleast 3 PCI or more + a Graphical slot. Dont buy a graphics card for your PCI if you have a PCI-Ex16
To figure out which slot you have, you will have to open the side door to your PC Case.
WARNING: Some New PC's have Warranties. There may be a sticker from your side door to your back of the case. They normally can peel off then you can stick back on. Just watch out.
First i am going to start of with the lowest, PCI.
PCI:
The cards made for that now are just lowest of the low. DON'T EXPECT GOOD GRAPHICS. The highest card for PCI I've ever seen was a 6100Geforce from Nvidia.
Well from decending order best to worse
6100 Geforce
5200 Geforce
All other radeon series you can find for PCI are below this. (i.e. Radeon 7000)
OK.... moving on.
PCI-Ex1:
this is were you have 3 PCI(or more) and a PCI-Ex1.
Look for the Following cards, search Google or something don't ask.
descending order:
ATI Radeon x1550
ATI Radeon x1300
ATI FireMV 2400 <---3d modeling card, not for games
Nvidia Quadro4 NVS285 <---3d modeling card, not for games
Nvidia Quadro4 NVS440 <---3d modeling card, not for games
Thats all i could find.
AGP SLOT:
There are plenty of cards for this one, so i am going to post this generation and last generation cards.
For the best gaming: spend $150-$200
Ati Radeon 2600XT is the latest/ best card for it so far. (Direct X 10)
Ati Radeon 1950XT i have no clue were this ranks up against the 2600XT.
Nvidia Geforce 7900GS
Those to cards are for the best gaming you can get on AGP.
For normal everyday gaming. $100 range
Ati Radeon 1600XT
Ati Radeon 2600PRO (Direct X 10)
Nvidia Geforce 7600GT
Lowest of low, everyday computing, no gaming:
Ati Radeon 2400PRO (Direct X 10)
Ati Radeon x1550
Nvidia Geforce 7300GT
PCI-Ex16:
Due to the many existing cards, im doing this generation only. All others are pretty much out dated.
Extreme Gaming (in order least to greatest):
EXPECT TO PAY $200-600....
ATI Radeon 2900PRO
ATI Radeon 2900XT
ATI Radeon 3850($170!)
Nvdia Geforce 8800GTS
ATI Radeon 3870 (similar performance to 8800GT)
Nvidia Geforce 8800GT (similar performance to 3870)
Nvidia Geforce 8800GTX
Nvidia Geforce 8800 Ultra ($800...)
Mid-ranged cards:
Ati Radeon 2600XT (beats 8600GT)
Ati Radeon 2600PRO
Nvidia Geforce 8600GT
Nvidia Geforce 8600GTS
VERY LOW RANGE OR HTPC's OR INTERNET PC'S:
$50-100
Nvidia 8400GS
Nvidia 8500GT
Ati Radeon 2400PRO
Ati Radeon 2400XT
Personal opinion:
Go for mid-range unless you have the money for a high end card. I bought a 2600PRO pci-e16 and was easily over clocked to 2600XT specs. I think i was lucky because i bought an early card and got one with 2600XT core.
If you do buy one to install:
1. Unistall Graphics drivers for current card
2. Turn off PC
3. Insert Graphics card
4. Turn on Pc, and install new graphics drivers (should be on a CD)
Please don't come here and say: "Nvidia beats ATI!!" and dumb stuff like that, if i made an error please correct me.
THE EXAMPLES ARE MADE IN AMERICAN DOLLARS
When it first comes to buying a g-card (g-card = graphics card for short) you will have to figure out what kind of slot you have. I found a picture and edited a little.
Those are the kind of slots a PC might have. The best go in order from:
PCI-Ex16>AGP>PCI-Ex1>PCI
Your PC will have atleast 3 PCI or more + a Graphical slot. Dont buy a graphics card for your PCI if you have a PCI-Ex16
To figure out which slot you have, you will have to open the side door to your PC Case.
WARNING: Some New PC's have Warranties. There may be a sticker from your side door to your back of the case. They normally can peel off then you can stick back on. Just watch out.
First i am going to start of with the lowest, PCI.
PCI:
The cards made for that now are just lowest of the low. DON'T EXPECT GOOD GRAPHICS. The highest card for PCI I've ever seen was a 6100Geforce from Nvidia.
Well from decending order best to worse
6100 Geforce
5200 Geforce
All other radeon series you can find for PCI are below this. (i.e. Radeon 7000)
OK.... moving on.
PCI-Ex1:
this is were you have 3 PCI(or more) and a PCI-Ex1.
Look for the Following cards, search Google or something don't ask.
descending order:
ATI Radeon x1550
ATI Radeon x1300
ATI FireMV 2400 <---3d modeling card, not for games
Nvidia Quadro4 NVS285 <---3d modeling card, not for games
Nvidia Quadro4 NVS440 <---3d modeling card, not for games
Thats all i could find.
AGP SLOT:
There are plenty of cards for this one, so i am going to post this generation and last generation cards.
For the best gaming: spend $150-$200
Ati Radeon 2600XT is the latest/ best card for it so far. (Direct X 10)
Ati Radeon 1950XT i have no clue were this ranks up against the 2600XT.
Nvidia Geforce 7900GS
Those to cards are for the best gaming you can get on AGP.
For normal everyday gaming. $100 range
Ati Radeon 1600XT
Ati Radeon 2600PRO (Direct X 10)
Nvidia Geforce 7600GT
Lowest of low, everyday computing, no gaming:
Ati Radeon 2400PRO (Direct X 10)
Ati Radeon x1550
Nvidia Geforce 7300GT
PCI-Ex16:
Due to the many existing cards, im doing this generation only. All others are pretty much out dated.
Extreme Gaming (in order least to greatest):
EXPECT TO PAY $200-600....
ATI Radeon 2900PRO
ATI Radeon 2900XT
ATI Radeon 3850($170!)
Nvdia Geforce 8800GTS
ATI Radeon 3870 (similar performance to 8800GT)
Nvidia Geforce 8800GT (similar performance to 3870)
Nvidia Geforce 8800GTX
Nvidia Geforce 8800 Ultra ($800...)
Mid-ranged cards:
Ati Radeon 2600XT (beats 8600GT)
Ati Radeon 2600PRO
Nvidia Geforce 8600GT
Nvidia Geforce 8600GTS
VERY LOW RANGE OR HTPC's OR INTERNET PC'S:
$50-100
Nvidia 8400GS
Nvidia 8500GT
Ati Radeon 2400PRO
Ati Radeon 2400XT
Personal opinion:
Go for mid-range unless you have the money for a high end card. I bought a 2600PRO pci-e16 and was easily over clocked to 2600XT specs. I think i was lucky because i bought an early card and got one with 2600XT core.
If you do buy one to install:
1. Unistall Graphics drivers for current card
2. Turn off PC
3. Insert Graphics card
4. Turn on Pc, and install new graphics drivers (should be on a CD)
Please don't come here and say: "Nvidia beats ATI!!" and dumb stuff like that, if i made an error please correct me.