Best AGP video card under $150???

[T. T.]

Hi, all:

I have a AMD-based system that currently running on top of a AMD
Athlonâ„¢ 64 3300 CPU with 1GB of ram, and the video card is a AGP
version of ATI Radeon® 9250 with 128MB of RAM. I'm a casual gamer, and
I have a R/C flight simulator called RealFlight 3.5. For current
setting the RealFlight G3.5 simply could not perform with reasonable
frame rate.. Here are my questions:

1. If I'm a casual gamer who sometimes also play MS Flight Simulator X,
would I be better off to just upgrade my system to a PCI-E system, such
as a Intel Core 2 Duo system?? For under $500 what would be on your
shopping list?

2. If I want to save some money by upgrading to a new system, would I
expect really big performance jump (frame rate it is) by upgrading to a
newer 256MB or even 512MB AGP based video card?? If so, which card
should I get for the best C/P value (Cost / Performance) for a AGP card
under US$150?? Is this is a wise investment (given that AGP might be
really phasing out in the next few years)???

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate that!

 

[DRS]

Hi, all:

I have a AMD-based system that currently running on top of a AMD
AthlonT 64 3300 CPU with 1GB of ram, and the video card is a AGP
version of ATI Radeon® 9250 with 128MB of RAM. I'm a casual gamer, and
[...]

2. If I want to save some money by upgrading to a new system, would I
expect really big performance jump (frame rate it is) by upgrading to
a newer 256MB or even 512MB AGP based video card?? If so, which card
should I get for the best C/P value (Cost / Performance) for a AGP
card under US$150?? Is this is a wise investment (given that AGP
might be really phasing out in the next few years)???

The AGP 7600GS is a big jump up from the 9250. You'd probably double your
frame rates for around US$130 from Newegg. For a casual gamer it'd probably
be sufficient. That way you can wait until the 2nd gen DX10 cards come out
before upgrading your entire system.

 

[willbill]

Hi, all:

I have a AMD-based system that currently running on top of a AMD
Athlonâ„¢ 64 3300 CPU with 1GB of ram, and the video card is a AGP
version of ATI Radeon® 9250 with 128MB of RAM. I'm a casual gamer, and
I have a R/C flight simulator called RealFlight 3.5. For current
setting the RealFlight G3.5 simply could not perform with reasonable
frame rate.. Here are my questions:

1. If I'm a casual gamer who sometimes also play MS Flight Simulator X,
would I be better off to just upgrade my system to a PCI-E system, such
as a Intel Core 2 Duo system?? For under $500 what would be on your
shopping list?

2. If I want to save some money by upgrading to a new system, would I
expect really big performance jump (frame rate it is) by upgrading to a
newer 256MB or even 512MB AGP based video card?? If so, which card
should I get for the best C/P value (Cost / Performance) for a AGP card
under US$150?? Is this is a wise investment (given that AGP might be
really phasing out in the next few years)???

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate that!

wait a small bit and spend a small bit more

wait another 6/7 weeks for the N.V. 7600GT
to show up in volume. so far it's occasionally
shown up on Newegg.com this past 10/12 weeks,
but mostly out of stock. the Leadtek (sp?)
part is $175 and there's a 2nd one (XFX?)
at $190. i'd personally go with Leadtek

bill