Opinion on Upgrading Video Card

Hey,

I have a Desktop PC the Sony Vaio PCVRX650. It came stock with an nVidia TNT2 m64 32 MB AGP 4x Card. By the way I bought this PC 5 years ago. Any way I recently decided to upgrade the computer.

I searched around and found out that the stock mobo is compatible with an Intel Pentium 4 Northwood Core Proc. 2.2 GHZ, 2 slots for PC2100 Ram, each slot compatible with up to 1 GB DIMMS.

Also I found that I could purchase some decent video cards at good prices for this computer. I live in Canada. I found an Sapphire (ATI Radeon) 9550, 256 DDR 128 bit interface, for about 75$. It is the best deal I could find, and comparing to similar nVidia GPU cards it is better and cheaper. It runs on AGP 4x and 8x.

When I searched I found to upgrade this computer to a P4 Northwood 2.2GHz, 1GB Ram, and this card it would cost about 400$ +. Yikes, thats way too much to spend on such an old PC. So I decided to stick with just the video card. Do you guys think it is worth it for 75$. Below I have provdied an official link with all the specs.

The only reason I wish to update is to make this Computer Vista Premium Ready and all I am really missing is the RAM and Video Card. I have 512 mb of Ram installed. Also I hear this card handles some of the modern video games decently, and these are from recent reviews reviewing budget cards.

So what do you think is the 75$ worth it or what. Please keep in mind I am not a big gamer, and I am on a very tight budget, so I am not going to be buying another PC anytime soon. This PC is mainly my Parents' and I am a heavy user aswell. Also If I will buy a new PC it will be a laptop anyway and I am waiting for decent deals so around Summer 07!

Here is the link

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeon9550/index.html

__________________
Microsoft = Catholiscism-Mainstream!
Mac OS X = Orthodoxy-Secluded!
Linux = Protestant Denominations-No standard!
Conclusion: Religion has no place in computers!

Honestly the only cards that I suggest buying that have a 50 in it are the 7950 from Nvidia and the X1950 from ATi. So with that said, spend an extra ~25 dollars to get the 9600, well worth it, still plays TODAYS games at medium support with great fps. I am positive that it will run Aero just fine because my laptop has a X200 in it (aka the M200 Express :S and the X200 is more of a 9200/9600 mix) and Aero runs awesomely.

Or if you find a good deal on a 6600 GT 128MB Nvidia, youll be blown away.

Thats what I have to offer.

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

I kinda agree with what Goober said, and without quoting him, cant really say much else

Just FYI, please dont make duplicate posts, not being harsh, just giving you a gentle nudge

Seeing as Goober replied to this in the other thread, maybe this one gets closed or something, whatever....

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My Blog
www.filmsbynick.com
http://www.youtube.com/filmsbynick
For my comp specs, check out my profile

Sorry it was my browsers fault. Any way looks like my other post got taken over any way. LOL! So post suggestions if any hear!

__________________
Microsoft = Catholiscism-Mainstream!
Mac OS X = Orthodoxy-Secluded!
Linux = Protestant Denominations-No standard!
Conclusion: Religion has no place in computers!

Hey guys I found an Ati Radeon 9600 on ebay, for about 60 bucks in total. What do you think. Oh the variation I think is an 9600 Pro with 128MB memory?

__________________
Microsoft = Catholiscism-Mainstream!
Mac OS X = Orthodoxy-Secluded!
Linux = Protestant Denominations-No standard!
Conclusion: Religion has no place in computers!

If its in good condition and you are not buying JUST THE BOX or JUST THE MANUAL then yes go for it. That is an awesome deal.

__________________
You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

Do not worry Goober, I do my research about the item and check to make sure with the seller of what they are selling. I basically live off ebay! except for food... most of the time . Anyway I decided to go for a 256 MB 9600 XT instead. Currently the cost will be about 60$ I am the winning bidder so far!

__________________
Microsoft = Catholiscism-Mainstream!
Mac OS X = Orthodoxy-Secluded!
Linux = Protestant Denominations-No standard!
Conclusion: Religion has no place in computers!

That is awesome(Im using that word a lot)! I had (like I said before) a 9600, but it was an AIW, so it wasnt as good as the XT but I enjoy having the perks of the AIW-ness.

__________________
You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

I'd edit my first post in this thread, but its too old to do now, sorry

__________________
My Blog
www.filmsbynick.com
http://www.youtube.com/filmsbynick
For my comp specs, check out my profile

I was outbid and the cost went up to around 70$. So I decided to look for a 9800 but those are still to expensive for my needs especially. So I decided not to buy the card and instead save my money and spend it on a lavish laptop eventually! I don't know I thought about it like this. The computer I described above would not be able to take full advantage of such a card. It only has an AGP 4X Bus, so it will not push the card to its max capabilities. Also I think its just not worth it to spend so much money updating old technology, since that money could go into newer better technology. All a person needs is a little bit of patience, so I will wait. Besides this computer can run Vista, just without Aero, which makes Vista run way more efficiently to be honest with you.

__________________
Microsoft = Catholiscism-Mainstream!
Mac OS X = Orthodoxy-Secluded!
Linux = Protestant Denominations-No standard!
Conclusion: Religion has no place in computers!