Which graphics card to waste my money on...
 

Previously purchased a Gainward Nvidia 5600 256MB graphics card from newegg.com ...say what you will about it, I liked the card till it shit the bed and wouldn't run anything 3d, 2d was all it could do. So I returned it... newegg.com gave me a refund instead of a replacement, so I've got some money to spend on another, now the question is what to buy..... I was looking at another Nvidia based card something on the lines of a 5600ultra or a 5700, but what are the ATI equivalents? I'm pretty much a nvidia guy, so if I were to buy an ATI card, where would my money be put best? I have no more than $170 I am willing to spend...so what are my options?


--Brad

Yeah, any suggestion ? My nvidia is working but there a crippling crash happening every now, where the whole X server freezes, the keyboard and mouse with it, and again that's driving me nuts, + games like america's army and ut2003 (didn't even bother trying tribes 2) don't play.

Do I'd me most grateful to hear about painless 3d experience.

Radeon 9500 non pro card for about $150.

If you get the right one.....you can software mod it to a 9700 (a $300 card) for nothing.

Instructions on how to softmod it below: http://www.duhvoodooman.com/9500mod/9500mod_1.htm

If you feel like spending like $300 I'd say just get a 9700 Pro or 9800 Pro.

Personally for what I play (BF1942, UT, Counter-Strike) a Radeon 9500 will do the job ;)

Word,
Whitehat

I think whitehat is right on target. Unless you want to spend 300 or more and are a gamer go with the 9500 / 9700 radeon. A geforce 4 or even 3 is good also but if your not a regular gamer you can save some cash and pickup any decent brand name cheap. :study: