guidance please

[clash]

I currently have a 5200 128meg in my puter. I play games like UT2004 and America's Army. Allthough i would not consider these highend games, my graphics are choppy at times. If i get shot once more because of it, i am sure it will be pulled and stomped to little peices upon the cement.

Now then....

I am not very versed on gfx cards. I was always too cheap to buy a higher end card. I have been doing a little window shopping online, and though it would be nice to have a 6800 Ultra, i aint paying $500 for a gfx card....

I am looking for a card Under $200, that would be a give a good performance gain from this pos 5200 that is currently stuttering under AA and UT2004.

I have read on here that the 5500 is basicly a reved up 5200.... Is this true? So then i would want to skip it correct?

Now i am seeing 5700 and 5700LE cards for under $200. Is the 5700LE about the best card i am going to get for under $200 ?

Any guidance you could give would be greatly appreciated.

[stratcatprowlin]

Dont go near the 5500's and 5700LE's.They are no better than what you have.
I recommend a 5900XT for well under $200.

[Sentential]

Well to be honest the 5700LE / 5500 isnt a good option and is only marginaly better. The best solution is to either wait for nVidia's 6600GT, or buy ATi's Radeon 9800PRO.

The 6600GT should be out before christmas and the 9800 is last gen's best offering. You can pick up a 9800PRO for about $150 now.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-247&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=14-127-127&DEPA=0

However if you have just a little more money, you can get a 6800NU which is very very good. Far superior to a 9800

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-096&depa=0

Or lastly you could get a referbished 9800

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268R&type=Refurbish

But if you can wait I highly suggest you get a 6600GT when they arrive.

[Nandro]

I agree with stratcatprowlin, 5900xt is the lowest I would go at $169 on newegg. Its $100 cheaper than the 6800NU but will seriously lag in most of the new gen games. That dosent include anything based on the doom 3 engine which really like NV hardware. The 6600GT is supposed to be out around christmas I believe and should stomp the 5900xt. If all you really want to do is play the games you listed the 5900xt will serve you well.

[Quailane]

I think a 5900xt or 9800pro would be your best options. Either one is fine, although 5900xt is a tad cheaper. Both should play future games just fine. You just can't turn on all of the effects is all. My volt-modded ti4200 kept close to my dad's 9800xt in america's army.

[Section8]

For $200 or under you can get a 9800 Pro and that is the best card you can get in that price range. Just make sure you get the 256 bit version don't get jipped with the 128!!!!!

[Liquid_Cooled]

wait for the 6600GT, which may take longer for the AGP version.

6600GT>6600(maybe)>9800pro>5900XT

[clash]

Looks like i will be waiting till around christmas. If ATI had better support for Linux i would go with a 9800. But their drivers are rather poor in linux.

I really appreciate your replies, it cleared up alot of confusion for me.

[Seabee]

clash, I also play a lot of Americas Army, and if you want a cheap solution, get a older Geforce 4 Ti. I started playing AA with the same card you currently have and had the same problems.

Went out, got a Ti4600, OCed it and now I can run AA with almost everything on. I am getting a better FPS too. Huge improvement.

This is of course only a short term fix, like if you could find a card like this for under $80 or so(dont know what they go for now). This would give you time, and money to look for a better card.