need a budget card

[Red_LightRanger]

I need a good solid card that will be able to run autocad and thats about it. Was thinking about the 8400gs, but im not sure. I dont want to get a pos, but I dont want to use it for gaming. I would like to stay between 60-100 dollars. THe machine im building is going to be for a business, which means all it has to do is ms office, internet and quickbooks. Oh and autocad down the road when i buy it. Any suggestions?

[Shell]

Here's a few cheap cards off the egg(ordered from most to least powerful):

X1950PRO 256MB $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814153034
2600XT 256MB $80 ($70 AMR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161176
8600GT 256MB $90 ($70 AMR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150265

You sure can get a lot better for $180+...

[theELVISCERATOR]

Cons: Its a little hot, but its high end, that is expected. Slap a nice fan system on your computer and you wont have a problem.


rofl @newegg comments....

I put one in the wifes office system got about 6880 in 06 with an e4600...

8600GT that is..

[Red_LightRanger]

Would it be worth going with a dx10 series card? You guys have any good links for comparisons between the series 8 cards (including the 8400)?

[uberwoot]

X1950pro ftw. 8600's suck bad and DX10 would slap that card in the face and laugh at it.

[LilBuddy]

Avg 3dMark06 Scores:

8400GS - 1500 - $25
7800GS - 4500
8600GT - 6500 - $55

I'm sure the 8400GS will get the job done nicely. Not sure how it will handle cad later though. 8600GT for $55 is the best deal.

Yes the 8600GT's suck compared to 8800GT's but it is $55...this is a low budget card for a $350 build....can't go spending $100 on just the video card. I'm sure some of you people would say not to get a $50 PSU but to get a $150 Corsair because it is better and the cheaper one sucks.

[uberwoot]

dident know they were $55, Last time i saw them they were about $80.

Well if the 8600GT is only $55 i say grab that one up.

[ziggo0]

What about a 7600GT 512 if you can find one for cheap? I grabbed one for a budget build for someone for 60 bux.

[LilBuddy]

8600GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500001)

I don't spend 4+ hours a day on Newegg doing nothin'!

[||Console||]

X1950pro ftw. 8600's suck bad and DX10 would slap that card in the face and laugh at it.
have you ever used a 8600gt ?
Please show us your results ?
I had one and the card is pretty good for the price
What is your best AM3 score score with your 8800gt ?

[Red_LightRanger]

ok im trying to decide between that 8600 and the 8400 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127296) which is only 26 bucks lol.
Remember there will not be any gaming on this build. Just autocad. I did some research for the requirements here (http://www.caddmanager.com/CMB/2006/04/autocad-2007-system-requir
ements/)
It says only 128mb and open GL capable

[EchoTheDolphin]

Keep in mind, Vista required 512mb to run.

And that's all it did, it sat there and eventually crashed due to low memory. Minimum will run the program, you really want at least double the requirements for passable performance TBH.

[jason4207]

I don't think DX10 has anything to do w/ AutoCAD...only games. So, if it's only AutoCAD work, and no games then I think just about any gfx card will do that's in your price range.

I run AutoCAD quite often on my work PC, and it only has onboard gfx! Just 2D stuff, though.

Edit: Echo, I think the 128MB requirement listed above refers to the gfx card, not system memory.