a video card that will run UT3 good on max settings

[avalanche83]

I have started playing ut3 and it slows my system way down at 1024/768 and i am trying to find a decent card at a moderate price below $200. I currently have an x1800xt and a amd64 4000. keeping my cpu what are my options?

[Gabkicks]

i wonder if the cpu would bottleneck badly... But @ 1024x768, any 256-bit, 512mb videocard on newegg should run max, I think. Maybe a ATi HD4830 (noticably faster) or a Nvidia 9600 GT? I am unsure of what prices are like in the NL and what videocards are available.

[Rich'[ard]]

my 4850 maxes UT3 out at 1680x1050 at like 100fps. (i think) :santa:
well it was way over 30fps that's for sure.
i'd say a 4830 would do the job just fine :thup:

[iLoki]

is 1024x768 your max res? or did you turn it down for UT3? You can get a 9600gt or 9600GSO and it will run very nicely, as it will with a 4830 or 4850

[theflyingrat]

i wonder if the cpu would bottleneck badly... But @ 1024x768, any 256-bit, 512mb videocard on newegg should run max, I think. Maybe a ATi HD4830 (noticably faster) or a Nvidia 9600 GT? I am unsure of what prices are like in the NL and what videocards are available.

At 1024x768, the CPU will be more a factor than usual, but with a new video card that would get us up above 1280x1024, it'll be less an issue.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/cpu/celeron-e1200/ut3.png

If the CPU caps the performance, it'll be at around 50FPS, plenty at higher resolutions for smooth play. I'd count it as a negligible factor considering how old the OP's video card is. If he had the Celeron 440 in that chart, then it's time for an upgrade... but the X2 4000+ is at a good minimum-framerate level. You could get better with a new CPU, but it's not as imperative as the video card in this case.

My last card was an X1900XT, and I moved up to a single HD 4830; the difference in most any game was astounding. I could increase my resolution a few spots, increase FSAA and AF levels a bunch, and I'd still get better framerates. The MSI card is $95 with free shipping right now. That would even leave the OP plenty of wiggle room for a new CPU in the near future... just a thought. :D