budget $50-$60 vid card

Building a email and surfing computer for a lady that has young grandkids. She wants a vid card that will play their games (kiddie games not hardcore 3D stuff). What can I put in for under $60 that ain't total junk?

Was thinking maybe the Sapphire 9200 for $58 at newegg.com or Sapphire 9000 for $55, but I don't remember the scoop on these?

Seemed like the 9200 was sort of crappy?

Is the 9000 sort of the updated version of the old trusty 8500?

Looks like the GF MX440 is under $50. Suggestions for something super cheap?

The 8500 and the 9100 are the same, and the 9000/9200 are the same. Watch out for the SE. The 9000/9200 has less texturing power than the 8500. Average 3dmark2k1 scores:

8500/9100: 10,000
9000PRO/9200PRO: 8,000
9000/9200: 6,500-7,000ish
9200SE: 5000ish

Thanks. Looks like the 9100 is around $74 which is a little over budget. Any reasonable alternatives?

Well, I realy hate to recomend an Fx5200, but thats in your budget. Look around the classifieds: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=256919

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=266542

Either of those would be good choices.

Talked her into spending a little extra on the Sapphire 9100 since I found her an excellent deal on harddrive and CD burner. Thanks Yuriman.

Does anybody know what the difference is between a 9000 and a 9200? I am assuming that the 9200 is better.

I read somewhere that 9200 is just a 9000 with 8x agp support, is that the only difference?

Yes it is, and it equates to only about 1% more speed.

you could try ebay

I put a GeForce2 MX440 into the computer I'm running now and it's pretty good for the price (~$42 off newegg). I just use it for old games though, like Starcraft and Diablo II. Gotta upgrade as soon as I can get the $$$

I'd say a GF ti 4200 or 4600 on ebay would be the best, speed wise. Of course that is if you can find one for $60

The Radeon 9000 with 128mb of memory would suit the said needs just fine. My sister has one and it has worked great for over a year now and that is with playing WCIII at all the high settings. It may not be a barn burner, but it would work just fine for what you/she is wanting. Not sure on the price of those nowdays, but I am sure one could be found for $60-$70.

theres a junk geforce fx5200 u can get for ultra cheap, its the asus v9520 magic. Its a bit risky because theres two versions I believe, the most common is a 128 MB - 64 bit memory bus with 6ns ram *puke*, the other is 64mb - possibly 128bit 4ns ram... much better. They are both the same exact product just a variation on the 9520 magic series. Im not sure if the 64mb version is 128-bit but it would make sense that asus built the card for extreme-budget and they threw alot of thier old overstocked 333mhz 64-bit ram on some, and then when they ran out of that they put 64mb-128bit 4ns ram on some.

I'm actually not sure but its just my theory. any 128mb-64bit for 50 bucks is not bad... but its definitely shouldn't be for anybody who browses in this forum! I'm hoping that the 64mb version is 128 bit ram. I know the 128mb version has 128mb 64 bit of ram and goes stock 333mhz; on the other hand, the 64mb version the memory type is unknown but does run stock at 400mhz.

If the 64mb version is 128bit ram, the asus v9520 magic could be an okay buy at 50 bucks. An fx5200 is too slow to use more than 64mb of 128 bit ram anways!

Anybody know if the 64mb version of the asus v9520 magic is 64 or 128-bit??? at this point I know the stock memory speed is 400mhz (could possibly even be 4ns ram)

Please don't say yes or no if you don't know the answer for sure. I know alot of people have hunches about how many bit the 64mb version of 5200 cards have, but why would they be selling the 64mb version of the asus v9520 for the exact same price as the 128mb version? Heres what I would say.....

asus v9520 magic.... do not buy this card unless you can confirm 2 things.

1. the 64 mb version has 128-bit ram...
2. the actual v9520 you are ordering is the 64mb version

if it infact does have 128-bit ram it would be a decent card for 50 bucks!

U could probably get a better used one but I have been looking for something cheap thats new so I can save my money for a super system when systems get way better with pci express and these new technologies are matured.

If anybody knows what bit the ram is on the v9520 magic 64 MB VERSION ONLY please say.... and don't say unless u have real proof and know.

to my knowlege, all 64mb fx5200s are 64 bit since they use only 4 ram chips. all 256mb are 128 bits but cost too much, you can get a ti4200 for less anyway. 128mb is often 64 bit from the stories im hearing but mine is 128 bits and they are out there. to save yourself trouble, why not just get any geforce3, even a ti200? you can get em for $40 easy on ebay

OC550, from what i see u know ur stuff.

Okay heres the deal... I have a geforce 4 mx440 with 64mb of ram, only the ram is 128-bit. If i look at the card there is only 2 spots where I see ram on it... and u can see it on the front and back side. Is this 2 chips?

I know there is a v9520 magic that has 128mb of ram, and a v9520 magic that has 64mb of ram... the 64mb version i've seen pictures and it has 2 visible chips on the card, probably on front and back. the 64mb version also runs stock ram at 400mhz. Can u say from this information if its 64-bit or 128-bit ram?

Im just wondering cause i've been researching the v9520 card and I know it has one 128mb version with 333mhz 64-bit ram, and one 64mb version with 400mhz (unknown-bit) ram. But i see in the pictures that it only has 2 chips on the front side. is a chip on a front and back side equal to 2 chips or just one? I don't know this stuff... well anyways I know my mx440 has the same amount of chips on it as the 64mb v9520. Both 128mb and 64mb versions of the v9520 are for the same exact price so I figured the 128 mb must be 64-bit whie the 64mb version was 128... but i have no idea. I'm pretty poor! I don't have alot of money to spend on computers right now... and my geforce 4 mx 440 appeared to break, so I ordered the cheapest card i could find the v9520... its the 64mb version and it gets here friday... the bad news is my geforce 4 mx 440 came back to life so now i have an extra card comming... and i hope its 128 bit!!! because if its not then my card will already own it badly. I'll probably buy a cheap mobo and throw one of my athlons in it with this 50$ v9520 card and give it to my dad if its only 64-bit ram, he still uses a 600mhz hp pavillion.

I think both are 64 bits. the reason why they cost the same is the 64mb card uses faster ram which costs more to make. 2 ram chips on each side means you got 4 chips and its 64 bits. yes your mx440 is 128 bits and would own it. you could try the fx5200 just in case, wouldnt hurt. If you checked on ebay you could have gotten a much faster geforce3

i got my 9100 at newegg for $66. 128mb, great card. 64mb is even cheaper.

~Alex

Screw 64 megs...for a few bucks more u can get double the memory..I never even consider 64 mb. Anyway, there are some nice 9100s with 128 MB! (RED PCB!!!!NEVER SEEN THOSE IN MY LIFE ON A 9100s!) for 50 bucks !!! look at pricewatch and it'll link it to u. I got a nice 9100 right now, from sapphire that is a little underclocked at 230/500, but will do 280 easy as pie. I only play WC and UT2003 anyway.....and maybe Halo...all online with a 56k connection!hahaha!!!

ummm ok. id take 128mb if the price difference is small and both overclock good. for ti4200s, the 64mb ocs much better. can not speak for other cards but I hear all 128mb mx440s are 64 bits

Thats what i'm thinking is maybe this v9520 magic is like a MX440 as far as ram. my mx440 has the same amount of chips and the same amount of ram as the card I ordered. Thats why I thought it might be 128-bit... Well i guess i'll find out tommarow.. if its junk i'll post in here not to buy either versions of that card. the v9520 non magic cards are 128-bit though. I seriously hope it outperforms my mx440 or i'm gonna stick it in a cheap 266 mobo with an amd 2400 and give it to my dad. I would be using my amd 2400 but I tried lapping the core and i can't get it to stay as cool as I used to. Its cool enough to run at 2.2ghz but not with a slow fan so i'll just crank it to stock speeds and give it to him and he'll probably love a 64-bit fx5200 as all he does is play some old law and order game.

any card can play old games do you think your dad will credit you, maybe buy you a $40 ti200?