Need a new graphics card

bullet21 · 09-25-2007, 03:26 AM

I dont know elbow from assholes when it comes to computers but, i got a new pc a few months ago, and the graphics card on it is just some 64 on-board intel one or something. I need a new card, whats a good one that doesnt cost an arm and a leg. I know some of these things go for like 600 dollars im mainly after value for money.

PS. my main motivation for getting it is that i just got simcity 4, i know im late but i only know have a computer capable of playing it. And i loved all the other ones.

Liquids · 09-25-2007, 03:32 AM

Does your mobo have a PCI Express or AGP video card slot?

I would suggest an nvidia 8600GTS

bullet21 · 09-25-2007, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquids

Does your mobo have a PCI Express or AGP video card slot?

I would suggest an nvidia 8600GTS

How exactly can i find out which it is???

Liquids · 09-25-2007, 05:48 AM

What kind of computer is it? If it's a name brand and you know the model name/number that would help... or if you know the model number of your motherboard. Other than that, pull the case cover off and look inside.

Considering it's new I'd imagine it has PCI-Express x16... that's what you want anyway.

Here's what they look like
From top to bottom:

PCI-E x4
PCI-E x16
PCI-E x1
PCI-E x16
PCI

If it's AGP, the AGP slot will be offset further back than the standard PCI's, like this (this pic also shows you the motherboard brand, ABIT, and the model number, BE6-II)

Choco · 09-26-2007, 10:41 AM

ah....ISA cards....those were the days....

wait, no they weren't....

anyway: i've played SC4 on my NV-36 (Geforce5700) very nicely, so you wont need a crazy card for that game. a slower clock speed with more memory is preferable for that game simply because the amount of images it has to render.

Ivan_markII · 09-27-2007, 12:31 PM

Rundown of various graphics cars with price to performance. They have two categories; AGP and PCI-Express. Hopefully your mother board has the superior PCI-E slot.

Best Gaming Graphics Cards for the Money: September 2007 | Tom's Hardware

What I find interesting is that more memory doesn't mean better performance; more memory in the motherboard really helps but the same doesn't seem to be true at all for graphics cards.