What Video Card should I get?

[Send]

Here's the deal.

I want to run my Battlefield 2 on my computer, the requirements are:

Geforce FX5700+
Radeon 8500+

The problem is, I have a PCI slot instead of an AGP one (it's not PCX) and I'm having the hardest time to find a card that meets the requirements for my PCI slot. If any you know one, please tell me.

By the way, this morning I lined up at 6AM in front of Future Shop to buy a few things, and ended up getting the Radeon 9600SE in a rush (everyone was grabbing for it) . After I got it, I went home and tried to put it in my computer and practically screamed at my senselessness. I ran back to Future Shop to return it and get something else only to find out I couldn;t return it until the 28th

[Stultus]

I have an FX 5700 and it works just fine....Oh wait, it's PCI-Express. I think the 5200 of that same series supports the older standard, though.

Edit: But that wouldn't meet the requirements you have in mind. I think you'd be better off purchasing a new motherboard.

[DoTheFandango]

Just get a new motherboard, and go to www.NewEgg.com.

Get a good AGP slot motherboard, you won't be disappointed.

Here:

AGP Slot Motherboards from NewEgg.com

[Send]

I checked out DTF's link and I'm pretty impressed with the quality+price. However, I'm looking for a compact motherboard (sorry I didn't say it before), and I'm pretty happy with a 1.8 GhZ motherboard that I have right now which may not be the best, but is a huge improvement from my 500 MhZ standard-sized motherboard.

After I asked a few people from elim, I got the idea of a Radeon 9250. Looking around on some local stores I found some weird versions:

Can someone please tell me the difference between the two?

[Pooh Bear]

woops, nevermind.

[Send]

woops, nevermind.

yeah thats what i expected

[DoTheFandango]

The 9250 is what I had on my old Desktop before I got a Mac and I really liked it. Just make sure you get the driver updates, or that thing will CHUG like there is no tomorrow.

[Bioture]

My advice is to invest in a new computer/motherboard and use the vid card you bought on it, if you got a good deal on the vid card. AGP is priced quite reasonably, and I'm guessing the 4x fx5700 is the minimum for bf2.

[PaulOakenfold]

9800 PRO 256, this thing has lasted me years, and probably will for years to come... invest in it, they run a lot cheaper than they used to.

[DoTheFandango]

That's AGP Paul.

[Subjugation]

I dunno, if you're going to upgrade to a new mobo, why not choose the PCI Express interface?

Although I'm sure AGP is going to get a few more years of mileage, the baddest cards and mobos are shifting towards PCI-express. Even if you don't get a mobo that runs an SLI or Crossfire mode, I was under the impression that the high-end PCI-Express cards are going to perform better than the high-end AGP cards. That's just what I've read, but I don't run my own benchmark tests, or anything like that.

That means next year you will still probably have the same mobo, but will be able to get a badass card like a GeForce 7800GT for less than $200 after the prices come down.

[Mr. Peanuts]

GEFORCE 6600GT!!

Seriosuly, that is an awesome AGP card, one of the best you can buy. not too steep either.

[Spider]

I'm pretty sure there are still PCI versions of lots of cards. Just go to a local computer part store, or any computer store, and ask. It'll just say on the box. ezpz.

Sure, it'd be great to get a new motherboard too. Of course, it might not be compatible with your processor or even your ram. Then it might not fix in the case. You can't just buy a motherboard. It's not exactly that simple.

Even if you do find one of the same socket as your processor your paying alot of money just for an AGP/PCX slot... Thats kinda silly. Just get PCI. You wont really notice a difference. Don't listen to those other mofos.

[Displaced]

AGP is dying, why shell out your hard earned cash on that?

upgrade your motherboard (cpu allowing) or both cpu and motherboard to something with a PCI-E slot and get a PCI-E card to run with it.

getting a AGP based mobo now means ull need to switch it over soonish, something with a PCI-E is more future proof.

however, ASRock has a motherboard with both AGP and PCI-E, which could be ideal for your situation, if:

a) it supports your processor
b) you can get a good AGP card on the cheap (read 2nd hand)

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1860

alternatively you could look at the PF88 from ECS, which supports Socket 939 Athlon 64s. Socket 478 Pentium 4, Socket 479 Pentium M and Socket 754 Athlon64/Sempron processors, it doesnt however have a AGP slot, so youd need to go PCI-E, but maybe not upgrade your processor.

link at http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1829

[Money]

i got the geforce fx5200 128mb :/