Best Vid card for the $$$

[Ruler2112]

I posted a thread here a while back describing problems with the video card I put in my new system- a GF4 440SE 64 meg card. I've made absolutely 0 progress toward solving the problem, and am beginning to think that it's something defective in the card. I'm looking to get a different one to replace it and need advice.

I'd like to keep costs down to a minimum, but also want the best bang for my buck. Something I've noticed with most computer stuff- you increase by a little $, get a big increase in performance. At a certain point, the performance increase doesn't justify the $ increase. I want to get something at that level.

I'd like a TV-out if possible, preferably a standard AV jack instead of S-video. I have no use that I can think of for a DVI port. I'm going to be running both Linux and Windoze, so I'm thinking something by nVidia for compatibility. I'm going to be doing some gaming, some development, and some standard applications. I have an 8x AGP port on my MB, but don't necessarily insist on using the full 8x - how much real-world performance increase is there on a regular system?

I've half-followed quite a few threads on video cards and am willing to learn, but there seems to be no good guide to picking one. I don't have time to get a PhD in video card features; I'd just like a descent card for a good price. (Good price as defined above. I won't complain about spending a little more money for better stuff, but don't want to throw it away to simply have the latest model either.)

Thanks in advance guys.

[cunokyle]

ATI Radeon 7500 works absolutely great in both Windows and Linux. A great card for the price!

[Redwolf]

If you want a TV in/out card, look for an ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon card. There are two versions, the 9700 (which is great for gaming, but very expensive) and just the regular Radeon AIW version (what you should look at).

For Linux compatibility, go with a an ATI Radeon or an nVidia Geforce based card. Both will
suit you well.

If you want gaming performance, look for wither a Radeon 8500 (NOT THE LE VERSION), a Radeon 9500/9600 (although those are a bit expensive) or a Geforce Ti 4200/4400. All 5 are good cards in diferent price ranges.

As for the AV jacks, most are going to come with S-video. Unless you find an S-video to RCA converter, I'm afraid you may be out of luck. Might wanna look at Best Buy, Circut City, Radioshack, or the local AV shop for something like that.

[Ruler2112]

The TV-in would be a really nice feature; it's something I've looked at on-and-off again for about 2 years now and have never really done much about it though. I just looked up the ATI cards on NewEgg. Does the AIW also work well on Linux? (I had heard that ATI cards have issues on non-windoze OSs.)

I was looking at the 'ATI ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 7500 64MB AGP'. I'm thinking I don't need a really super-powerful card, as my Banshee is still running most of the games that I play, albeit with interruptions here and there and at lower resolutions. (Diablo II, Rune, C&C, etc.)

I've already looked at the converter cables. A cable to go from S-Video to a standard composite jack is $40 at Radio Shock. (Really surprised me when the dude showed it to me.)

[Tazzin]

Ruler... I read your previous post reagarding your G4 MX440 SE video card. One thing I would do is check your Device Manager.. make sure you dont have any ?'s in the list. Next.. I would go to the chipset vendor of your MB.. Via? ..and get the latest drivers for the chipset. Just upgraded my dad's computer to a new MB/processor/case and PNY G4 MX440SE... installed all I could in 640X480... yuck! Then after installing the Video drivers.. windows had a problem and wouldnt boot... searched Google and found the solution... need new Via Chipset Drivers! downloaded and installed.. and waallaaaa.. it worked.. no problems.

[twistedbrntucker]

What are your power supply specs?

[Ruler2112]

I do have several ?s in the DM Tazzin. I just checked EPOX's web site- I've got the latest drivers on CD already. Gainward's FAQ says to load the video card drivers before the MB drivers anyways. Good thought though; had me excited for a while!

I've got a 350 watt AMD Approved PS. The voltages according to the MB monitoring are pretty tight, far closer to the mark than the 300 watt ones I've been using for work.

[Redwolf]

ATIs work beautifully on Linux now. There used to be issues until they released some linux drivers and now the drivers are built into the kernel (although you'll wanna download off www.ati.com for openGL and stuff). You won't have a prblem.

If a Banshee (a Voodoo Banshee, right?) works well for you, you'll have No problems with a Radeon.

[Omardeth]

bang for the buck i think is a ti 4200 . you can get them for about 100$ give or take 20$ . i think it is the best card out there till you get to the ati cards 9500 and up . it isn't dx9 native but i wouldn't worry about that to much . if you want dx9 and wanna stay cheap then the fx 5200 is the way to go . you can get them about 80-100$ easy and it is native dx9 . it is a notch under the ti 4200 but for 100$ and under i think it is a good stop gap till the prices of the 9700/9800/pro's come down in price by the end of the year . you can get a fx5200 now wait till about dec and i bet you can get a 9700/9800 then . and i bet the price will drop so much that you can get the fx5200 now and the 9700/9800 later for about the same price as the 9700/9800 now .... if you have multi box's , i got MANY , having the extra card is nice .

my .02$ now i will wait to be flamed .