Video Card Recommendations Please

[golfnut]

Would like to purchase good quality video card that will be compatable with my Windows XP Home Ed., Athlon 2600XP processor and Asus motherboard. Main video useage is watching DVDs, no gamer here so I am concerned with DVD video quality and not game graphics. Thank you for your help and recommendations.

[Airedale1]

I got my hands on an ATI - All-In-Wonder Radeon - this will capture to MPEG2 and comes with MMC (Multi-Media-Centre 7). I upgraded on ATI's web site and followed the guides at http://www.lordsmurf.com - it was useless with the MMC 7.5 I got with the card, but MMC 8.5 is a fantastic tool. I even got Macrovision removed with the link on Lordsmurf.s site.

[Faustus]

I picked up an ATI 9600pro recently, its been pretty nice. No capture of course, you'd need an All in wonder for that. ATI is doing pretty well right now, but nVidia still makes some great cards on the Med. to low end market also.

[MCOPTOM]

128mb Nvidia Geforce FX 5200

seems good so far

[SLICK RICK]

I have the same as flaystus, ATI 9600 Pro. No complaints.

SLICK RICK

[elmotheteapot]

I have a 9800SE AIW dead cheap, and the AIW features are great, since youre not a gamer, a 9000AIW (bit overpriced) or as Airedale suggested.

[golfnut]

Elmotheteapot, what is "dead cheap", might be interested if the price is right. Thanks for the reply.

[rallynavvie]

I've had problems with the encoding from the AIW cards that capture to MPEG. However they do have relatively decent MPEG decoding thus a DVD would probably play pretty well on one. However for the price you can't beat the PNY GeForceFX 5200 with 128MB VRAM. They go for $100 easy and do a damn fine job with regular use or gaming. If you do want a capture device for video editing someday don't use a VGA card, get a Canopus ADVC-50 or 1394 instead.

If money isn't an issue, you want to play with multiple monitors, and you don't play games at all I'd say go get a Matrox Parhelia 256. I bet that thing rocks the house

[elmotheteapot]

By dead cheap around 130GBP UK

Beware two types of 9800se

1st: 9800se 128bit memory (reduces performance majorly) with 4 or 8pipelines either one is pretty terrible

Type 2: the one i have. It is cut from failed 9800 wafers, before you scream failed in horror, when a chip is made it is cut from a large wafer of silicone they test around 10% of chips and if those fail then the whole wafer is discarded (however there are still fully working chips in there). Ati then take these 'failed' chips and make them into 9800se diabling 4 pipelines which with a softmod can be reactivated with 60-70% sucess. If all goes well you have a fully working 9800PRO AIW (around 300-400GBP). Even if the mod fails you can reset the card and even at stock its faster than a 9600XT and its roughly the same price and its got all those lovely AIW features.

[golfnut]

Pardon my ignorance, what does that relate to in US dollars and how much would shipping be in US dollars. Thanks.

[elmotheteapot]

Usually type 1 is only avaliable in the US, £130 is around $200 but due to the US hardware market probably cheaper. You can find type two but its not AIW and as a result around $145-$200. shipping vary's from store to stor eand the type of shipping that you require. I gues no more the $10 some places free.

[golfnut]

elmotheteapot have you done this sofmod you mentioned to this card you are selling and was it successful, did you gain the 60-70% success?

[elmotheteapot]

Im not selling the card, also unfortunatly the softmod didnt work for me.

[golfnut]

Thanks for the reply.

[Dawn of the Dead Fan]

If you are looking to just watch DVD, not capture or anything great.


Nvidia Geforce 4 64mb 440mx se. Those are decent cards. I have been using them for 2 years now, I replace my systems every 6 months and when I do I install that exact same card.

[808smokey]

I replace my systems every 6 months and when I do I install that exact same card.

Why do you have to do that??

[golfnut]

Dead of the Dawn Fan thanks for the suggestion, I will check it out.

[Dawn of the Dead Fan]

I replace my systems every 6 months and when I do I install that exact same card.

Why do you have to do that??

I chose to replace my systems because I am very hard on a System.

Plus it's nice to have whatever the latest technology going around.

Though I stick to the Geforce 64mb cards and generic burner's I usually get everything else top of the line, Processor's, HDD, Memory.

Hell I use Onboard sound......... The only thing I will not tolerate is Onboard Video. Since I am not a game freak I can't see spending hundreds of Dollars on Video cards. The 64mb Geforce cards are a good value and if you are a gamer, you won't be displeased.