Cheapest graphics card needed.

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bulworth

Guest
I'm new to all this. I would like to know the cheapest graphics card I will need for my system. I have a 3200 AMD Athlon XP, 512 MB. I bought HL2 for $12 and I can't see spending $100+ just to play one game. Is there a card out there that will work with my computer in the $50 range? Am I being unrealistic? I really have no idea how to shop for a graphics card. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated.
 
Where did you get Hl2 for $12?

Please don't say Ebay...
 
well if u want to play hl2 and look good then u will have to spend around 150
 
bulworth said:
I'm new to all this. I would like to know the cheapest graphics card I will need for my system. I have a 3200 AMD Athlon XP, 512 MB. I bought HL2 for $12 and I can't see spending $100+ just to play one game. Is there a card out there that will work with my computer in the $50 range? Am I being unrealistic? I really have no idea how to shop for a graphics card. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated.
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Where did you get HL2 for that cheap? As for a vid card you can probably get a 9600 that will run HL2 for that price range. Maybe.
 
its most likely an agp card since idk of any socket a boards taht have intigrated
 
Yep, I got it at ebay.

Is this a bad thing? Like I say I'm new to this and I just was just looking for a good deal on a game I could play at work when the boss isn't looking. So any graphics card that says 9600 should work? Is ther a spacific amke and model that I can look up to comparison shop. It's a work computer, so I don't want to put anything super expensive in it. Thanks for you replies, they are a big help.
 
Well if you get a 9600, get a Sapphire brand or Powercolor, they make the best ones for lower prices.
 
A copy of Half-life 2 from Ebay probably won't work, as the CD code may have already been used.
 
I would never spend under 400 dollars for a video card now. Everything so low res and jaggy with anything lower.
 
Do not get a 9600SE (low performance card or known as Sucky Edition). A 9600, 9600Pro or 9600XT is what you would be looking for. A Nvidia FX card would work but you wouldn't get to run the game in DX9 with high quality like a 9600 card.
 
WOW - alot of great info in such a short time!

Thank you everyone! As far as buying the game on ebay, it seems I was able to load it on my computer with no problem. My graphics card is just a very old, so far that's the only glich I've encountered. Thanks again for all the advice.
 
I agree with asus on this one, go with the 9600 range excluding the SE version. If you can stretch your budget any further then a 9800pro will run HL2 even better, but the 9600/9600pro/9600xt are just fine for hl2.
 
I have a geforce fx5200.. it runs HL2 decently, i've had no problems. It just doesn't look amazing. I think those a pretty cheap
 
You should try to grab a 9800se. Then if possible, softmod it to a 9800pro, but the 9800se alone is a bit better than a 9600xt.
 
I think this may be the one I go with.

SHIPPI said:
I have a geforce fx5200.. it runs HL2 decently, i've had no problems. It just doesn't look amazing. I think those a pretty cheap
Click to expand...

You guys have given me some great input! I'm not a big gammer, so I don't need to have great quality to the picture. I run the sound through a $1.99 ear phone (at work).

Can anyone recommend a b&m to buy a fx5200 card? Also can you recommend a particular brand, or will any card that says fx5200 due? Thanks again all, you've given me alot to think about.
 
how can u play video games at work? :D and still get paid? what do you do lol
and how come nobody notices???
 
I got a 9550SE ... its crap but its cheap as anything
 
neptuneuk said:
how can u play video games at work? :D and still get paid? what do you do lol
and how come nobody notices???
Click to expand...

hopefully he has a fast enough computer to exit quickley if anyone sees him and y dont u just play at home anyways
 
I used to play quake windowed in computer class at school! was pretty cool!
 
You could have bought it at compusa.com for 10 dollars, eBay is a REALLY bad bet
 
I think the copy I got on ebay works just as well as anything I could have purchased for full retail price. It's just my graphics card is crap. I didn't know about the compusa deal, I would have bought it there if I knew about it.

Can anyone recommend a spacific make/model of a geforce fx5200 graphics card? Thanks!
 
bulworth said:
I think the copy I got on ebay works just as well as anything I could have purchased for full retail price. It's just my graphics card is crap. I didn't know about the compusa deal, I would have bought it there if I knew about it.

Can anyone recommend a spacific make/model of a geforce fx5200 graphics card? Thanks!
Click to expand...
doesnt really matter, theyre all shit.
 
giant384 said:
well if u cant afford a higher end card then u kind of have to
Click to expand...
Well there are other cards in the same price range. ;)
Although depending on where he is looking, selection might not be the best.
 
Thank you everyone for you input. It was very helpful!

Last night I purchased "ATI All-In-Wonder 9600" 128 MB DDR, AGP 8x/4x. It was on sale at CompUSA for $99. I hope this is what I need. Any input would be appreciated.
 
bulworth said:
Thank you everyone for you input. It was very helpful!

Last night I purchased "ATI All-In-Wonder 9600" 128 MB DDR, AGP 8x/4x. It was on sale at CompUSA for $99. I hope this is what I need. Any input would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
That will do just fine :)
 
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