This should be a FAQ: How do I find the best video card for...?

[cmhodge]

How does one search for the best video card for one's system and one's budget? What are good places to look for reviews and what places have the best prices and best service? I could tell you what my situation is, and ask for advice, but that would bore many of you. The advice would no doubt be helpful, but it would not be a scientific sample, since it would depend on who has the time and/or inclination to respond at this moment in time.

So, please give me some advice on how I can do my own homework and start my search. And Moderators, please consider making this a FAQ.

(Finally, if anyone wants to recommend what they think is the best AGP card in the under $150 range, go ahead! ;-) )

[noell]

To find suppliers, do a Google search for computer suppliers in your area or pick up a computer magazine (like PCWorld, PCMagazine or MaximumPC, for example) and look at the ads. Pretty well every ad will have a web address. As far as best service goes, who really knows? You can pick any supplier and hear pros and cons.

Let's do your example - suppose you pick Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/) as a supplier. Go to their website and click on video cards. Click a price range (in your case the $100 to $200 range). Select a manufacturer. Let's say you pick BFG. Click it and up will come a listing showing a 6200 and a 6600GT. In general terms, the higher the model number on the card, the more capable the video card. Back to the example, lets say you want to check out the BFG 6600GT. Simply do a Google search on "BFG 6600GT reviews". There will be no shortage of hits so just start in reading a few. Some of the ones I'd look at for this particular search would be:

Neoseeker(http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...bfg6600gtocagp)

Gamersdepot (http://www.gdhardware.com/hardware/v...6600gt/001.htm)

Hardocp (http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NzE2)

After you spend some time reading reviews, you'll get to know the better sites. Different searches, of course, bring up different results. Keep you eyes open for reviews from sites like Extremetech, Neoseeker, Toms Hardware and Anandtech. I find those generally reliable.

You asked for a reccommendation. I'm hesitant to do that as everyone has different expectations. Plus, I have no idea what type of system you have. However, FWIW, being both an nVidia fan and a BFG fan, in your price range, I would think you would be pleased with the BFG 6600GT. With any card you choose, make sure you get the type of card (AGP or PCI Express) that matches your system's graphics bus. In your case its AGP. Also keep in mind that performance in FS9 is primarily related to CPU power. That's why it is not uncommon for FS9 users to be disappointed with the small performance gain they get with a video card upgrade.

....Noell

AMD Athlon 4000+ (San Diego)
CoolerMaster 'Aquagate 120' Liquid Cooling
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium
2GB OCZ DDR400 CL2
BFG 7800GTX OC 256MB (Driver: XG84.12.v2)
OCZ PowerStream 520W
SB Audigy Gamer
SATA HDDs:
36GB WD Raptor (X2; RAID 0)
74GB WD Raptor
120GB WD Caviar

[ajax501]

Hi,I like shopping at tigerdirect.com. They have a number
of AGP cards, a good place to checkout prices at least.

[cmhodge]

Noell,
Thanks for your detailed response. I must say, tho, I got stuck at the point you say "Select a manufacturer" :o. There are so many it is hard for a novice to know where to begin. The 6600 GT does look nice. THanks for the links to the reviews. i guess this will take a bit of time to sort through.

--Chris

[noell]

That's a good point - where exactly does a novice start to pick out a video card brand? I guess it comes down to reading articles and reviews both on the web and in print and, after a while, you get to know the various brand names and how they stack up against each other. Whatever card you decide upon, IMO, for nVidia cards, you won't go wrong with any of these major manufacturers (in no particular order except alphabetically):

ASUS, BFG, eVGA, Leadtek, MSI, PNY, XFX


....Noell

AMD Athlon 4000+ (San Diego)
CoolerMaster 'Aquagate 120' Liquid Cooling
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium
2GB OCZ DDR400 CL2
BFG 7800GTX OC 256MB (Driver: XG84.12.v2)
OCZ PowerStream 520W
SB Audigy Gamer
SATA HDDs:
36GB WD Raptor (X2; RAID 0)
74GB WD Raptor
120GB WD Caviar