Member Avatar for Mcgoo

I want to get a 256MB Video Card that is less then $200 But will be good for gaming in the future. What should i do? Any Ideas?

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As started this thread and raised compatibility concerns, the most useful approach is to evaluate any candidate card by how it performs in practice and how well it fits the existing system. Headline specs and marketing can be misleading; a balanced checklist gives better long-term value.

  • Compare real-world game benchmarks for the exact models being considered, at the target resolution and settings rather than relying on RAM size alone. Trusted review sites and model databases make this quick to check (Tom's Hardware, TechPowerUp GPU Database).
  • Confirm system compatibility: slot type and physical length, clearance for cooling, and any required external power connectors or adapter needs.
  • Verify power supply capacity and rail configuration against the card's peak draw before assuming upgrades are unnecessary.
  • Favor cards with active driver support from the vendor and good thermals; architecture and driver maturity often matter more than raw memory numbers. See general GPU architecture notes at Wikipedia - Graphics processing unit.
  • Consider warranty and seller reliability; used cards can be economical but carry higher risk without return or warranty coverage.

In short: pick by published, up-to-date benchmarks and compatibility checks first, then weigh warranty and vendor support. That approach will keep a purchase more useful over time than choosing on a single spec.

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Member Avatar for JakeCourtney

Uh, it's hard to decide without knowing what interface. AGP, PCI, PCI 16x. I would go with a ATI 265MB 800XT.

Member Avatar for Mcgoo

Thanks, My interface is a PCIe. Thats a good point i suppose its hard to know without knowing what interface.Also, i found a nice card by ATI. The Radeon 512MB PRO x1600 PCIe.Its $230 straight from ati. Is it anygood?
Thanx

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