Does anyone care to help me? ... kind of a novice at this stuff

[Mike S KPDX]

I asked a question in another sites forum about an update for my vid card and a kind person responded and suggested that for my system to get a GF4200. OK, no problem so I go off to FRY'S Electronics (comp store) and ask for one and the teenager salesman stated that the 4200 is a far to old of a card and is not stocked by them anymore. He went on to say that it is a total waste of money and I should be looking at a FX5200 that would 'blow the doors in on any GF series'. Well, I have done a bit of research and am not sure this is correct but beyond that I am really confused now (way to much information over the last few days).I have a AMD2100 512 with a TI200 64 AGP no OC. I will be replacing the entire system in 12-14 months. All I want is to 'boost' my setup a bit (I understand the no FR increase per say) for FS2k4. I would like to be between $100 and $200 US. I have listed some cards below from a great shop just around the corner from me (http://www.enuinc.com/) and I would like to purchase from them. Here is my possible list (their suggestions):ASUS GeF-4 Ti4200 128MB AGP 8X $137.00 USMSI G4TI4200-VTD8X 128MB VIVO 8X $139.00 USMSI FX5600-TD128 128MB $164.00 USASUS FX5600 128MB 128bit $185.00 USCould anyone knowledgable one here just take a minute to help decide on one of these? Please? I dont need a lot of bells and whistles, just a boost. It is very confusing espcially with the issues concerning FS2k4. Maybe no update is the suggestion??Thoughts on adding another 512 ram?Thanks all...

[Guest tgabriel]

I am not that big a video guy, but I just put the MSI G4Ti 4200 128 MB you list in my system (PIII 1GHZ, 768MB RAM, blah, blah) and it does just fine. To me the price is right too. 512 RAM is plenty unless someone is giving RAM away. You don't mention your cpu, but if it is something above 1GHZ, you should be fine until the next generation of speed comes along.Like you in 1 - 2 years I am going to build a new one that will use the cutting edge when that time comes as this one did 2 years ago (ceptin' the video which is what I wanted to do then but didn't).

[Avcomware]

Hi, Mike.Did you try your GF3 with FS9?Any of the above, will work, the best may be hard to decide on, depending what else you want from the board, DVI, etc.The ATIs right now have a slight edge, performance vs cost, but I found my GF3 with 29.42 drivers to get the best clarity, Aniso. 8 and LOD to -3. If you can get a 9500 Pro, the real ATI red board with L shape memory, for about $150 maybe be your best bet. You can then OC to equiv of the 9700.Of the ones above MSI may be your best buy, but ASUS makes good hardware, and it may be best if the $ dif., does not cause you problems. TV

[Tavers]

Mike, that guy doesn't know what he is talking about! The FX5200 is basically the MX version of the FX. :-rollIf you can, get the FX5600 Ultra, not the vanila FX5600.They're pretty close in performance to the Radeon 9500. The Radeon 9500s are becomming pretty scarce it seems.

[Guest ba747heavy]

I would suggest the ATI 9700, a great card :D

[Mike S KPDX]

well, here is how it is going so far in my zip code area of 97219 in the US (and I quote)Best Buy - 'the TI cards are no longer available at any Oregon stores'Circuit City -'we only carry the FX5200 128 Ultra, this is best one you can get now for under $300 anyways'CompUSA -'they dont make the TI cards anymore, we dont have and they will be tough to get'PC Club -'we got the 4600 for $300 or the FX5600 for $175, thats it'PC Supply (local shop, built my box pcsupplyinc.com) -'the guys on the forum are right! you only have 4x AGP on the mobo, we can get you the GF4 TI 4800 128 for $199, for us the 4200 is only $10 less'ENU (local parts warehouse enuinc.com) -** as listed in my main post **OK, now the online pricewatch.com stuff...Inno3d(?) GF4TI4200 128 $102 via Amamax (who is Inno3D??)MSI GF4TI4600 128 $166 via Target USAGainward GFFX5600 Ultra 128 $195 via GameVE.comI have never ordered parts via the net, thoughts? I dont mean to sweat this, for me I can spend a couple of hundred and it wont break me, but just looking for bang for the buck. Does this hunt for 128 megs help? (have a TI200 64 now)Thanks guys.

[Tavers]

http://www.newegg.com is a pretty good online retailer I'm led to believe. They have a good selection of Graphics Cards.. :)