Video cards - Any suggestions?

[Spuz1]

I am planning on buying a new video card and I cannot decide on one, it’s driving me nuts, I have been looking for over a month now. :-/ So I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations for some good medium priced video cards. I am not a hardcore gamer or anything but I do want a video card that will run some of the newer games (Sims 2, RCT3 for example)

Any help would be appreciated.

[Spuz1]

1.8 GHz AMD Athlon 2200+
512MB DDR RAM
480Watt PSU
Geforce4 MX 64MB DDR

I just feel that it is defiantly time that I upgrade my video card.

[Raptor]

If you have no trouble playing the Sims 2 and RCT3 then you donot really have to.

I myself own an Ati/Radeon 9800Pro and it runs games such as Doom 3 and Farcry very well on 1024x768 and most settings on medium/high

[Spuz1]

Well, I do have trouble playing some games such as Sim City 4.

The 9800 Pro is the one I have been wanting, just is too much for my budget :-/

[Raptor]

I wouldn't go any lower than an Ati/Radeon 9600 myself.

I had an ATI/Radeon 9000Pro before this one which functioned quite well. The latest game I played with that was Colin Mcrae Rally 4. Occasionaly the game slowed down but it ran quite well.

[Spuz1]

Yeah, I've heard that the 9600 pro won't run certain games, such as Battlefield 1942, which I play a lot, so I have been skeptical about getting it, though it is the only card that I found that look's to have the most "bang for the buck."

[Raptor]

I donot think the game will simply not run. No videocard will simply refuse to run a game unless they donot support the technology the game was made for or requires to run.

However, since my 9000Pro was able to handle BF1942 just fine (online up to 32 players) I am very certain that the 9600 will be even better at it..

[chade]

Not sure what prices are like for you locally - but the Nvidia based Geforce 5700 Ultra cards are a rough equivalent of the 9800pro cards, and locally for me here tend to be a little cheaper.  I've purchased one myself (Sparkle brand) and have been pleased with it so far.

But I'd second Raptor's call - the 9600pro is sufficient for running all current games (eg. I have a friend with a 9600pro who plays Doom3 on it without problems - not at highest detail levels or high resolution, but it runs.  Doom3 is the highest requirement game currently on the market to the best of my knowledge).

Purchasing a 9600Pro may not prove sufficient to play games in 1-2 years however, so it depends somewhat on the level of future-proofing you are requiring.