PSP Memory Stick, Video Card or DVD Burner

[gamer007]

My birthday is coming up in August, and my parents gave me 3 choices. A Memory Stick Duo for my PSP, a new video card, or a DVD burner (Dad's taking his portable one back :-(). The price limit my parents set is $100 CDN for the video card.

What is the best choice?

I'm thinking about a new video card (Currently have a GeForce 4 MX440 w/ AGP8x [Running @ 4x because mobo can only support that]). My dad promised to upgrade my computer next year, but I don't think my current video card will last me until my next birthday next year.

For the video card, here's a list of the cheaper ones from A-Power (Local computer specialist):

$49 ATI Radeon 9250 128MB DDR AGP8x w/TV OEM
$79 ATI Radeon 9550 128MB DDR AGP8X w/TV & DVI-I OEM
$92 ATI Radeon 9550 256MB DDR AGP8X w/TV & DVI-I OEM
$99 ATI Radeon 9600 128MB DDR AGP8X w/TV & DVI-I OEM
$109 ATI Radeon 9600 256MB DDR AGP8X w/TV & DVI-I OEM
$125 ATI Radeon 9600 XT 128MB DDR AGP8X w/S-Video & DVI-I OEM

$59 MSI (602-8998-010) FX5200-TD 128LF DDR AGP8x w/TV & DVI
$129 MSI (MS-8911-420) GFX FX5500-TD 256MB DDR AGP8x w/TV & DVI

ALL CANADIAN PRICES

More cards shown here: http://www.a-power.com/parts/video.htm
I'm hoping my parents wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for a better vid card. Though not very much choices for cheap AGP cards now.

Thanks for your tips and helping me decide.

[NVM]

honestly, you can buy a way better vid card for that price if its used. on the other hand, you can buy a brand new top quality DVD burner new for that price. you have to ask yourself do you need a vid card? for instance,do you play games that your present vid card is holding you back? if not, i'd go for one of the other two choices.


edit: hahah, i hate to ask what kind of vid card you have now if you even consider a 92xx series card.

edit part 2(lol..) Gamer, pm me and i'll link to a local site if you decide on a used card. i'm from North Van(as you know), ands i know everybody on this site that i will tell you about(who to trust,etc..)

[gamer007]

Hey NVM, I'm leaning towards the video card, my dad's dvd burner he wants back is portable. My parents prefer to buy from stores. They don't like buying from the internet.

May sound stupid, but is there any stores that sell used video cards?

EDIT: Know any other good computer stores around Vancouver? Ones I know are A-Power and A-Link.


EDIT2: Nevermind, my dad's gonna pick me up an ATI 9600XT tomorrow. Hopefully it can last me one more year before he upgrades my pc.

[Empty_5oul]

if its decided already forget this but i would pay a little extra and go for the 9800 if i was you. The price difference should not be too much but the card would be faster.
If the mobo can only take AGP 4x that will hold most cards back, so you may be aswell getting something else and then when you upgrade next year do it all in one go.

[Jeff]

I agree with Empty. I wouldn't buy another card that you couldn't use to its full capabilities.

The old saying goes "You can't miss something you've never had."

You're used to the graphics you have now. So, you're not missing anything.

I would get one of the other two things. Then, next year, you can have an upgraded computer. Then, more than likely, you'll get a better graphics card than that.

Just my opinion. Hope this helps!

Jeff

[gamer007]

The reason I'm getting the card is so I can play the newer games. My current card doesn't even start it because the games don't even support.

$125 ATI Radeon 9600 XT 128MB DDR AGP8X w/S-Video & DVI-I OEM
$135 ATI Radeon 9600 XT 256MB DDR AGP8X w/S-Video & DVI-I OEM
$179 ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB DDR AGP8X w/S-Video & DVI-I Sapphire
$225 ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB DDR AGP8X w/S-Video & DVI-I Sapphire

I don't think my dad will want to go any higher than that. He already bought a new computer for himself.

I'll keep your tips in mind next time. Thanks for your suggestions! :D

[Empty_5oul]

will it make much of a difference though ??

being a maximum of 4x you could put the fastest card ever in there but it is handicapped by the motherboard. Not knowing how close you are to the threashold (maximum graphics you can get) makes it hard to comment but when you upgrade next yr that card will be long out of date.
As you have probably noted things have moved on to PCI and now PCIx.

[gamer007]

I know the new cards are now PCI Express. But my dad doesn't want to really upgrade anything else in my comp. Just used most of what he has to buy everything for his new pc (IE: fancy case, $200 PCI-E vid card, 2 1gb mem sticks, 3.0ghz cpu, and a mobo [dunno what it is yet]) Dad goes cheap on me, goes expansive on himself....

None of the current games can support my current GeForce 4 MX440 (HL2 says DX7). At least with the ATI Im getting, I can play some of the games I can't play such as Act of War, and Chronicles of Riddick.

Can anyone confirm whether the 9600XT really has DX9 support? And what Pixel Shader version support?

[NVM]

here's a chart to see where you sit with your agp card. personally, i would kick in a few more bucks for a 9800 ,but still not too shabby.


http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/images/image005.gif

[gamer007]

Link? All you have is the picture.

[Ototero]

Try this :

http://www.tomshardware.com/index.html

[AMDave]

You'll find the reference table here
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/

reviewed here
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031015/

slightly more detail here (in the review)
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031015/radeon9600xt-02.html

but to be sure, you can check the h/w notes here
http://www.ati.com/products/radeon9800/radeon9800pro/index.html