Graphic Card Info & Help!

[Kanamori]

I'm pretty sure there aren't any 64 bit PCI adapters, but LEN seems to be a lot more of a hardware guru -- I've always found hardware/electronics a fastenating area -- than I. Beirut mentioned some good cards, but personally I've had some issues w/ VisionTek as a supplier, probably due to compatability between my board and the card, so it might be wise to try researching if people have had problems w/ the combination...

[Lemur]

There is no such thing as a AGP to PCI express adapter. Sorry. Your friend is going to have to do as Beirut suggests -- buy the best possible AGP card.

[LeftEyeNine]

Sjakihata,

Beirut -as a GFX card guru- has already mentioned best recommendations. And he made a good point: Be careful with sub-models of the chipsets. There is a significant difference between a 6600 and 6600GT, for example.

I'll try to prepare a "Modified GFX Drivers Guide" that I expect the readers will be benefiting a lot. I got very satisfactory feedback from the ones who tried it.

[Sjakihata]

Thanks all, im quite versed in the universe of ATI, so they wont rip me of (with a bad submodel) but in Nvidia i have no clue.

Also, i didnt say 300 POUNDs, but 300 dollars... or 250 euros

[Beirut]

Thanks all, im quite versed in the universe of ATI, so they wont rip me of (with a bad submodel) but in Nvidia i have no clue.

Also, i didnt say 300 POUNDs, but 300 dollars... or 250 euros

Oops, my mistake. Not used to the Euro dollar sign yet.

I think for $300 you can get an X800XL or X800XT card, especially after Christmas when the sales hit.

[KukriKhan]

Millions of users would kill for an AGP-to-PCIe adapter, if they existed. Sadly they don't - it's about how the electrons get moved around on the circuits.

The guys above give good advice on v-cards. Your decision turns on your ability to predict the future: what does little brother require now, and what will he require, graphically-speaking, three years from now?

His current mobo is a 2003 model, with good features http://www.ocworkbench.com/2003/asus...4s800d-e-1.htm
but without PCIe, an unknown protocol when it was designed.

So: Buy a $250 top-end AGP card that accomodates his current mobo, or spend $180 on a new PCIe-compatible mobo, then scrimp on a $120 PCIe v-card?

If the "Wow!-now" factor is more important, I'd go with A: top-of-line AGP card, knowing it won't run games released 18 months from now.

If "wow-later" is more important, then 'B': new mobo and 'cheapee' v-card now, with the promise of upgrade later, and 2.5 to 3 years more use of his rig, sounds better.