I recently got myself a new computer for christmas and just bought F.E.A.R and Call of Duty 2. I've also reinstalled most of my previous games. (such as HL2 and CS: Source) I can't however, play any of them because the graphics card that game with this computer blows. So I've been going shopping and I've been finding really cheap bad cards and really good expensive cards. (By cheap I mean $49.99 and by expensive I mean $299.99)

I know that to run F.E.A.R I'm going to need a hell of a good card but I don't want to spend anything above $200.00. The closest place I know that I can buy anything related to computers is Futureshop/Best Buy.

Can anyone help me out here? I've been looking at the Futureshop and Best Buy sites online (Canadian version) and I don't even know very much about computers . x_x

So if you can help me out and suggest a good card that's between $0.01 - $199.99 at the most I'd appreciate it.

(Note: I just want to be able to run the games without tons of lag x_x)

Yes, Sakura.. especially me, I hate n00b lag. It makes me want to kill someone.. like the reason that lag was "created."

Anyway.. I know at Sam's Club (our's at least) there's a 256mb card by GForceX or soemthing, for $75.oo. I've been itching to get it forever, but I keep spending money on everything else.

Anyway, I know finding cheap and good Cards are hard, but I'd try a Sam's Club or Wal-Mart for one.

(I know this didn't help too much, but try to search those stores.)

Someone recommended a "ATI Radeon X700 Pro AGP 256MB"

It's $159.99 and I'd do research on it if I could understand what these reviewers are going on about. x_x

Well, for a next gen game, you kinda do need an expensive graphics card. I'm not certain what engine FEAR runs on, but I do know Geforce graphics cards have some advantage over ATI and vise versa when dealing with OpenGL and Direct3D (I think it's Geforce that wins with OpenGL).

My suggestion to you is to use the internet for your purchase. It overs a by far wider varity, and at cheaper prices, most of the time.


MSI Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 VIVO AGP 4X/8X (http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16814127150) $176.00 US Dollars

FOR AGP Motherboards
All the reviews seem grand, with exception to the heatsink, and It'll pro'lly be okay for FEAR.

SAPPHIRE Radeon X800GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102619) $169.00 US Dollars

FOR AGP Motherboards
Highly overclockable. Nice quality. ATI. 256 MB of Ram. 'Nuf said.


Anyway.. I know at Sam's Club (our's at least) there's a 256mb card by GForceX or soemthing, for $75.oo. I've been itching to get it forever, but I keep spending money on everything else.

DON'T BUY IT!!!! If your talking about an xFX card, don't get it. It lagged like hell with UT2003!
::EDIT::
Left out some vital information there. I'm talking about an xFX card that's packaged inside an 'X' shaped box with a metalic dog on front. The card is designed for PCI instead of AGP and PCIexpress. Even though it was 256 MB of ram, it couldn't handle last gen games on it. I woundn't suggest purchasing it.

I would go with the sapphire x800 card that M suggested. That is going to be your best bang for the buck card on the market right now. Personally I have an x800 XT all in wonder from ATI and it is very good.

Newegg is like the best company online for buying hardware.

SAPPHIRE 100136 Radeon X800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - OEM

that is the one you want.

I'm in a pretty bad situation right now. My new computer is very small and can only fit certain video cards when I had the great chance to learn about last night after spending my $184. I don't understand to find out before hand if it's the right size.

Btw @ the cards you suggested above, they are too costly. I don't have $169 US +tax.

Anything small and not so useless out there? ;_;

Well, for a next gen game, you kinda do need an expensive graphics card. I'm not certain what engine FEAR runs on, but I do know Geforce graphics cards have some advantage over ATI and vise versa when dealing with OpenGL and Direct3D (I think it's Geforce that wins with OpenGL).

My suggestion to you is to use the internet for your purchase. It overs a by far wider varity, and at cheaper prices, most of the time.


MSI Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 VIVO AGP 4X/8X (http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16814127150) $176.00 US Dollars

FOR AGP Motherboards
All the reviews seem grand, with exception to the heatsink, and It'll pro'lly be okay for FEAR.

SAPPHIRE Radeon X800GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102619) $169.00 US Dollars

FOR AGP Motherboards
Highly overclockable. Nice quality. ATI. 256 MB of Ram. 'Nuf said.



DON'T BUY IT!!!! If your talking about an xFX card, don't get it. It lagged like hell with UT2003!
::EDIT::
Left out some vital information there. I'm talking about an xFX card that's packaged inside an 'X' shaped box with a metalic dog on front. The card is designed for PCI instead of AGP and PCIexpress. Even though it was 256 MB of ram, it couldn't handle last gen games on it. I woundn't suggest purchasing it.

Alright... Well that's a heads up for me >.>

Could someone explain the difference between PCI and AGP to me please? XD

As far as I can remember PCI Express video cards have a faster transfer rate than AGP cards, but right now this doesn't really affect anything to seriously, of course to use a PCI Express card you'll need the appropriate slot on your motherboard, which you should be able to find out with a look through its documentation.

Basically, PCI and AGP are different slots on the motherboard. If you have a card in mind, please check if your motherboard can support it.

Sarkurah, if you've not sorted out this little thingy yet, please post your motherboard specifications. Some of us might be able to help more.

(you did get a refund on the oversized card, right?)

I have dont have anything your looking for, but a great site a lot of people tend to over look is new egg. Check there for the rockest bottom price.

The point is the lowest price would probably be that of a 9250 or thereabouts, and they suck, hard.

PCI are coloured white and AGP are coloured brown'ish.
So make sure to check out what slots you have before you buy.

Someone recommended a "ATI Radeon X700 Pro AGP 256MB"

It's $159.99 and I'd do research on it if I could understand what these reviewers are going on about. x_x

My friend has this in his laptop and he plays FEAR in pretty high detail. If you have a limited budget this is a good card to get.

FEAR on a laptop? Man, it must vent huge amounts of air to manage that!

Its not a bad card. I'd go with an ATI card for games designed for ATI, and nVidia for just other things

Ahh, FEAR in high detail (high detail, 2xAA and 4xAF in 800x600, I'd be killing my framerate at 1024x768, oh and no shadows either), something I can do with my OKish x600, anyway just as a matter of interest FEAR is one of those with the nVidia logo at startup, just like Invisible War (Noooo!), in fact the only game I know with ATI is Half-Life 2...

lol... I remember Invisible War... That game sucked massively because I could never get it to run with my ATI Radion 9700 pro. Then I read the packaging and readme and seen that it was designed for nVidia and only nVidia....

I managed to run it with my card, but I swear that it was making it crappy since I had an ATI card, though frankly it although it was a good game I hated the endings (not becuase they weren't great endings, but becuase of who dies).

GO ON Ebay i think you should find some good stuff there i.e. 300$ glasses for 85 cents im not kiddin

I solved the problem by selling the computer. I just stole all of the memory. x_x