Meatbag:
Howdy,

I?d go with the Nvidia 9800GTX PCI Express 2.0x16 512mb that also comes with a free game. Best price and made by XFX. If you want to get good graphics and a physics processor in one go with the Nvidia 250 PCI Express 2.0 1gb. Not many games utilize Physics processors yet and I?m not sold on that brand.

PCI Express 2.0 is a wider bandwidth then PCI Express and plain PCI. PCI Express 2.0 is backwards compatible to PCI Express, but not to PCI. You can only take advantage of 2.0 features if your motherboard has a 2.0 slot.

wtfaatp:
So the free game is worth losing the extra 500mb of on board ram?
or do you know of better video card or somewhere else to buy it for around the same price i don't wanna go over a buck and a half.
And i know about the Physics processors i was reading around about it and found out the more common then not it actually slows down your processing.
I just need a second video card i have a comp that has a Pentium 4 2.8GHz and about 700Mb ram. It has no video card or anything and i have a video card in my new computer that im just gonna transfer over but first i wanna buy a new one. Maybe then i will be online and able to play Css.

Thanatos:
alright, I need to know your monitor resolution, if your motherboard is x16 v 2.0 or not (if you don't know, give me the model of it or the computer as well as the brand), and what games you play so I can make an accurate decision/opinion.

wtfaatp:
Hurmm.. well my monitor is a basic 17 inch dell monitor.
I play the following games :
Counter-Strike:Source
Half-life 2 (all of'em)
Team Fortress 2
All GTA's
Portal
Fable 1 and 2
Garry's Mod
L4D
Need For Speed

and more when they come out.
No idea on the motherboard Sorry Sad
I know it has a 2.0. Well at least im pretty sure.
http://www.tips4p...g/dell.htm

Thanatos:
Checked your stats off dell.com and it's a v2.0 MB. Since you're running a 17" monitor with probably no higher then 1440x900 resolution, there's no need to go with anything higher then 512MB card.

The 9800GTX+ and the 250GTS card are the EXACT same card, only the 250 is newer. That being said, I would go with a 512MB 250GTS card. If you think you're going to be upgrading your monitor in the next 6 months and not updating your video card again (monitor with at LEAST 4:3 @ 1600x1200/16:10 @ 1680x1050), then go with the 1GB. Be careful though, you'll need to check your powersupply in that computer and make sure it has at least 475W (Watts) with a combined +12V rail(s) of 26A (amps). If you need help on how to find that out, ask me or meat if you see us on!

http://www.newegg...6814130467

WaW is better then farcry2 anyway, but it comes with a free game that's a lot of fun! I would get this one because I love EVGA and it's got the highest clock rates of any of the 250 cards!

NOW, if you think you might want to upgrade to a higher nvidia card in 90 days... EVGA does something that's called a step-up program. You register your card when you first get it, then if you want to step up to a newer card you fill out the form and pay the difference between what you paid for your old card and what the new one costs. This is great if you're saving up money but want a newer card right now and in 3 months go for an even better card.

http://www.newegg...6814130468

This card qualifies for the step-up program but doesn't have a free game. If you think you'll want to upgrade to a better card in under 3 months (like if the 260GTX cards go down in price) then you can trade this one in, pay shipping plus cost difference, and get a brand new/better card!

source: http://www.evga.c...


And before you ask, yes... I buy EVGA and yes I use the step-up program!

wtfaatp:
Sweet man thanks... I will more then likely be getting the first one you suggested. I don't need a bigger monitor or anything so im fine with what i got also i don't know if it matters i use my 47" TV also lol. will that video card work well with that? of not then its OK i will just get used to lol.
again thanks.

Thanatos:
If it's running the 47" TV right now and doing o.k., then that 250 card is going to rock it.. lol What resolution are you running on the 47"? Is this a 16:9 ratio TV or a 4:3? (widescreen or standard) If it's a 1080P TV, which is 1920x1080 resolution, then I would get a 1GB card!

wtfaatp:
Its a 16:9 wide screen. Not Sure of the resolution. Yes it is a 1080p. I thought it was a 1080i at first had to double check. But in any case i don't really use the TV unless im watching a movie or playing 1 player games that i can pause and go to normal TV if i need to step away.
Seance i don't use it on a daily bases or regularly should i really get the 1gb over the 512. I mean i use it maybe 7-9 times in a month. With the Video card i have in it now it doesn't look to bad but you can tell it needs something better. Anyway unless you think i realli should get the 1Gb im gonna get this one http://www.newegg...6814130467. Again thank you so much for your help with this and all your thoughts.