Building a PC for a friend

[dethangel]

ok, i got a few questions about manufacturers, what do you know about these guys for video cards:

MSI
Chaintech
Powercolor
Sapphire

and honestly is it worth it for 256 on a video card? or is it better to get a 128 with a better GPU?

I am using a mobo I already had (asus) and he is buying everything else, he has a case with a 550w PSU on the way and hes going to go with a 2.4 or 2.6GHz chip with the 533 FSB

should i use pc2700 or can i go with pc3200?

 

[Kangaroo]

I trust MSI and Sapphire for their products, Sapphire provide excellent support also.

256MB memory on graphics cards is usually slower than 128MB. If you are buying the latest card then I would get 256MB memory because it comes as standard these days and is usually better than 128MB.

Something like the 256MB Hercules 9800XT would be nice.

 

[AndrewtheGreat]

that guy is right

 

[dethangel]

He doesnt want to spend more than $150 on a graphics card, guess i shoulda thrown that in

 

[Kangaroo]

Hope thats USD

Something like an ATI 9600XT, might be able to get one for around $150 - $170.

Personally I wouldn't settle for anything less than a 9600XT.

 

[dethangel]

i was looking at a 9600pro for $150

 

[Kangaroo]

Ya, the only really difference between Pro and XT is the clock speed. Sometimes the XT will support Smartshader 2.1 instead of 2.0...

Get the 9600 Pro and overclock it, should easily be able to squeeze 30MHz out of the GPU and 40MHz out of the memory

 

[dethangel]

so he should go with the xt? how do i overclock a graphics card?

 

[Wartorment]

Just get an XT, I saw one for $162 on newegg, 256megs too.

 

[slvrstang]

XT also has a nifty built in thermometer