Best ~$80 vid card?

[Kooldino]

Building a system for a friend, and I was just wondering what the best video card was for around $80. Best=good quality, stable drivers, fast 3D.

Here are the candidates that I can come up with...(prices from pricewatch)

$77 - RADEON 9200 128MB
$68 - GeForce FX 5200 128MB
$87 - GeForce4 TI 4200 64MB
$63 - GeForce3 TI 200 64MB
$72 - RADEON 9000 128MB

[GNEP]

The 9200 or the Ti4200... depends on the exact makes though...

[Tjalfe]

the Geforce FX has full DX9 support... may not be a bad candidate, even if it is a tad slower than the 4200

[GNEP]

The 5200 has "full Dx9" support. But unfortunately is too slow to use it in any games in the future that rely on it... for these sorts of prices, you may as well go for faster cards without full dx9 support - they will run games over the next 18 months better (And that is probably about the lifespan of the card?)

The 5200 is as far as I can see, analagous to the GF4MX - a reasonably quick (for the price) card but with only Dx7 features. the 5200 is simply the reverse - Dx9 features but too slow.

best point in the price range has to be as fast a dx8.1 card as you can get. I would err towards the Radeon 9200, but also seriously consider the Ti4200 like I said. Depends on the exact makes - 2d IQ can be quite different.

[Tjalfe]

Good point...

[Kooldino]

Cheapest 9200 is a "connect3d"

http://www.compuhq.com/aticora9212d.html

[az]

AFAIK, the Ti4200 is it. The 4200-8x, if you can get it for the same price. BUT! Image quality will vary greatly between manufacturers.

AZ

[Kooldino]

Ok, even more madness...after reading another thread here, looks like the 8500 is a candidate as well...

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=radeon+8500

[GNEP]

No experience with Connect3d, but I suspect that they are not the best... anyone else used/seen a Connect3d card in action? If you can get a Sapphire or Built By Ati card, then they are good.

[az]

Actually, if I remember correctly, at least one Connect3D model got a better image quality rating in c't than the sapphire one. But I think that were 9700s - and for 9500 Pros, the situation was different. But I'd say they should be decent, especially considering their price. But with such a cheap, entry-level card, it is almost guaranteed that they saved money on buying cheaper parts.

AZ

[Indiana]

I am an ATI fan, but on this list and at these prices, the card to go for is definitely the GF4 Ti4200.
Awesome bang for the buck, just like the Radeon9500Pro if you were willing to spent more.

[Marshmallowman]

Get a 128m card, if you want a dx9 card get at least 9500 or 5600, if not I would vote for 9000, 4200's are good but 128 ones cost more