# Recommend me a good 3D card **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-3d-card/229655 "2004-02-17T13:33:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Obvious\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Obvious\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obvious_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-3d-card/229655/1 "2004-02-17T13:33:57Z")
Im dissatisfied with my current video card (a Geforce FX 5200), especially when it comes to playing games. It doesnt seem to be much better than my old GeForce4 TI 4200. I would like recommendations on a good 3D card that will not break my bank account… Say around the $150 range (u.s.). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-3d-card/229655/2 "2004-02-17T14:12:23Z")
Since you’re looking for opinions more than facts, I’ll move this thread to IMHO. bibliopahge moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-3d-card/229655/3 "2004-02-17T14:35:20Z")
Take a look at these 2 recent threads. For your price-range I’d say get a ATI 9600 Pro XP (which should have a voucher for a free copy of Half Life2) > **[Video Card Recommendations](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=227349)** > > I’m looking for a video card around the $100.00 range which will handle all the new games, provide a decent frame rate, and won’t need to be replaced for a couple years. Could someone please tell me the difference between the Radeon cards and the... > **[Video card advice - help me emergency shop](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=225165)** > > Basically, it looks like my video card is shot. As much as I would love to get a brand-new one with all the trimmin’s, I also want to preserve my vast (well, not that vast) piles of cash. It seems as if I just cannot fix this, and I now suspect my... ---
**Author:** ![Slartibartfastt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@Slartibartfastt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slartibartfastt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-3d-card/229655/4 "2004-02-17T22:40:28Z")
> [@Obvious Guy](#): > > Im dissatisfied with my current video card (a Geforce FX 5200), especially when it comes to playing games. It doesnt seem to be much better than my old GeForce4 TI 4200. I would like recommendations on a good 3D card that will not break my bank account… Say around the $150 range (u.s.). Thanks! Thats not surprising, check out this roundup of video cards at toms hardware [http://www7.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html](http://www7.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html) In most of the tests the 4200 outperformed the 5200. I have a 5700 ultra on its way to me right now, it cost me $175. For 150 you should be able to get the non ulltra 5700 or something along the lines of a Radeon 9600. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-good-3d-card/229655/5 "2004-02-18T05:52:32Z")
Your best bet is an ATI Radeon 9600 XT. They retail for around $150, and, as **Ponster** mentioned, include a CD key valid for the downloadable versions of Half-Life and its mods, Opposing Forces, and Half-Life 2 (in participating bundles). The Geforce FX series suffers from poor performance in modern DirectX9 games, an issue that affects the entire series, even the most expensive high-end cards. This makes ATI cards the best option for the gamer that wants both performance today and the ability to play future games.