Buying a new graphics card in USD $100 range

what are my options for a good graphics card withing $100?

My Pc has intel dg 31pr board with 4gb ddr2 ram and core 2 due processor .

 

what is your psu specs

 

The 9800GT and ATI 5570 are cards you should look at.

If you can stretch, look at the 5770 it is quite a bit better that the other two.

But as below, what are your PSU specs, and what do you want to do with the card? Specific games?

 

Its 400 watts which came with the ATX unit

I need the graphics card to run 3DS Max and Maya for game designing and animation and also some other graphic designing softwares.

 

The 9800GT should be fine for that, just check to seeif you have a 6-pin power connector from your PSU, if it doesnt, then get the 5570.

In all honesty i would prefer having a better PSU to run the cards.

 

I would say a quado card is better for you but they cost alot.

not sure how ATI does with rendering

 

Just a bit!

@Mech, were talkin $x,xxx's for quadro's!

 

I will search for 9800GT for now.

quadro cardis not possible now .... cause my budget is limited

 

Quadros are more for medical imaging and CAD type work. Look for Geforce 9600GT or 9800GT or GTS250. However, all 9800GT cards are not created equal! The lower cost models of the 9800GT only have a 128bit bus - you're looking for one with a 256bit bus, the same applies to the 9600GT. I had a 9600GT back when they first came out, and I loved it!!! Excellent card! Back then, I paid $159.00US for it and never regretted it, even after they dropped to under $90!!! Here's some links:
9800GT- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187086
GTS250- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134094
9800GT- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130435
9600GT- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125271
GTS250- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261057

The GTS250 card is actually the recommended way to go - NVidia re-worked and re-named the 9800GTX+ and created the GTS250.

. . . and here's a link to all the video cards at Newegg in the $75 ~ $100 price range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+5006&name=$75+-+$100&Page=1

Let us know which card you end up getting!!!! :-D


(obviously - I'm an NVidia fan!! You'll notice no ATI cards linked to above!)

 

I'd suggest buying a Evga card. Evga is a great company with awesome service.