How to pick a video card...

When looking at video cards (yes, still looking and thinking)... do you have to take into account what kind of mobo you have, or anything else?
I know I have a AGP slot of a 64MB aperture and it says it supports 1x and 2x. My mobo is an Intel Seattle II SE440BX-2.

What else do I need to know before looking for cards?

What's the max that I can get / go for... or... what is the cheapest card that will give me the best I can have on this system?

Thanks,

 

You can use almost any AGP video card, but AGP2x will limit it slighly.
You will be system limited mainly anyway, so dont splurge for a top end card, an ati 9600 (non SE) or GeForceFX5700 should be plenty.
OR wait for the next generation of cards thats just coming out to drive down current prices

 

Thanks, Chris

Would they give any better performance in my chug-a-lugger than cheaper / older cards?

 

yes, but not as much as the card can give.
Even grabing a 9200 or FX5200 would be vastly better then your current videocard.

 

I'm not even sure that a 9600 would work in that system. Since your board only supports 2x and 4x cards then your AGP voltage is 3.3v, modern 4x and 8x cards only support the newer 1.5v slot. Chances are that an 8x card won't fit in your agp slot. Look fpr something a little bit older that supports the 3.3v agp slot.

 

Thanks for the tips... can't find the article on the site yet, but I'll continue to look.
I'd been looking at MX 440's, but was wondering if they'd work, or what would be the best for me.
I wonder would my mobo support 4x? It says in Aida 32's sys info that is supports 1x and 2x.
I guess I'll look at ones with "3.3v", and see what comes up. Gotta find that cheap match which gives the best working results for the buck.

 

No, your mobo won't support 4x. You will need to find a card that supports 2x. Something like this should work:

Geforce 4 MX 440 64Mb
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-171&depa=0

 

Hello there. I too have a SE440BX-2 mobo intel 2 450 mhz. with 512 ram, and a ATI 3D Rage Pro Agp 2x graphics card. I am looking to upgrade the graphics card, and have searched online everywhere, but i cant seem to find sufficient info on what card to get/compatible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

I am running XP b.t.w. thanks