Need to upgrade VGA card

[fourlambs]

Hello,
I have recently upgraded from XP SP2 to VISTA 32.

Both Vista DVD Maker and AERO are not funtional and Vista tells me its due to using a NVIDIA Geforce4 MX4000 graphics card, so I need to replace it...

Not knowing too much about this sort of stuff, I have found a AGP FX5500 in a local store and I wonder if it would be OK ? Or should I go for something with a little more 'grunt'?

The PC is used mainly for photo editing and burning video to DVD, very little gaming, attached are my specs.

All help appreciated.
Phil

 

[BlinkY87]

Pardon my ignorance but does your motherboard have AGP, PCI or PCI-E. It will basically depend on that outcome.

If it's a PCI-E, then i have a BFG 8800 GT and thats great and will deffiantly furfill your requirments.

What sort of price range are you willing to go to.

 

[fourlambs]

My motherboard is around 4 years old and is a Gigabyte Socket A Motherboard GA-7S748 series and AGP.

The two VGA cards I can get locally, without drivering an hour to the city are:

AGP XFX 6200 or an AGP FX 5500

I know little about either of them.. !

Thanks
Phil

 

[mansrm81]

Here are some details on the cards

EVGA GeForce FX 5500 256MB DDR AGP 8X VGA DVI TV Out Video Card 256-A8-N313-LX at TigerDirect.com

XFX GeForce 6200 Video Card - 256MB DDR2, AGP 8x, DVI, VGA, TV Out, Video Card PVT44AWANG at TigerDirect.com

 

[BlinkY87]

Hey mate, thanks for the info, ive done a little research for you.
Below are links to very reputable companys in the UK, please read the reviews they are very handy.

AGP XFX 6200
Innovision GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 64Bit AGP Graphics Card - Ebuyer

AGP FX 5500
Gainward 5500 256MB VGA DVI TV Out AGP Graphics Card - Ebuyer

Both have ok ratings, and are not really ideal for gaming, thou they can play games like Half life 2 and Counter strike: source on Mid settings.
They sound fine for your usage, thou personally I'd save up a little and perhaps buy:
Sapphire RADEON X1650 PRO 512 MB
Sapphire X1650Pro 512MB DDR2 VGA DVI TV Out AGP Graphics Card - Ebuyer

It has a better core clock speed but slightly more expensive, but unfortuantly im not 100% on how much your willing to spend etc so read the reviews on those other two cards and see how it goes.
Sorry if the above cant help.

 

[archie123]

The 6200 wil be absolutely fine :D

 

[stormy13]

HD 3450,

Newegg.com - ASUS AH3450/HTP/256M Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

or if the budget allows HD 3650,

Newegg.com - HIS Hightech H365F512ANP Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

and will also allow you to turn your computer into a semi-decent HTPC.

 

[fourlambs]

thanks to all for the advice given, priceless to novices like me !