PCIe card needed for my new build

[smalltownguy]

I'm going to be using a motherboard for my new build that does not have onboard video, so I need to put in a video card. It's a PCIe slot. I'll be running a P4 3.0 with 4 gigs of RAM, most likely running Vista or Win 7. Does it really matter what generation of video card I use? I can get a 4500 series radeon card now with 128 megs onboard video ram for like $10.

Or, there's the crazy 4 gig crossfire crap that I have no idea about, since it's so new. Cripes, when did we go away from AGP?? 

Anywho, I only have 2 slots on this mobo -- one PCIe 16x, and a PCI slot. I'll probably reserve the PCI slot for a wireless card.

Since my chip is a P4 3.0 HT (and that's pretty much the best chip the board will support) what's the recommendation for video card?

[lilshawn]

sorry feel free to read my last post here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=99754.msg1054397#msg1054397

if it fits, works, and has the output you need, get it and use it. it's not going to be worked hard to build polygons or anything...so basically if it can display the windows desktop, it's allready WAY over qualified

When will MAME use Direct3D/OpenGL to emulate 3D games?
Probably not ever, at least in the sense this question is likely being asked. MAME now uses Direct3D (and SDLMAME uses OpenGL) to composite and scale the game graphics, artwork elements, and MAME UI displays, but the actual 3D rendering is always done in software in order to ensure consistent operation across different video cards and operating systems.
Additionally, the bottleneck for many 3D games in MAME is actually their insanely fast RISC processor rather than the actual 3D rendering. This is the case in games such as Crusin USA, Killer Instinct (which has no 3D hardware anyway), and Gauntlet Legends.

[smalltownguy]

Well, this should do the trick 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170436173405

Can't beat $8, right?

I can't tell much about it, but it's definitely PCIe, so it should be fine. Wouldn't be a hoot if it where a 512meg card? 

[lilshawn]

sorry but Bidding has ended on this item... i missed it, but you have the right idea.

[smalltownguy]

sorry but Bidding has ended on this item... i missed it, but you have the right idea.

You missed it b/c I bought it. 

[Thenasty]

I guess for $8.00, not to much of a loss if the thing don't work. He jsut happened to find it in the garage not knowing anything about it. Did not even bother plug it in a machine to see if it fires up.

Anyway, thats a STEAL once you know it works 

[smalltownguy]

Got the card. It's a 128 meg PCIe. She's toasted - there's lines on the display. I suppose I could try replacing some caps, but I'm not really motivated to at this pont. After all, it was only $8.

Back to eBay I go....

[lilshawn]

Got the card. It's a 128 meg PCIe. She's toasted - there's lines on the display. I suppose I could try replacing some caps, but I'm not really motivated to at this pont. After all, it was only $8.

Back to eBay I go....

booooooo!!!!

[smalltownguy]

Yeah, it sucks. So I went back and bought this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160401969053&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

It's the same card that came stock with my first HTPC (an HP Z556) and it worked OK for that. It should be fine for my new setup, especially considering I'm using a spare OEM motherboard from that same z556.

[apfelanni]

last time i setup a lowcost mame pc i went with a radeon 4350 pci xpress card.  it costs around 25 euro new , its passiv cooled and works great with soft 15 k and jpac in arcade cabinet and mamescart on rgb tvs.

[smalltownguy]

Thanks for that info! Did you happen to find any other cards in your search that worked OK with soft 15?

[apfelanni]

check out sailersats soft 15 k forum for tested cards .

http://community.arcadeinfo.de/showthread.php?t=7925

some new nvidia cards need a dongle . the only nvidias i succesfully tested so far are 5200 agp card and a mainboard with 6100 onboard graphics . a 7xxx nvidia onboard sucked with interlaced windows res like 640x480 and 800x600 .