Best Graphics Card for XP machine before I finally upgrade?

[DeviousCreation]

So I'm going to finally upgrade my PC / Buy a new setup some time this year. But whilst I save up for it, I want to get a new GFX card to give my ol' XP machine a good send off. What is the best card I can go for? Budget is up to £100. If this is too little let me know. A card I could take out and use later would be an idea too..

My current card is an old Nvidia GeForce 8800GT with just 256mb RAM.

Specs: Gigabite M61SME-S2L
AMD 64 X2 Dual Core 5600+
4GB Ram

Thanks in adv.

[[☥] - CJ -]

Yeah its better but not by much.

Either one will do the trick, OP just has to decide on what he wants.. But as he already has an nVidia GPU i dont see any reason for him to change brands.

[DeviousCreation]

This is what Im thinking of going for.. http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/MSI+GeForce+GTX+650+OC+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=56425&context=superSpecial# Price seems very good too.

[[☥] - CJ -]

Yeah that'll be fine.

[Rove]

The price is low but so is the performance. I would not recommend this unless you will be getting a new GPU when you get a new rig and don't wish to get one that you can re-use.

The regular GTX 650 (non ti, non boost) is not really a good gaming card for newer games.

It has only slightly more than 1/2 the GFLOPS of the GTX 650 ti boost and less than 1/2 the GFLOPS of the HD 7790.

If you buy that card you are definetly going to want to replace it again sooner rather than later which makes it a bad choice.

If it was for a general home PC it would be a great choice. For a gaming card though it is below the standard that you should be looking for when buying new parts or building or buying a new machine.

There are lots of current and old games it can play. However it will be too weak to play most games in the very near future. It's far weaker than the PS4 or XB1 consoles for example.

Compare GPUs here:

Nvidia GeForce:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units

AMD Radeon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_AMD_graphics_processing_units

AMD is making both new consoles GPUs in the APUs they provide to Sony and Microsfot for the new PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. You can find their specs on the bottom of the AMD page under "Consoles GPUs.

Like I say, HD 7790 is the bare minimum I would recommend. GTX 660 minimum for Nvidia but you might be able to squeak by with the GTX 650 ti boost also, I just wouldn't recommend it.

Ideal would be a R9 270 or R9 270X or better but it's out of your budget as is the GTX 660.

[[☥] - CJ -]

Compared to what he currently has, i wouldnt call a 650's performance low.

[Rove]

OK that is true. If he does not want to get a GPU he can re-use in his new upcoming rig then it'd be fine. Just that on his budget he could get one that he could re-use in his new computer instead of having to leave in his old one and throw away or let sit idle with it.