Video Card Quick List

Cards that do not support shader model 3 or windows xp/vista are excluded.

Match the cards brand to the computers on board video, Ati to Ati and Nvidia to Nvidia. Do not mix Ati and Nvidia on the same system. If using Intel or S3 on board graphics , either will work. Or if there is no integrated video then either will work. If using a SIS or VIA chipset , avoid pci-e 2.0 cards in 1.0 slots.

Pci-e cards

(All pci-e power supplies must have 26amps on the 12v rail , and be 80%+ efficient , only variance is wattage)

Low end (Lower quality then game console graphics) 400w minimum to run , 550w best if possible. 256/512mb DDR2 models only , 1gb is too large for low end gpu's to fully use.

Geforce
7300
8400
8500
9400
G100
G210

Radeon
x1650
2400
2600 (PRO only , not XT. DDR2 only)
3450
3650 (DDR2 only)
4350
4550 (DDR3 exception due to 64 bit)

Mid range (Game console style perfomance) 400 to 450w minimum to run , 550w is best if possible. 512mb ddr3 is best , 1gb is too high for these gpu's to fully use. Avoid DDR2 models with midrange , it will be slower.

Geforce
7900/7950
8600 gt / gts
9500 gt
GT 120
GT 220

Radeon
x1900/x1950 (consumes more power , 550w required)
2600 XT
3650 (DDR3 models)
4650

Mid/high range (console style perfomance or better) 550w minimum to run , 600w is best. 512mb DDR3 is best , 1gb is too high for these gpu's.

Geforce
9600 (gt , gs , gso)
GT 130

Radeon
3850
4670
4770

High end (Performance better then console) 600w minimum to run , 650 to 700w or higher is best. 512mb to 1gb DDR3 is best on high end gpu's.

Geforce
8800 (gt , gts , gtx)
8900/8950 (rare)
9800 (gt , gts , gtx)
GTS 150
GTS 240
GTS 250
GTX 250
GTX 260
GTX 275
GTX 280

Radeon
3870
4830
4850
4870
4890
5750
5770
5850

Very High End (Best possible performance) 700w or higher only. Dual gpu cards 850w or higher.

Geforce
9800 gx2
GTX 285
GTX 295

Radeon
3850 x2
3870 x2
4850 x2
4870 x2
5870

Agp cards

(All Agp power supplies must have 18amps on the 12v rail or higher with decent efficiency , only variance is wattage.)

Pre 2005 systems (Systems with no recent motherboard bios updates , or use low quality chipsets)

Radeon
x1300 (low end) 300w+
x1550 (low end) 300w+
x1600 (low end) 300w+
x1650 (mid range) 400w+
x1950 (mid range) 500w+

Geforce
7300 (low end) 300w+
7600 (low end) 300w+
7800 (mid range) 450w+
7900 (mid range) 500w+
7950 (mid range) 500w+

2005 systems or newer (Check for motherboard bios updates , these cards have a low compatibility rate.)

Radeon
2400 (low end) 400w+
2600 (mid range) 400w+
3450 (low end) 400w+
3650 (mid range) 400w+
3850 (mid/high end) 500w+
4650 (mid range) 400w+
4670 (mid/high end) 500w+

Low Profile cards

Pci-e low profile
Geforce
7300 (low end)
7600 (low end)
8400 (low end)
8500 (low end)
8600 (mid range)
9400 (low end)
9500 (mid range)
9600 (mid range)
9800 (high end , currently fastest)

Radeon
x1300 (low end)
x1550 (low end)
x1600/x1650 (low end)
2400 (low end)
3450 (low end)
4350 (low end)
4650 (mid range)

AGP low profile (all low end)
Geforce
6200
7300

Radeon
3450

Standard PCI cards
(All cards are low end , or perform less then current consoles)

Geforce
6200
8400
8500
9400
9500 (currently fastest)

Radeon
x1300
x1550
2400
4350

PCI-e 1x cards

Geforce
8400 (low end)

Radeon
x1550 (low end)
4350 (low end)

Old agp / pci / pci-e cards

Cards for very old systems that can support dual monitors and pre 2005ish games. (Do not support Shader model 3 , directx 9 fully , or vertex shaders)

Geforce 2 , 3 , 4 , and FX 5 series

Radeon 7 , 8 , 9 series