Please help w/ a Video Card purchase.

[carson]

My shop guy stuck a Radeon 7000/ VE 32mb in my machine and it states an error on every startup about display settings not correct, maybe. The ATI folder in Program Files is empty. The ATI website says 'Caution the instalation disk may not load all sofware" What the??? The ATI windows98SE driver updates will not open because after clicking the update it states "this update is for WindowsME only" Yet it is listed under 98 firmware updates.
I'm sure a better model would have performed better. I'm not a gamer so I'm looking stability and compatibility with what I've got
The computer I had built is...(First one, so be easy )

MSI KT333 Ultra
AMD 1800XP
512 DDR PC2100
SoundBlaster Audigy.
Radeon 7000/VE 32mb
WD 7200rpm HD
325watt - 20amp PS
and 110$ in chassis, PS & fans.
Using a 2 yr. old HP monitor. set@ 32bit TC - 800X600
Win98SE. IE5.5sp2

Looking at the GeForce line but really dont know what to look for or which model/ brand/ supplier. Trying to stay around $100 if all possible. The shop charges retail but installs at no charge and warranties the product.
I know this is a subjective question but I'm a subject w/o a clue and tired of the Radeon error message at every start-up and their totally confused web site. Besides I think for this system the Radeon 7000/VE was a poor suggestion from the guy.
Thanks for any advise. All is very welcome.

[wonderinguy34]

I know there are a number of people using the VISIONTEK Xtasy 5632 GEFORCE2 GTS-V 4X/2X 32MB DDR AGP - OEM and you can't beat the price.The Radeon 8500LE is also a great performer ,but may be out of you price range ,its $99 on newegg ,btu you don't say where your from.If your not into gaming ,but plan on using it for graphics the Matrox G450 or G550.

[Murf]

Take it back and have them fix it. I'm sure they will....

Sounds like the driver is not installed properly or has become corrupted.

Here's an excellant page on the card which has trouble shooting and the latest drivers.

http://www.angelfire.com/art/radeon/rguide.htm

[carson]

Thanks, guys.
wondering...nice site to look around and get prices.
Murf...It's definitely going back. The link is amazing. Thanks again. Will enjoy reading through it. Great help.

carson...

[MiseryQ]

If you still want a new card,,, The Geforce3Ti200/500 blows away any Geforce2... And the Geforce4MX's too... The 200 should be in the right price range...

[carson]

Thanks MiseryQ. Right on time. I was just looking @
Leadtek GeForce4 MX440 64mb....and/or....
Abit Siluro GeForce4 MX440 64mb.
Both around a hundred dollars.
So the GeForce3 Ti series would be a better buy? I have seen the Ti listed a lot in Poster's computer setups.
Time for more research.
Thanks for the heads up. Really appreciate it.
carson...

[MiseryQ]

I bought a Geforce2MX400 Thinking it would be killer... A lot of test on 3dmark would'nt run...

The MX series has a stripped down core,,, Like comparing a Celeron to a PIII... The MXs also use SDRam instead of DDR...

My Geforce3Ti200 is getting around 8200 in 3dmark testing and running every test...

Look for the most memory you can get on the card,,, make sure its it's DDR,,, And don't worry about video out since I don't believe it really works on Geforce cards...