First off, the price issue kills the conversation since this is a global web site. I picked up some 79USD DVD recorder, but Mick in some other country will pay in local currency and more.
Disregarding this, I have to first write that I don't know what prices are from region to region or at your point in the world. ADVICE? Absolutely and part opinion.
1. WAIT! Till January when all the hub-bub is over and the dealers will be slashing prices again.
2. Look at the Radeon 9800 or better.
Look at the Nvidia 5900 series. Compare which don't have video capture... You can do without and cheaper..
3. Look at http://www.tomshardware.com to compare your current card to the new card. You don't want to go for less than double the performance and at best, I'd want to see 4 times. In reality you'll get less than the benchmarks, but unless you really move, the results are often "Hmm, is it faster."
4. Consider housecleaning and installing latest drivers for what you have.
Bob
Hi...Looking for some advice please and some input into buying a new video card...my grandson uses my pc often(has none at home)and loves playing online pc games, call of duty,rise of nations,half life etc...he's 16) I would like to get him a better video card for Christmas and I am lost as to the many that are out there to chose from and I don't have a clue which are the better ones as they change so fast. right now I have an (Nvida Geforce 4 MX 420 64mb sdram)would like to spend around $100 and maybe put it in myself to save(retired person) bestbuy charged me $90 for this video card+instillation last year...Guess what i'm asking is which is my best choice that would be compatible to my system for this amount, thank you so much
__________________________________________
Msi kt3 ultra2 motherboard
Windows xp home
nvida geforce 4 mx 420 64mb sdram
amd 2400+cpu
kingston 512 ddr
80 gb hard drive

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic