Opinions on a new graphics card?

So I've been wondering on whether or not I should upgrade my video card, and now I think its finally time I started searching for a one.
Currently, I use an NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE card that came integrated in my computer back when I first bought it.
Right now I"m looking at the e-GeForce 8500GT 256MB DDR2 Graphics Card, as it falls into the price category of <$100 that I'm trying to stay into.
So, does this one seem like a good choice? Are there any others that would possibly do the job better and still fall into my price category?
All answers are appreciated.

Don't buy the 8500, the 8600 counterpart is much better; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130085

I saw it for like 89$ before, maybe you can find it for that cheap again, I got mine for 119$ Retail 4 months ago though.

It doesn't sound like it's much of a difference in performance between the two - but trust me, it is.

The 8600 has GDDR3 memory, faster core clock and memory clock, more stream processors, It's basically substantially faster and still in your price range.

Oh, I forgot to mention, make sure your BUS supports PCI-Express, or that you even have one since you mentioned integrated.

The BUS will be either AGP or PCI-Express, do you know what you have?

If you're not sure, go on over to http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php and download CPU-Z, then just hit the ''Mainboard'' tab and it will have the ''Graphics Interface'' listed, and what type you have.

Alright, thanks.

:-S The "Graphics Interface" area is all greyed out.. I'm guessing this is a bad thing.

Hmm yeah.. that is bad, that probably means that you don't have AGP or PCI-Express, and that you only have Integrated and PCI. I don't know if you can really ''Upgrade'' to a PCI graphics card, maybe - but It won't be a huge upgrade, PCI graphics cards are very old.

I don't really have any recommendations for this situation, except for a bigger upgrade (E.G a new PC) or someone else can possibly post some suitable graphics cards?

Sorry wish I could do more.

Check out newegg.com they have good card great price.

Yeah.. I can't really find any PCI cards that would really be worth upgrading to. Ah well.. I guess I'll stick with the setup I have now til I get a new computer >_> Cept that won't be for a while. Thanks for all your help Brianna

Aye np, it's a shame you couldn't have upgraded yet.

But it's a good thing you didn't go spend all that money just to find out you'd have an inconvenience.

Yeah.. that'd.. be bad. T_T

Most likely you don`t have an AGP or PCIe graphics slot. You could check the manual that came with the computer, or you could check the specs on their website (or ask the builder if it`s local.
Or you can take the side off and have a look inside.

Okay, just checked the specs online and it said this about the graphic slots-

"Expansion Slots PCI Express x1 x 1 • PCI x 3"

..So that means I DO have a PCI Express slot? So I can still upgrade the card?

How old is your machine? 5 years or older? PCI is an old style followed by AGP then came the PCI express x 16 (I think)
sounds like you have the old style really long slots on the mother board

There are very little PCI-e x1 graphics cards. You'll need to buy a PCI card instead.

Conventional PCI-e cards won't fit in your 1x slot.

My comp is about.. 2-3 years old. If that helps.
Its an HP Pavilion a1430n

Yep. Looks like you'll have to go with a PCI card.

It's not worth it. I'd upgrade the mobo and get a PCI-e graphics card.

..How much would it cost to upgrade it to use PCI-e cards then?

Anywhere from 70-350$ or something, just depends on what type of motherboard you buy.

But a cheaper good one that is capable of all the newest features would be somewhere around 100$

Hrm, so the new motherboard+new graphics card would.. kinda push me over my spending limit T.T
Guess I'll just wait til I can buy them both. Or just buy a new computer. Whichever comes first.

Budget board. nForce4 Chipset.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...788&CatId=1569

That one looks good. Though if I buy it I'd have to go around figuring out how to take the old one out and put the new one in >_> But I guess thats what the internet (and the manual >_>) is for.