So I have a $100 Staples reward to use up. I'd like to get a video card for my PowerEdge 400SC.

I was originally just looking to get the cheapest DVI card available, but now that I've received my reward check, I decided to splurge! To get the most bang for the buck, I'd like to order it from Staples and get a price match. As long as Ingram Micro carries it, I can special order it from Staples, so it doesn't have to actually appear on Staple's website.

So, anyone have opinions on the best card for around $100 (including the merchant selling at that price, if you know of one)? I'd prefer the merchant be somewhat "established", to have a chance of the price match going through.

Thanks!

ASUS ATI RADEON 9600SE Video Card, 128MB DDR, 64-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "9600SE/TD" -RETAIL $83.00

ASUS nVIDIA GeForce FX5200 Video Card, 128MB DDR, Dual DVI/VIVO, 8X AGP, Model "V9520 Video Suite" -RETAIL $102.00

both at newegg. i didn't read reviews on them, but for that price range the ati 9600se should be pretty good.

Hmmmm... can't find any ASUS products listed an sparco.
Anyone know if Ingram Micro carries ASUS stuff?
Does Staples use anyone other than IM for special order?

i know they carry ati products, so here you go:

ATI RADEON 9600SE Video Card, 128MB DDR, 64-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -RETAIL $118

I am looking out for a Radeon 9800XT or 9800PRO, or Nvidia 5950ULTRA or 5900ULTRA for DH. He has done a lot of research and has it narrowed down to one of these (best deal). He plays games like Half-Life, Doom and CSI. Maybe if you find a sale and use coupons you could get a lot more card for your Rewards check. just a thought.

more input from others

I already tried ordering that one. OOS.

deja, I hate to break this to you, but he's chosen those cards based on pure performance, not best deal.
Don't tell him that I ratted him out thought.

Those cards cost more than my computer! Actually, almost double! -eek-

you're right!! I remember seeing graphs based on the cards' performances. I'm just supposed to find a great deal on one of them. LOL
Otherwise I really don't know anything about them.

Well, we got him an Antec Sonata (it arrived today) for $43.50..that saved some money. He needed a bigger power supply. -rolleyes-

Thanks for the heads up garsh!

Ok, I found that Ingram Micro carries a number of XFX cards.
Here are the ones around my price range that appear to be in stock:
(description, sparco price, quanitity available)

XFX
GEFORCE FX 5200 128MB DDR TV OUT AGP 8X DX9 FULLY SUPPORTED $73.68 275
GEFORCE FX5200 AGP 8X 128MB DDR W/ TV & DVI OUT $76.35 217
MACH4 NVIDIA NFORCE2 SOCKA ATX 6PCI USB2 DUAL DDR 400MHZ $92.92 14
XABRE 400 128MB AGP 8X W/ TV & DVI OUT $93.20 31
GEFORCE FX 5200 256MB DDR TV DVI8X AGP DX9 FULLY SUPPORTED $101.06 131
XFX GEFORCE FX 5700 LE 256MB DDR AGP W/ TV AND DVI $144.60 106
GEFORCE FX 5200 PERSONAL CINEMA 128MB DDR AGP8X DX9 $159.05 134
GEFORCE FX 5700 256MB DDR TV OUT (S-VIDEO) DVI AGP8X DX9 $166.85 16

I guess I'm mainly posting this for my own benefit, but if anyone wants to investigate further and find a good place to price match one of these, I wouldn't mind.

i just type up on pricewatch and then start calling and trying to pm to the lowest one listed.

Here are some useful (well, to me) Sparco searches.
If you can suggest anything else to search for, let me know.
I've restricted the prices to $80 - $150.

Search for radeon
Search for geforce
Search for nvidia
Search for ati

Any idea which of these cards has DVI?
That's my main problem right now. Some retailers don't state whether or not it has DVI.

Ok, here's what I ended up getting:

Staples ended up getting the ATI Radeon 9600SE128MB AGP Video Card back in stock, at $129.98.

I tried several PM's, and finally got them to accept a PM to ebuyer.com, which had the ATI Radeon 9600SE Video Card for $107.80 + $5.11 S&H.
So after the $100 BR check & PM, I got it for $11.20

nice deal and nice card