Graphics Best PCI express card for around $80?

my friend is looking for a video card for his rig and is looking to spend about $85 dollars on it.

currently looking at:
Radeon X1300 256MB

Geforce 7300GS 256MB

the motherboard is nforce 4 with sli x16 support(for later upgrades)

Which one to get or suggest a different card. Thanks

 

X1300 4pipes 450/500 128bitDDR
7300GS 4pipes 550/400 64bitDDR (so more like 550/200)

Despite the core being 22% faster on the 7300GS the total lack of memory bandwidth is shameful and will surely make the card significantly slower over all. Both these cards use PCI-E to utilise system RAM and memory bandwidth but this robs Windows and your CPU so is not ideal at all. The main point is that both of these cards are woefully slow and IMHO not suitable for any remotely recent game. Not only that but don't worry about 256MB as it's not useful until the card hits around 6600GT speed, even then a more powerful card with 128MB is often more preferable. Looking at Newegg try these ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127192
$87 6600 8pipes 300/550 128bitDDR (this is LITE, most 6600 will be around 300/700)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102577
$90 X700 8pipes 400/700? 128bitDDR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102573
$99 X800GT 8pipes 392/700 256bitDDR (so more like 392/1400)

All these are MUCH more powerful offering a core roughly twice as powerful and they also have more memory bandwidth leading to a much faster card. There's no question in my mind, if he wants to do any 3D gaming go for one of these types of cards rather than the nasty X1300 or 7300GS.

 

Whereas, OTOH, if he's just looking for video output, get whatever's cheaper. However if you ever plan to do anything involving 3d rendering, get one of the cards Austin mentioned.