Which Graphics Card Would You Recommend?
<div class="IPBDescription">on this system.</div> ecs p4vmm mobo (only supports 4x agp)
intel p4 2.4ghz
256 sdram (soon to be 512 ddr, maybe even 1gig ddr)
gf 4 mx440 -wanting to upgrade soon
some 300W power supply
I was thinking about the 9800 pro, then had doubts that it wouldnt run on my system(is the power supply enough?), although i've read there isnt much of a diffrence between 4x and 8x agp. Now im thinking about the 9600xt.
I'm leaning towards an upgrade that will allow me to run games such as doom 3, half-life 2 etc at good performance.
sorry i know threads like these are repetative <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
intel p4 2.4ghz
256 sdram (soon to be 512 ddr, maybe even 1gig ddr)
gf 4 mx440 -wanting to upgrade soon
some 300W power supply
I was thinking about the 9800 pro, then had doubts that it wouldnt run on my system(is the power supply enough?), although i've read there isnt much of a diffrence between 4x and 8x agp. Now im thinking about the 9600xt.
I'm leaning towards an upgrade that will allow me to run games such as doom 3, half-life 2 etc at good performance.
sorry i know threads like these are repetative <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Comments
Although to let you know I've heard there might be a big performance gain from the 9800 Pro 128MB -> 9800 Pro 256MB.
Apparently the 256MB version uses DDR2 memory slightly faster than the DDR RAM that the 128MB version uses.
But hey as long as you get one of the two.
[Edit:]You should really mention what is your target price because hell if you say money ain't a thing, I'd say screw the 9800 Pro and go for a Radeon X800 XT-PE. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I was about to say the same. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
unless playing doom3 with its exorbidant texture memory requirements...
Who does that anyways <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->.
Back to topic, i would recommend you a 128mb version.
If you want to play doom3 with exorbitant setting you will need to upgrade other parts too... So 256mb would be a waste.
Who does that anyways <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->.
Back to topic, i would recommend you a 128mb version.
If you want to play doom3 with exorbitant setting you will need to upgrade other parts too... So 256mb would be a waste. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
... this is iffy, he might be able to pull off decent framerates with that setup on high with 256, but there is no way a 128 is going over medium, no matter how you have your machine set up. Your probably right, I'm not exactly owning doom3 on the running sence and I have better specs than that...
If possible try get one with an R360 core ( or 256Mb version ) so you have the option to flash to a 9800XT.
If possible try get one with an R360 core ( or 256Mb version ) so you have the option to flash to a 9800XT. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Seconded on all acounts.
Not for the faint hearted though. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
(/me smells "ATI > Nvidia" war.
/me sides with ATI)
On a side note, I don't think I'll be able to get my X800 XT PE on time, so my new system is going to be stuck with a spare 9700 Pro my dad has lying around from his Dell comp (he replaced it with a FireGL so he could run the medical imaging software he develops).
An example of ECS sucking is my own motherboard: They cheated on AGP4x. They have it run at 4x speeds but at 2x voltage. So a video card I purchased a few months ago, a Radeon 9600 Pro, doesn't work. :/ It's 4x/8x only.
And I'm short on cash. Anyone wanna donate a Socket 478 motherboard with onboard sound and network to me? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
YES YES AND MORE YES.
Hello <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB edition = Slightly Slower Radeon 9800 XT.
Why in god's name would you go with the 256MB edition is you're not going to flash it to a 9800 XT.
An example of ECS sucking is my own motherboard: They cheated on AGP4x. They have it run at 4x speeds but at 2x voltage. So a video card I purchased a few months ago, a Radeon 9600 Pro, doesn't work. :/ It's 4x/8x only.
And I'm short on cash. Anyone wanna donate a Socket 478 motherboard with onboard sound and network to me? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I seem to have the same motherboard, im pretty sure its <a href='http://howstuffworks.pricegrabber.com/sear...masterid=702749' target='_blank'>this</a> one.
I'm now worried that the 9800 pro would most likely not work with my mobo.
I'm fairly sure this is a proper 9800 Pro, only that it's Light-Retail which means i shave off big cash by not getting any useless games i will never play anyway.
I can sell my Sapphire 9600pro and get that 9800pro instead.
Sounds like a plan?
- the core. Is it the R350 (9800 Pro) or the R360 (9800 XT).
- memory bus width. Ensure it's 256-bit. Sapphire produced a bunch of 9800 Pros that were onlt 128-bit.
The Radeon card is nice although its not the best for the job slightly within its price range. Those cards can run about $250 dollars whereas if you wait about 1 or 2 months, you can land yourself with a beautiful Geforce 6600 GT for approximately $200 dollars, 50 less than the Radeon cards and still kicking its @$$ in most of the benchmarks.
The main problem with them is that you have to wait for them, Nvidia decided to be stupid and release the PCI-Express version of the card first and therefore delayed the standard AGP card model. It should be out before christmas and I am hoping I insinuate enough to my parents about the card as to acquire it as a present.
But basically, if you can't possibly wait and save a couple bucks along with better performance, go with the ATi Radeon 9800 model, my rm has it and it's a beauty. If you can wait, go with the Nvidia 6600 GT, its cheaper and more of a bang for your buck in terms of performance.
The Radeon card is nice although its not the best for the job slightly within its price range. Those cards can run about $250 dollars whereas if you wait about 1 or 2 months, you can land yourself with a beautiful Geforce 6600 GT for approximately $200 dollars, 50 less than the Radeon cards and still kicking its @$$ in most of the benchmarks.
The main problem with them is that you have to wait for them, Nvidia decided to be stupid and release the PCI-Express version of the card first and therefore delayed the standard AGP card model. It should be out before christmas and I am hoping I insinuate enough to my parents about the card as to acquire it as a present.
But basically, if you can't possibly wait and save a couple bucks along with better performance, go with the ATi Radeon 9800 model, my rm has it and it's a beauty. If you can wait, go with the Nvidia 6600 GT, its cheaper and more of a bang for your buck in terms of performance. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
If you're going to use the "Wait a bit" card so will I.
If you wait a bit ATi will stock up on their X800 XT-PE and make available the X800 XT (Vanilla Alternate), which should result in the Price lowering on the X800 Pro, 9800 XT, and both 9800 Pro 128MB and 256MB.
The good thing though is that the 6600 is compatible with both AGP and PCI Express <a href='http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040812/geforce_6600-04.html#to_sum_up' target='_blank'>I Think it states that the 6600 can do both PCI Express and AGP</a>
The Radeon card is nice although its not the best for the job slightly within its price range. Those cards can run about $250 dollars whereas if you wait about 1 or 2 months, you can land yourself with a beautiful Geforce 6600 GT for approximately $200 dollars, 50 less than the Radeon cards and still kicking its @$$ in most of the benchmarks.
The main problem with them is that you have to wait for them, Nvidia decided to be stupid and release the PCI-Express version of the card first and therefore delayed the standard AGP card model. It should be out before christmas and I am hoping I insinuate enough to my parents about the card as to acquire it as a present.
But basically, if you can't possibly wait and save a couple bucks along with better performance, go with the ATi Radeon 9800 model, my rm has it and it's a beauty. If you can wait, go with the Nvidia 6600 GT, its cheaper and more of a bang for your buck in terms of performance. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If you're going to use the "Wait a bit" card so will I.
If you wait a bit ATi will stock up on their X800 XT-PE and make available the X800 XT (Vanilla Alternate), which should result in the Price lowering on the X800 Pro, 9800 XT, and both 9800 Pro 128MB and 256MB. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's totally based off of assumption, I am stating pure fact. Plus, they have the X600 to try and compete with the 6600.
The Radeon card is nice although its not the best for the job slightly within its price range. Those cards can run about $250 dollars whereas if you wait about 1 or 2 months, you can land yourself with a beautiful Geforce 6600 GT for approximately $200 dollars, 50 less than the Radeon cards and still kicking its @$$ in most of the benchmarks.
The main problem with them is that you have to wait for them, Nvidia decided to be stupid and release the PCI-Express version of the card first and therefore delayed the standard AGP card model. It should be out before christmas and I am hoping I insinuate enough to my parents about the card as to acquire it as a present.
But basically, if you can't possibly wait and save a couple bucks along with better performance, go with the ATi Radeon 9800 model, my rm has it and it's a beauty. If you can wait, go with the Nvidia 6600 GT, its cheaper and more of a bang for your buck in terms of performance. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If you're going to use the "Wait a bit" card so will I.
If you wait a bit ATi will stock up on their X800 XT-PE and make available the X800 XT (Vanilla Alternate), which should result in the Price lowering on the X800 Pro, 9800 XT, and both 9800 Pro 128MB and 256MB. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's totally based off of assumption, I am stating pure fact. Plus, they have the X600 to try and compete with the 6600. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
X800 XT Vanilla has been confirmed.
Keeping the price of the 1st generation DX9 and X800 Pro to stay at their current levels after the vanilla is released would be a very stupid move by ATi.