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video card to buy

Started by alnite Jan 4, 2004 at 5:38 AM 21 replies 1.7k views
Original Post
alnite
alnite
I don't want to spend big bucks for video card alone, but I am also looking for something that is not too slow to play video games. My current video card crashes a lot, I don't know if it's the mobo or the video card, but I tested the mobo with an older card (GF Pro) and it never crashed. So I guess it's a faulty video card I have. Currently I am planning to buy a Radeon 9200, or anything in its class, but not interested in buying nVidia due to some compatibility problem with my mobo, and the fact that my current video card is GF4 MX440. Currently these are my picks: Gigabyte RADEON 9200SE Video Card, 128MB DDR, 64-bit, TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "GV-R92S128T", $51.99 POWERCOLOR RADEON 9200SE Video Card, 64MB DDR, 64-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "R92LE-B3S", $52.00 CONNECT3D RADEON 9200SE Video Card, 128MB DDR, 64-bit, TV-Out, 8X AGP, $57.00 Do you think buying a Radeon 9200 is a wise decision, feature-wise, or should I upgrade to 9500/9700? Keep in mind that I won't spend more than $70 for this. [edited by - alnite on January 4, 2004 6:39:05 AM]
alnite
alnite
oh yes they do, but they support DX8.1, not DX9. But I don''t know about this so-called HLSL in DX9, are they a big improvement compared to pixel shader 1.4?
Drevay
Drevay
Don't get the 9700, gah, just don't.

DO NOT GET ANY RADEON SE CARD - They have a scronny mem bus (64 bit).

Get the 9600 XT, it's a great buy (128 bit mem bus, 500 mhz gpu, 128 mb ddr, directx 9, many other things) and comes with an offer for a free copy of half life 2.

Personally, I love the damned card, it can handle anything I throw at it - ANYTHING.

It's 300 Canadian at Futureshop, so yah.

Make sure you get an ATi (not just powered by ATi, but MADE by ATi) card, and not some cheap Radeon series rip off - they usually carry problems with them (the rip offs, that is).

That's my suggestion, so whatever.

BUT - If you want to sacrifice a BIT (well, 100 mhz of GPU sacrificed actually) of speed go for the 9600 Pro.

The 9500's are discontinued now, but if you can get your hands on a 9500 pro I'd go for it - consdiering it has 8 rendering pipes and the 9600 pro/xt does not - it's slower though, so it's up to you.



[edited by - Drevay on January 4, 2004 8:03:08 AM]
_________________Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen. -- Winston ChurchillGDNet-0.2 - rate users the easy way with this nifty Firefox extension. Updated with new features.
temp_ie_cant_thinkof_name
temp_ie_cant_thinkof_name
And don''t break the bank simply b/c you want a "TV-out." Your computer monitor obviously has better picture/higher res.
"I study differential and integral calculus in my spare time." -- Karl Marx
circlesoft
circlesoft
quote:
Original post by Drevay
Don''t get the 9700, gah, just don''t.


Do you actually have any reasons for saying that? I''m just asking because I''m looking into getting a new card, and am looking towards a newer Radeon, but I''m not sure which. The 9600XT seems to have a lot of crap I don''t need (except that free copy of HL2), while the 9700 pro is not that much more expensive, but faster.

Drevay
Drevay
What does the 9600 XT have that you don''t need? Do tell!

And the 9700''s are known to be glitchy - don''t trust me? Ask around.

_________________Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen. -- Winston ChurchillGDNet-0.2 - rate users the easy way with this nifty Firefox extension. Updated with new features.
vNistelrooy
vNistelrooy
quote:
Original post by Drevay
Make sure you get an ATi (not just powered by ATi, but MADE by ATi) card, and not some cheap Radeon series rip off - they usually carry problems with them (the rip offs, that is).


Why? Even if you had problems with a powered-by-ATI card it doesn''t mean that ALL the powered-by-ATI cards are crap. All my nVidia cards and my current Radeon 9600 pro were built by other companies (the Radeon is a GigaCube card), and I mean built by other companies, not built by nVidia and a sticker and the cooler added by another company. I didn''t have any problems at all. Just get a good company (Asus for example) and you want have any problems.


"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
Drevay
Drevay
Personally I''d much rather get a Made by ATi or Made by nVidia card.

_________________Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen. -- Winston ChurchillGDNet-0.2 - rate users the easy way with this nifty Firefox extension. Updated with new features.
vNistelrooy
vNistelrooy
Ontopic: DO NOT GET THE 64-bit CARDS!!! They are slowslowslowslow. If you want a cheap DirectX9 card get the GeForce FX 5600 (~90$) or the GeForce FX 5200 (slow but very cheap, <60$). If you really don''t want to buy nVidia''s cards (WHY?!) than your cheapest DirectX 9 card would be Radeon 9600 (pro) (~85$).


"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
vNistelrooy
vNistelrooy
quote:
Original post by Drevay
Personally I'd much rather get a Made by ATi or Made by nVidia card.



There no such thing, right? Meaning "made by nVidia". nVidia usually builds the card and the other companies just slap a new heatsink-fan.

Edit: OMFG I AM TEH OFF TEH PRBOTIAN!!! TIEM FOR TEH CRAP-POTSING!!!!


"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"


[edited by - CPPMaster Poppet on January 4, 2004 9:02:26 AM]
"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
Drevay
Drevay
Hmm, well when it says Made by ATi on the box, it''s made by ATi - even now as I look at the card it says ATi all over it.

So there.

The Geofrce FX''s aren''t worth the dough, in my opinion.

The 5600 < the 9600 XT.

Where the HELL are you seeing these prices for around 90 bucks, CppMasterPoppet?

Holy shit, I mean, that''s around 120 Canadian.

*craps his pants*

O_o

_________________Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen. -- Winston ChurchillGDNet-0.2 - rate users the easy way with this nifty Firefox extension. Updated with new features.
Extrarius
Extrarius
He probably got the prices from pricewatch.com, but looking around you can get a 5600 from NewEgg for $109 so they aren''t off too much.
"Walk not the trodden path, for it has borne it's burden." -John, Flying Monk
vNistelrooy
vNistelrooy
quote:
Original post by Extrarius
He probably got the prices from pricewatch.com, but looking around you can get a 5600 from NewEgg for $109 so they aren''t off too much.


Right.


"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
vNistelrooy
vNistelrooy
quote:
Original post by Drevay
The Geofrce FX''s aren''t worth the dough, in my opinion.

The 5600 < the 9600 XT.


Maybe but he is asking for cheap cards. 5950U>9600XT so?
And the 5700U>9600XT as long as you aren''t running any PS2.0 effects. The 5700 Ultra really sucks when it comes to shaders, therefore o/c-9600Pro>9600XT>5700U>All-other-ATI-&-nVidia-cards-in-the-world-except-the-9800-5800-and-5900/5950.
Point: Not all GeForce FX cards are evil.


"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
Drevay
Drevay
9800XT > 5959U

So THAR.

Like I said, the 9600XT isn''t the top of the line, but it''s a damn good card.

_________________Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen. -- Winston ChurchillGDNet-0.2 - rate users the easy way with this nifty Firefox extension. Updated with new features.
Drevay
Drevay
I might add the 9600 XT is BETTER than the 9600 pro - COMPARE THE SPECS.

The 9800 XT is also better than the 9800 Pro.

Thus the XT - you see where I''m getting here?

OK THEN.

_________________Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen. -- Winston ChurchillGDNet-0.2 - rate users the easy way with this nifty Firefox extension. Updated with new features.
vNistelrooy
vNistelrooy
quote:
Original post by Drevay
I might add the 9600 XT is BETTER than the 9600 pro - COMPARE THE SPECS.

The 9800 XT is also better than the 9800 Pro.

Thus the XT - you see where I''m getting here?

OK THEN.


At stock the 9600XT is better than the 9600Pro, but it is the same chip EXACTLY so overclocking the cards will give you two (app.) same cards. The XT is only worth if you want the Half-Life 2.

quote:
Original post by Drevay
9800XT > 5959U


I disagree.


"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
Drevay
Drevay
...

The XT is 100mhz faster than the pro, it has all the same specs just faster.

What don''t you understand?

Just overclock it if you wish. :/

And yes, the 9800 XT is a lot better than the 5950 U.

Compare them, test them out, whatever.

_________________Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen. -- Winston ChurchillGDNet-0.2 - rate users the easy way with this nifty Firefox extension. Updated with new features.
vNistelrooy
vNistelrooy
quote:
Original post by Drevay
The XT is 100mhz faster than the pro, it has all the same specs just faster.

What don''t you understand?

Just overclock it if you wish. :/


I SAID the XT is faster/better using stock speeds. The question is whether the 50$ are worth the 100Mhz that can be gained easily.

quote:
Original post by Drevay
And yes, the 9800 XT is a lot better than the 5950 U.

Compare them, test them out, whatever.


Have you tested them out? I would have sticked with nVidia if they didn''t have those fricking driver problems, which they still have.


"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"
"C lets you shoot yourself in the foot rather easily. C++ allows you to reuse the bullet!"

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