I want a new Video Card

[Dilligas 0]

I have right now a GeForce 4 TI 4600. I want a better card. I'm willing to spend up to $200.00

I'd like a card that would work really well with my system, but not overkill. Like putting a 454 in a go cart.

These are my specs:

Mobo: Asus A7N8X

AMD Athalon XP 2400

1gb PC2700 DDR

Video card listed above.

Onboard sound

120gb WD HD

80gb WD HD

Windows 2K

[Crimson 0]

Personally I would wait a bit and save for a PCIe system, but if you would like something now, a 9800 Pro would be nice... or save a tiny bit more and get a 6800.

[NYR_32 6]

An ATi brand 9800 Pro with 128mb of Ram runs about $240 still. I personally would spend a bit more than the budget and get it. But you also have the nVidia cards...including the FX5900XT, which I believe Rocky and Zero Alpha have, haven't heard them complain and it costs less then $200.

MSi FX5900XT

ATi 9800 Pro 128mb

[Crimson 0]

They must of shot up in price, because when I bought my 6800GT an OEM BBA 9800 Pro was around $195.

Good luck Dillagas. APG is on the way out, personally, I would wait until motherboards are in the mainstream that have support for SLI.

Edited November 12, 2004 by Crimson

[Dark Ranger 0]

Actually, AGP isn't on the way out.

As of today, the AGP bus is not fully utilized, even by the most high-end video cards. It's a solid infrastructure that has been proven. PCI-Express is still in development phases. You're looking at a technology that has yet to fully mature.

As for SLI, that will prove to be cost prohibitive to most users. Your average Joe is not going to be thrilled with the idea of spending money for two video cards, for a possible increase in performance. No, SLI is reserved for those with excessive cash, or those that cling to technologies' edge.

Dilligas,

Get yourself a good AGP card, such as what NYR has suggested. I'm using the 9800 PRO, and it's amazing. It will run every game out there.

Besides, by the time you want that high-end PCI-Express video card, you'll most likely consider upgrading the rest of your system to match it.

[Crimson 0]

Two 6600GTs will run you about $400, and will be very comparable to one 6800GT, which cost me $470.

[NYR_32 6]

+ Mobo + CPU...SLI isn't going to be for the common person. You may have the cash to burn, most of us don't. So remember that he has a budget, lets help him find something for now, not 6-12 months down the line.

[Crimson 0]

I was merely making a point. Dillagas, if you can't go over $200, and you need something now, get a 5900Xt, since there doesnt seem to be any 9800 Pro's for a decent price.

[Dilligas 0]

Thanks for your help guys. Although I'm not ready to get this PCIe type of card, I do appreciate your help Crimson.

I do have a question though. Most of the examples given here are 128mb cards. Wouldn't a 256mb card be better? I only ask because I saw one for 188.00(oops 178.00). Link

Also, I was curious if it helped out when using more memory intensive programs?

Edited November 12, 2004 by Dilligas

[Dannik 43]

Although 256megs of RAM is advantageous, the fact that it's only a 128 bit memory interface (compared to the 128 meg cards with 256 bit memory interface), you'll see better textures, but lose significant overall performance due to slow memory. Sort of like a gig of PC100 SDRam is not as high performance as 256megs of DDR3200.

[Dilligas 0]

Although 256megs of RAM is advantageous, the fact that it's only a 128 bit memory interface (compared to the 128 meg cards with 256 bit memory interface), you'll see better textures, but lose significant overall performance due to slow memory.  Sort of like a gig of PC100 SDRam is not as high performance as 256megs of DDR3200.

←

Ah, gotcha.

[pz3 338]

Id save up for a PCI-E system

[Crimson 0]

Found one.

It's not BBA, but it's just as good, and $40 cheaper to boot, plus it uses the 256-bit memory. It's cheaper because it comes in a plain white box.

Edited November 12, 2004 by Crimson

[Dilligas 0]

Well I went ahead and ordered the last one that Crimson recomended. It seemed pretty much like the 9800 NYR recomended. Except a little cheaper and came with the Hitman game. (I was thinking about trying that anyway.)

I should get it on Monday. Thanks for all your help guys.

[CR6 0]

Nice find Crimson, congrats on the new card Dilligas.

Good to see Dannik pointed out the first one was 128-bit - that is one detail most people miss and get disappointed why their 9800 Pro doesn't seem up to snuff.

[Arms 0]

Even though they say a card has 256mb this would be a purpose for a marketing scheme to lure the people in buying there cards even though the extra memory won't do much.

[Crimson 0]

And you're thinking this because... Games today use the extra memory, especiallyif it's using a 256 bit memory, makes things go faster.

[Arms 0]

Although 256megs of RAM is advantageous, the fact that it's only a 128 bit memory interface (compared to the 128 meg cards with 256 bit memory interface. (Dannik)

[Arms 0]

Really for me i want a card that abit of both but i think performance matters for me.

[Dannik 43]

That quote of me is out of context. In terms of the specific cards that were being looked at, the 256meg card had a slow 128bit memory interface. This is not true of all 256meg video cards, just the particular one being discussed.

[Arms 0]

Yeah your right, but reading through pcpp it sorts of suggest its not exactly needed a card that has 256mb. Though unless you are a crazy benchmarker.

Edited November 15, 2004 by Arms