$110 or less AGP Card Needed

[teddyv]

Hi Folks - I am looking for a good card to finish out my system and was wondering what folks recommended for cards. I will be doing mostly web browsing, graphics work with Photoshop and Illustrator, some Video work, and playing Ultima Online. Anyone have advice for a decent card for under $110 or so? Is there a site that compares the 6200, 6600, 6800, 9600, 9700, 9800, x600 & x700 series of cards in terms of performance.

There is an ominous warning in the A8V-Deluxe manual, "If installing ATI 9500 or 9700 Pro Series VGA cards, use only the card version PN xxx-xxxxx-30 or later" - does this include the 9800? I've heard of scattered problems with 9xxx series ATI cards and this board, but thought it was related to a weak PS.

Thanks for any comments-

 

[mthomas988]

For just straight comparing random stuff...this site is pretty sweet: http://www.gpureview.com

They have a little card comparison tool that will show you specs and stuff...plus it lists reviews (which I recommend you pay more attention to than just raw specs).

EDIT: here's a link to the comparison thinger: http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=98&card2=188

 

[Randum]

my vote is a 9800pro which you can nab for around 100 if not a little less

 

[teddyv]

So final vote is the 9800Pro? Just a little sketched with the warning about ATI 9xxx cards in the manual, but will give it a go!

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: teddyv
Is there a site that compares the 6200, 6600, 6800, 9600, 9700, 9800, x600 & x700 series of cards in terms of performance.

Tom's AGP roundup - Summer 2005

And the 9800pro should work fine ... the concern was with some of the earlier 9500/9700s.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: teddyv
So final vote is the 9800Pro? Just a little sketched with the warning about ATI 9xxx cards in the manual, but will give it a go!

You may have some difficulty locating a 9800 Pro in the price range suggested. The gpureview web site you were referred to is very interesting; I blew most of yesterday morning there. As you should be aware, gaming and 3D VGA card design are in a synergistic link.

If you plan to do much gaming, your $110 limit may require you to dial down the effects, and/or choose a lower resolution (the 9800 Pro is already well over a year old -- and likely is almost two now, and in the rapid life cycle of gpu's, that sometimes can mean a lot, plus there is the challenge of finding one of those on sale at $110 or less {they were around $500 when new}, I personally haven't seen one below $130). If gaming is not a major part of your PC using life, then your options become more wide open.

P.S. Since answering, I've had occasion to send Pricewatch on a search for 9800 Pro prices, and $124 shipped was the best it found.

 

[JasonE4]

9800 pros have been going for under $100 recently, and used you could probably get one for about $85. Personally, however, I'd probably with with an nvidia 6200 that can be unlocked to 6600. You'll save a bunch of money and get performance about equal to a 9800 pro.

 

[zinkpig]

i have a 9600 pro see my FS thread

 

[teddyv]

Looks like NE has a good deal on the ATI 9800Pro for $130, I know I said $110 but I figure falling asleep early last night instead of ordering Pizza saved me at least $20 so there ya go.

Thanks for the advice and excellent sources of info everyone.

 

[Munky]

You should be able to find plenty of 9800pro's for ~$100 in the FS/FT forum, and the card is still fast enough to run modern games at medium settings, sometimes even with AA/AF.

The only thing that can match the 9800p for the money is a gf 6600, and only if you overclock it close to 6600gt speeds. A gf6200 is basically a 4-pipe version of a 6600, and sometimes the extra 4 pipes can be unlocked, but this doesnt always work. So, either get a 6600 if you plan on overclocking it, or a 9800pro if you want a decent card out of the box.