128MB Ti4200 w/ AGP 8x or 128MB Ti4600

[SpeedDemonAaron]

Ok you guys, I currently have a 64MB GF4 4200 that my friend said that he would buy off me for the same price that I got it for so right now I'm using my temporary GF2 MX400 until I can decide on which card to get. I definitely want to get a GeForce FX when those come out, they'll just kick so much ass, but for now I want something to hold me over, but allow me to have kick ass time in UT2k3 with.

How big of an issue do you guys think AGP 8x is for UT2k3 and some other games that are coming out right now?

Also, how important is having 128MB of 64MB of memory? Do any games right now actually use the 128MB or is it pretty much pointless for now?

There were two cards that I was looking at... one was a GF4 Ti4200 Gainward GS one with 128MB of 3.5ns memory and AGP 8x. The other was a Ti4600 with 128MB of 2.8ns memory but doesn't have AGP 8x. I do plan on overclocking them, but how important is the 8x.

I already had a 64MB Ti4200, but gave it away cause my friend really wanted it fast to go with his new computer. I wasn't to happy with the Ti4200 though while I had it.... don't get me wrong for 99% of the stuff it kicks ass, but for some of the newer stuff like Rallisport Challenge and UT2k3 there were definite framerate issues. Do you guys think that the 128MB alone would take care of most of my problems, or do I also need AGP 8x, and do I really need to up the speed of the memory too and go witht he Ti4600. Or is none of it even going to give me enough of an increase to really make it worth while.

My current specs are:

AMD AthlonXP 2100+ o/c 1.8GHz
512MB DDR400 Corsair XMS running in DualBank
Asus A7N8X Nvidia nForce2 motherboard

Nothing else is probably all that important spec wise. Thanks for any help, I really need it . Later.

 

[Viper96720]

uh ti-4600 and there's a bunch of threads about 8x agp. It's not necessary right now for gaming etc....

 

[Spicedaddy]

I'd wait a few days and get a Radeon 9500 PRO.

 

[BoomAM]

Hi,
Same as Spicedaddy, the price that you`d pay for the Ti4600 would buy you a 9500PRO 128mb w/agp8x.
Around the same speed as the Ti4600 in todays games
Faster in future games
Better Image Quality
DX9 support
DVD features are better

 

[SpeedDemonAaron]

Isn't the 128-bit memory bus going to be limiting the card though with future games? Doesn't the GeForce4 have a 128-bit bus?

 

[BoomAM]

Its true that the 9500PRO has a 128bit memory bus, if it was 256bit, then it`d be a 9700, but because of the memory optimisations that the 9500PRO uses, which are a generation better than the GF4, It`ll have more "effective" bandwidth.
Plus it has more Pipelines,
more advanced vertex/pixels shaders(as well as more),
128bit Floting point colour precision
As for limiting the performance in future games, yes it will, not by much in lower res`s though(1024*768 and below), The only three cards that have more bandwidth are the GF FX, 9700, Parhelia.
From what i can tell about your price range, the 9500PRO is the best, most futureproof option available to you.
If you can afford more then get a 9700PRO, or wait for the GF FX.

If you do go for the 9500PRO, make sure that its the 9500PRO and not just the 9500, the difference isnt just clock speeds, the 9500 has only 4 pipelines to the 9500PRO`s 8.

 

[GetInMyFatBelly]

I would like to see some ATI 9500 Pro VIVO cards, but haven't heard of any. I would check out the new Asus V9280 VS if you're going with the Ti4200 8x...