+ - $150 For Video Card

[olds]

Looking to spend around that much. I currently have a GeForce2 Ultra. I am looking at the Ti4200 ($155) and the ATI 9000 Pro ($125). Not going to overclock, just want something a little faster and I don't want to go overboard with the new cards coming out in the next few months. I did just order an AMD 2200+ to replace my 1.33 as that is all the mobo supports. Opinions are much appreciated and anticipated. TIA

 

[Furor]

Either get a Ti 4200 or ATI Radeon 9500..if I were you, i'd go with the Ti4200, so you don't have any problems with uninstalling nvidia drivers, then reinstalling ati drivers..you can get a ti4200 for less than $155 on the fs/ft board..you can get a 9500 pro which is a little better for about $170 around retailers..i'd love to trade my ti 4200 + some cash for a 9500 so I could use it with my ati tv wonder and get transparent tv!

 

[IBdaMac]

If I was looking to spend around 150 bucks on a video card I would probably have to go with the Radeon 9500. You can get it at newegg.com for around that price...maybe a little more. But the new radeon series is wonderful. I've got the 9700 pro and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[olds]

Thanks for the input.

Furor
That driver issue is a good point and something I hadn't thought about.

IBdaMac
The cheapest I found the 9500 for was $204, out the door.

 

[hollowman]

I've got the 9500 128mb from Newegg for $160shipped.

I also saw a thread in Hotdeal forums for 9500 Pro 128mb for 180 or so.

Btw, I've ordered my 128mb non pro so I could mod it to 9700.
I would say it was worth gambling. (running at 9700 OCed to 315/300 just fine. )

I am not recommending to you because it's not guaranteed to work fine after the mod, but definetely worth checking.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: hollowman
I've got the 9500 128mb from Newegg for $160shipped.

I also saw a thread in Hotdeal forums for 9500 Pro 128mb for 180 or so.

Btw, I've ordered my 128mb non pro so I could mod it to 9700.
I would say it was worth gambling. (running at 9700 OCed to 315/300 just fine. )

I am not recommending to you because it's not guaranteed to work fine after the mod, but definetely worth checking.

I just checked newegg and the 9500 Pro is $197.
How is the Jaton brand? I've never heard of them.

 

[hollowman]

Non Pro is what you need to mod to 9700

first one on the page.

Pro from Microcenter for 175

From Hotdeal section


Btw, Ive heard of Jaton before but never seen any review or benchmarks from their cards.

If you are getting Ti4200 for $140-50, then I say just pay little bit more and get the Radeon 9500 non pro 128mb from Newegg.
If you can get Ti4200 for around $90-100, then I say stick with that and save some money for later.

 

[jiffylube1024]

The 9500 non-pro gets killed in performance vs. the Ti4200 and up. If you don't sucessfully mod the 9500, then you are stuck with a direct x9 compliant GF3-esque card (in performance)! Personally, I'd get the Ti4200 or the 9500Pro and be safe, but it's up to you.

 

[tenoc]

At newegg, Sapphire 9500 Pro for $180 shipped. Link.

 

[Creig]

A Radeon 9500 Non-Pro does just fine even without the Soft9700 hack.

1) Stock processor @ 1.53 GHz/stock card.... @ 275/540 =.. 9641 3DMarks
2) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/stock card.... @ 275/540 = 10627 3DMarks

Fillrate 1) 927.9 single/1103.5 multi
Fillrate 2) 928.0 single/1103.4 multi


And the above benches don't show the additional increase in performance you would get by overclocking the core & memory. But if you get one of the cards that works well with the Soft9700 hack you get an INCREDIBLE value for your money.


3) Stock processor @ 1.53 GHz/9700 update @ 275/540 = 11016 3DMarks
4) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/9700 update @ 275/540 = 12716 3DMarks
5) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/9700 update @ 325/600 = 13329 3DMarks

Fillrate 3) 1538.0 single/2163.4 multi
Fillrate 4) 1548.0 single/2173.5 multi
Fillrate 5) 1749.1 single/2538.2 multi


So it's really a no-lose situation. The only difference is whether you end up with just a really good performing card or a GREAT one!

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Creig
A Radeon 9500 Non-Pro does just fine even without the Soft9700 hack.

1) Stock processor @ 1.53 GHz/stock card.... @ 275/540 =.. 9641 3DMarks
2) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/stock card.... @ 275/540 = 10627 3DMarks

Fillrate 1) 927.9 single/1103.5 multi
Fillrate 2) 928.0 single/1103.4 multi


And the above benches don't show the additional increase in performance you would get by overclocking the core & memory. But if you get one of the cards that works well with the Soft9700 hack you get an INCREDIBLE value for your money.


3) Stock processor @ 1.53 GHz/9700 update @ 275/540 = 11016 3DMarks
4) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/9700 update @ 275/540 = 12716 3DMarks
5) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/9700 update @ 325/600 = 13329 3DMarks

Fillrate 3) 1538.0 single/2163.4 multi
Fillrate 4) 1548.0 single/2173.5 multi
Fillrate 5) 1749.1 single/2538.2 multi


So it's really a no-lose situation. The only difference is whether you end up with just a really good performing card or a GREAT one!

Hmm, I didn't realize the 9500-non pro was that good. If you have a ~1.8 GHz CPU or above (and the 2200+ is 1.8 GHz) then the 9500 non-pro does look pretty good actually.. 106XX marks is pretty decent for that card at stock speed.

I guess the 9500 non-pro is pretty good then. I'd say you'd be happy with that (especially after upgrading from a GF2 U). Just don't get the Radeon 9000 Pro. It's still a fast card, but slower than the 4200 and 9500 by a pretty decent margin.

 

[nRollo]

"How is the Jaton brand? I've never heard of them. "

LOL- I believe "Jaton" is the maker of Trident video cards, so you probably have laughed at, er, heard of them.....

 

[Creig]

i'd love to trade my ti 4200 + some cash for a 9500 so I could use it with my ati tv wonder and get transparent tv!

Are you referring to using a TV channel as the background for your desktop? If so, you don't need an ATI card to do that. I've been using that feature with my GeForce cards for a couple of years. There's an option in the TV-Wonder software that says something like "Use tv as background when minimized". Simply select that option and minimize (not close) the TV-Wonder tv screen. It should show up underneath all your icons. And you can still change channels by using the TV icon in your tray.

 

[Furor]

Originally posted by: Creig

i'd love to trade my ti 4200 + some cash for a 9500 so I could use it with my ati tv wonder and get transparent tv!

Are you referring to using a TV channel as the background for your desktop? If so, you don't need an ATI card to do that. I've been using that feature with my GeForce cards for a couple of years. There's an option in the TV-Wonder software that says something like "Use tv as background when minimized". Simply select that option and minimize (not close) the TV-Wonder tv screen. It should show up underneath all your icons. And you can still change channels by using the TV icon in your tray.

no, I mean transparent tv...like you can see through it..it's a feature with ATI cards..so you can watch tv and do something else at the same time.

 

[olds]

Finally decided and went with an Albatron Ti4200. I also went from a 1.33 to a 2200+ and got a Soyo KT333 DRAGON Ultra Platinum Edition. Replaced my Gamer 5.1 and LiveDrive IR with a Audigy2 Platinum.
3Dmark2001 results @ 1024 X 768 X 32 X 100 Hertz
before: 3181
after: 10206
I hit 12261 by overclocking the FSB and the card but I was just horsing around. I won't run it overclocked.
Thanks for the input.