8500 considered outdated?

[zixxer]

I have a 2.8 ht p4, 512mb ram, abit IS7, 40gb hdd, and a ati 8500.

Should I get a bigger hdd or a better vid card? I can get a brand new 9800 pro for $336, 9800 $245, fx5900 pro $330

 

[Bateluer]

Is you 40GB feeling kinda cramped? An 8500 is old and its got a number of driver bugs still I hear.

 

[BFG10K]

The 8500 is still an OK card but it's starting to get a bit old. When the next wave of games hit (Doom3, HL2) you'll probably find yourself upgrading pretty quickly.

If you absolutely need one now then get the 9800 Pro, otherwise wait for the newer games to come out and then decide.

 

[nemesismk2]

Yes the 8500 is outdated but there are hardly any dx9 games available right now so it will last abit longer yet. It seems that most people are waiting for doom3 or half life 2 before they upgrade. If your interested in playing them then I'd wait before upgrading.

 

[Lonyo]

Doom 3 isn't out until next year probably, and there are new cards supposedly coming before Christmas (or around that time) and your 8500 should last until around then.

 

[Auric]

Another way to look at it is system balance. 8500 is underpowered for the CPU. If it was a value question, I would have have got a cheaper CPU to get a better viddy card. DX9 doesn't reallly have anything to do with it, as it all comes down to power. If gaming is important and 't ain't smooth then it seems an easy question. But back to value... maybe if you got a 9700 you could get the larger HDD as well for less than the highest-end viddy you proposed, especially if you hock the old parts.

 

[Schadenfroh]

name a game on the market that the 8500 CANT run with a good cpu and the correct detail, video settings.

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
name a game on the market that the 8500 CANT run with a good cpu and the correct detail, video settings.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

It really depends on what you do. Don't go buy out a new card because there is something new it can't run and you don't even play it.

Get it when the games you own feel slow or you just want to be able to use AA and AF at higher levels

 

[43st]

I have a similar setup. I'm pretty happy with the 8500 still. It may not be a cutting edge card but it still offers good frame rates on all the current games. It also has hardware n-patch which can be really nice in Morrowind and a few other titles.

I'm considering an upgrade because the new IL2 Forgotten Battles patch will certainly make "perfect" settings playable on the top cards. I'm currently getting 15-20 fps with "perfect" settings, that's below the playable range for me. "Excellent" settings gives me 30-50 fps currently.

I'd say if you're feeling limited in FPS then upgrade but if you're not then wait a bit.

 

[CraigRT]

I'd get a new HDD first.. they are a lot cheaper than a new powerful video card and will likely be more useful... the 8500 still plays most games quite decent (I have one in my 2nd computer and not changing it any-time soon!!)

 

[Cadaver]

Originally posted by: nemesismk2
Yes the 8500 is outdated but there are hardly any dx9 games available right now so it will last abit longer yet. It seems that most people are waiting for doom3 or half life 2 before they upgrade. If your interested in playing them then I'd wait before upgrading.

Agreed. I'm going to be doing the same thing. I've got a 128MB 8500 (retail, not LE), and it does fine for the current crop of games. Even UT2K3 plays fine on my system at 1280x1024 with high-quality visuals, but next-gen games such as Half Life 2 I believe will be just too slow to play with decent visuals. I'm going to wait until the fall/winter to upgrade, but I will upgrade when such games become available. Most likely will end-up being a 9800 Pro or whatever card replaces it come Q4 this year.

 

[Pete]

It really depends on whether you want more HD space or better 3D performance, doesn't it?

 

[Auric]

But I reiterate, why choose? According to the prices above, a 9800 plus a big assed HDD is still less than the 9800 pro. If one must even question pricing then top of the line kit is prolly not for them. The second best (or lower) always has better bang for the shekel.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Pete
It really depends on whether you want more HD space or better 3D performance, doesn't it?

hehe

se7enty7: How can you live with 40gb of hd space? Maybe you should buy some games instead if 40gb is enough.

That said, I'd go with a HD in your case, I'm still using an 8500 LE(250/200) and it plays most games really well. I even noticed a good increase in performance after upgrading my XP1700 to a XP2800.

As others have said though, you could easily get another 40gb HD and a vanilla 9800 for around the price(perhaps even cheaper) than either the 9800 Pro or fx5900 Pro(Ultra), if you do it that way.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
name a game on the market that the 8500 CANT run with a good cpu and the correct detail, video settings.

I concur. My 8500 runs everything I throw at it just fine.

 

[sandorski]

Since this thread has been bumped : Just got a 9600 Pro a week.5 ago and I wouldn't go back to my 8500LE for anything(although a bribe of $500 might do it ).

 

[Blastman]

Nice.

Going to retire my 9100 64MB ?(64bit ?arrrhhhhhhhh) ..this month and get a 9600pro. Can?t wait.

 

[INemtsev]

Get 9500 Pro and spend rest on extra hdd

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Auric
But I reiterate, why choose? According to the prices above, a 9800 plus a big assed HDD is still less than the 9800 pro. If one must even question pricing then top of the line kit is prolly not for them. The second best (or lower) always has better bang for the shekel.

I agree. IMO, go with a 9800 non-pro, or a FX5900 non-ultra.

 

[clicknext]

The 8500 can still play any current games fine, but maybe not as fast as some would like.

 

[DarkKnight]

If your unhappy with the performance of your card, get a new one. If your still happy with it keep it. I'm still happy with my Gf3ti500.

 

[NEVERwinter]

well I think 8500 (or GF3 Ti500 on nvidia line) is considered as the minimal requirement for today games (and possibly), especially if you're happy with 800x600 and no AA/AF

 

[thraxes]

I have a 8500 retail and it runs everything that I can throw at it at the moment pretty darned well: UT2K3, BF1942, STEF2, GTA:VC
I see no immediate need for an upgrade, wait until the next gen games come out and then decide based what is on the market. in the meantime GET MORE SPACE!! Either you are not on Broadband or don't go to LANs, 'cause if you did yo would have much more than 40GB! Get a nice HDD no smaller than 80GB and add it to the existing drive, mirror it first onto the new drive cause it will probably be faster.

I'm waiting till I upgrade my graphics card at any rate, I am used to low res low quality graphics: I used a TNT2 until one and a half years ago.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: thraxes
I have a 8500 retail and it runs everything that I can throw at it at the moment pretty darned well: UT2K3, BF1942, STEF2, GTA:VC
I see no immediate need for an upgrade, wait until the next gen games come out and then decide based what is on the market. in the meantime GET MORE SPACE!! Either you are not on Broadband or don't go to LANs, 'cause if you did yo would have much more than 40GB! Get a nice HDD no smaller than 80GB and add it to the existing drive, mirror it first onto the new drive cause it will probably be faster.

I'm waiting till I upgrade my graphics card at any rate, I am used to low res low quality graphics: I used a TNT2 until one and a half years ago.

wait for a hot deal on a big hard drive, something thats 50 or 60 bucks after rebates

ive got a gf3, had a 8500 (ati driver problems, gah)
they both run things now fine. im waiting for hl2, max payne 2, homeworld 2... ill read reviews about how well what card runs em, and then pick. probably get a 9600pro, or 5600 ultra or something, depending on the price