9700 Pro or 9600 Pro

[imported_epineda]

Is the 9700 Pro better than the 9600 Pro? I noticed the 9700 Pro won Tom's Hardware award in 2002. That seems like a long time ago, is the 9600 that old as well? Did the 9700 Pro come out before the 9600? I noticed on ATI's website that the 9700 is listed on the bottom (as if it's been discontinued), below even the 9200 models, and that the 9700 isn't in the current buying guide in this forum. Is the 9700 outdated? Also, how does the 9700 compare to the 9800?

 

[nick1985]

9700pro > 9600pro

 

[dtboos]

9800pro>9700pro>9600pro

 

[DaveSimmons]

9700 Pro is no longer made, but it was the best card of its time and still works well today.

If you want to compare cards, check the "Video" tab at the top of this page, the go back a bit in the listings. In Fall 2003 there was a nice roundup of cards that should include the 9700.

Best to worst:

nvidia 6600GT
9800 Pro
9700 Pro
9600XT
9600 Pro
nvidia fx5700

For Doom 3, a 9700 Pro should let you run nicely at 800x600, Half-Life 2 probably at 1024x768 (and with better visual quality than the nvidia fx 5900 I bought last December)

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
For Doom 3, a 9700 Pro should let you run nicely at 800x600, Half-Life 2 probably at 1024x768 (and with better visual quality than the nvidia fx 5900 I bought last December)

Actually, it runs Doom3 very comfortably at 1024x768 (1280x1024 is within reach). Half-Life 2 runs very well at 1280x1024.

The 9700 is at least 35% faster than the 9600.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
For Doom 3, a 9700 Pro should let you run nicely at 800x600, Half-Life 2 probably at 1024x768 (and with better visual quality than the nvidia fx 5900 I bought last December)

Actually, it runs Doom3 very comfortably at 1024x768 (1280x1024 is within reach). Half-Life 2 runs very well at 1280x1024.

The 9700 is at least 35% faster than the 9600.

 

[thegimp03]

9700 pro is way better than the 9600 pro.

 

[Blain]

9800 Pro > 9700 Pro > 9500 Pro > 9600 Pro... I left out the XT versions. 😉

 

[dguy6789]

I would say 9800 Pro>9700 Pro> 9500Pro/9600Pro. The 9500 and 9600 Pro are way to close performance wise to make that judgement.