_ Are 128bits worth $55? _

Blain · May 3, 2003

With all else being equal, is an extra 128bits of memory bus width worth $55 more for a racing/flight simmer?

Thanks to all the bean counters out there!

Megatomic · May 3, 2003

Blain, I'm digging my 9500 Pro. It seems like a good match for my 333MHz FSB 2700+. UT2003 is a dream now, Mr. Crow never looked so good.

Blain · May 5, 2003

Anybody got a comment on the bus width?

chsh1ca · May 5, 2003

Look at the performance yourself. The numbers do speak for Themselves.

Blain · May 5, 2003

"Look at the performance yourself. The numbers do speak for Themselves."

Benchmarks in themselves don't tell the tale. That's why I posed the question for people in the know.

bluemax · May 5, 2003

I do seem to recall that going from a 9500 PRO to a 9700 Non-Pro was a **very** noticable difference... especially where it really gets pushed (hi-res, AA/AF...) Whether the performance gain is worth the cash, only you can decide.

I'd really try to find a 9700 NP on sale.

Me? I'll be content with a low-power 9600 card. I don't want to strain the PS on my Shuttle box.

Fanless = silent = good.

merlocka · May 6, 2003

Originally posted by: Blain
"Look at the performance yourself. The numbers do speak for Themselves."

Benchmarks in themselves don't tell the tale. That's why I posed the question for people in the know.

Errr. Eh?

jdogg707 · May 7, 2003

I recently went from an ATI Radeon 9500 Pro to a ATI AIW 9700 Pro and have noticed quite a big difference. On the 9500 Pro Unreal 2 was a bit choppy at 1280x1024 32 bit color and 2x AA/8x AF, but with my 9700 Pro I can play it as the same settings but with 4x AA and 16x AF and it's smooth as silk. I guess it just depends on your gaming needs, but I would say if you are a light gamer frab a 9500 Pro or 9600 PRo and overclock them, but if you're hardcore or just want the biggest baddest braqgging rights grab a 9700/9700 Pro. I would also interject that with newer games coming out the bigger better video card is going to definately allow you to keep your card longer, so for 55 bucks if you can keep your card a little longer, depending on your needs it might be worth it...

ATI Radeon 9500 Pro @ 351/313 - 3D Mark 2001 SE - 15002, 3D Mark 2003 - 4476

ATI AIW Radeon 9700 Pro @ 351/340 - 3D Mark 2001 SE - 17900, 3D Mark 2003 - 5300

Hope this gives you some ideas...

Blain · May 7, 2003

Ok, I'm looking at a 9500 Pro or non-Pro 9700. Tons of sites have pure benchmark numbers for these cards.
IF the extra 128bits of memory bus width only gives up a tiny or no difference at all compaired to a 9500 Pro... then the extra bus width of the 9700 wouldn't be worth $55 more.
I'm looking for a "real world" difference not a "benchmark world" difference. From what I've read, the extra $55 would be well spent.

bluemax · May 7, 2003

Originally posted by: Blain
Ok, I'm looking at a 9500 Pro or non-Pro 9700. Tons of sites have pure benchmark numbers for these cards.
IF the extra 128bits of memory bus width only gives up a tiny or no difference at all compaired to a 9500 Pro... then the extra bus width of the 9700 wouldn't be worth $55 more.
I'm looking for a "real world" difference not a "benchmark world" difference. From what I've read, the extra $55 would be well spent.

Um.... a few things. :Q
These BENCHMARKS are done with REAL WORLD programs and games.... how much more "real world" do you want??
And the 256-bit bus of the 9700 IS a big deal!

9700 vs. 9700 Pro review shows the 9700 to be no more than 10% slower.
Anandtech 9700Pro vs. 4600 - and the 4600 is faster than what you were comparing to!

No doubt about it... the 9700's 256-bit bus/memory is what helps make it such a bang-awesome card. Turn up the resolution and AA / AF features, it just keeps on smilin'.
Is it worth $55? If you want to keep the card for a much longer period of time, definately!

EDIT: Forget the best one! Anand does 9500, Ti4200, 9700 and more!
Definately look for the 9700 (non-pro) because it's up to 25% cheaper, but no more than 10% slower.

jdogg707 · May 7, 2003

On the 9500 Pro Unreal 2 was a bit choppy at 1280x1024 32 bit color and 2x AA/8x AF, but with my 9700 Pro I can play it as the same settings but with 4x AA and 16x AF and it's smooth as silk.

Exactly how much more real world would you like? Games are real world, benchmarks are real world because they actually use games to measure the ability of your graphics card...look at which games you will be buying/playing and then figure it out...I would say go with the 9700 and OC to Pro levels...but that's just my take.

FearoftheNight · May 7, 2003

damn he has aiw 9700 pro...=( i'm so jealous...my vanilla 9700 pro is jealous....it has remote stick envy

edit: kakaka its not so bad now that i remember I only paid 172 for it shipped (^_^)

Blain · May 7, 2003

I guess what I'm asking is how much difference would a person see running 138 frames per second vs. 110?
That's the type of real world performance I'm curious about.

AgaBoogaBoo · May 7, 2003

Originally posted by: Blain
I guess what I'm asking is how much difference would a person see running 138 frames per second vs. 110?
That's the type of real world performance I'm curious about.

Well, at that rate a person like me doesn't care. The part where I care is in games a bit more graphically advanced that require more processing power from the video card. The 9700 non pro will also last you a lot more time than the 9500 Pro, IMO.

Also keep in mind that the extra 128bits of memory doubles the memory bandwidth if their RAM speeds are the same, and AFAIK the 9700 non pro has faster ram than the 9500 Pro.

I am going to build my computer at the end of this month and one of the things I have decided upon in a 9700 NON Pro because it can last longer, has higher performance than the 9500 Pro, it can be easily overclocked to Pro speeds, and lastly it should hopefully serve me through Doom III, even if its not on the highest settings.

Blain · May 7, 2003

Thanks. The longer it goes the closer in price the 9700's get to the 9500 Pros. I'll pop for the extra.

EdipisReks · May 7, 2003

it is very worth it.

JBT · May 8, 2003

I have a 9500 Pro I wish I had gotten a 9700 np oh well go for the 9700!!!

dnoyeb · May 10, 2003

I think it depends on the size of your monitor. I think a good resolution for a 19" like mine is 1024x768, or even 1280x1024. So you really only need a video card that can work at that resolution if you have a 19". The higher bandwidth will give bigger fill rate which should handle higher resolutions better. But if you are not going higher, then its of no use.

Probably for folks like me the 9500 pro is just fine. Of course with new games around the corner, its good to push it as high as you can, so you dont end up trying to trade your card in a few months and take a loss . I think I am going with 9700np if I can find one ~$200.

IMHO.

Blain · May 10, 2003

I've got a 21" monitor, but really never run resolutions over 1280x1024. That's a good comfortable res. for me.

___ Are 128bits worth $55? ___

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_ Are 128bits worth $55? _