Advice please :P

[Maskirovka]

I need help picking a vid card...here's my situation.

p4 2.4c
1024 corsair XMS 3200
abit IC7
viewsonic p95f+B (good 19" CRT)

that's my current setup...and my gf4 ti4200 just started overheating and freezing my comp. the fan is fine and i could try to reapply thermal paste or something but i was thinking of upgrading anyway.

I'm gonna be a counselor at a camp out of state this summer and i'm going to be in charge of the computer lab (i can bring my rig). i leave around the 15th of june and I won't be able to upgrade while at camp. so if i don't get a new card now i'll be forced to use an old card with a broken fan that doesn't work in 3d apps.

i was just going to get a sapphire 9800p (the $210 at newegg that most ppl have been having success modding to XT) until I saw the refurb version of the same one for $40 cheaper. then i started seeing those deals for x800pro's for around $360. now those deals have dried up.

so the problem is...do i just go for the 9800p? i'll probably be cpu limited on the x800...though i'll probably get a better p4 in the fall after i get back. i'd rather not spend $400 on an x800...and i don't want to get stuck on backorder and not get a card before camp...

so what are the chances i could get another sale and get an x800 in 2 weeks? should i just suck it up this summer? or should i just go for the 9800p refurb and try to get out for the cheapest possible and upgrade video more like next spring?

 

[GeneralGrievous]

I wouldn't go for the refurb for graphics cards. Most likely they are poor overclockers that someone screwed up and returned.

 

[Maskirovka]

well i've read a few posts about people having success with this one:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-362R&depa=99

2 different people said they got the hynix ram/r360 core...

but if i don't get the refurb, i'm probably going to be spending $200 for a 9800 pro now...and then another $200 next spring/summer...if i could just spend $350 now and have the x800 pro that would last the length that both of the cheaper cards would...i'd be much happier and overall i'd be saving $50...i just wish i would've noticed those deals at compusa and crap :\

 

[wickedone]

I would say save and get the new X800pro but looking at your system I read a post some were in here were they tested the X800pro and found there was not a big preformance increase with the intel CPU's until you hit 3.0ghz
So I would go with the Sapphire 9800p

 

[Maskirovka]

i'm not worried about cpu-limiting cause i'm planning on upgrading soon...i would just wait and get a lower price on the x800, but like i said...my ti4200 is broken and i need a new card very soon.

my 2.4c oc's to 2.89 (crappy oc..i know), and i can probably get a 3.4c this fall for a good deal after everyone upgrades to socket 939 with the 64-bit processors

 

[wickedone]

Ok then By all means try and get the X800pro it is supose to be one of the best improvment in video cards there has been and is said to be like twice as good as the 9800pro

By the way your system is about what I have other than I use a asus p4c800 deluxe and a 9500pro video card and like you looking to get a Amd 64 cpu and x800 video card sometime this summer.

 

[Maskirovka]

yea...i guess it's just a matter of getting one in the next 2 weeks...