AGP card under $200?

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IsenMike

Member
Sep 12, 2006
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Recent problems with my Radeon 9800 PRO (see my other post) have got me thinking that, whether or not it's fixable, the card is still starting to show its age. So I'm thinking about upgrading, but I really can't afford to throw a lot of money into my computer right now. I particularly can't afford to upgrade my motherboard and my GPU at the same time, so I need to stick with an AGP card.

Right now I'm looking at the X1600 Pro, which is on ATI's website for $150 after trading in my old card, and the X850 Pro, which is on NewEgg for about the same price.

The X1600 didn't get a great review in the "Midrange Video Cards" article recently posted on this site, but they were reviewing the 256MB version. Will the extra memory make enough of a difference to make the card worth it?

How about the X850Pro? I'm a little hazy about the naming conventions here. Haven't shopped for video cards in a while. Is this an older generation card? If so, will it do HDR and all the other fun new effects and whatnot? Should I care?

What else can you guys recommend? It seems that my choices are going to be pretty limited until I upgrade to a PCI-E motherboard, but rebuilding almost all of my computer really just isn't in the cards for a while. What is out there for AGP?
 
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Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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The x850pro is an older generation of cards, which does not support FP16 HDR or SM3. However, it will significantly outperform a x1600pro is just about any game because although the x1600pro has 12 pixel shaders like the x850 pro, it's severly crippled by its 4 texture units and a 128-bit memory bus. The x1600pro just doesnt have the power to put HDR to good use, even though it supports the feature.
 
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thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
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If you go for an x850 series card, get an x850xt. You can easily find them for around $150 and a lot of times less than that. Don't go for an x850pro.
 
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IsenMike

Member
Sep 12, 2006
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Originally posted by: thegimp03
If you go for an x850 series card, get an x850xt. You can easily find them for around $150 and a lot of times less than that. Don't go for an x850pro.
Click to expand...

NewEgg only shows the x850xt for PCI-E. Does it exist for AGP?
 
H

hmorphone

Senior member
Oct 14, 2005
345
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Originally posted by: IsenMike
Originally posted by: thegimp03
If you go for an x850 series card, get an x850xt. You can easily find them for around $150 and a lot of times less than that. Don't go for an x850pro.
Click to expand...

NewEgg only shows the x850xt for PCI-E. Does it exist for AGP?
Click to expand...


It exists. If you can find an X800XT or X850XT for that price, then that would be the fastest card. There may not be any around, particularly at that price. The X850pro or X800XL are also good choices, albeit slightly slower cards. If you want to research and mod a card an X800GTO has possibilities too. You would probably be pretty happy with that X850 pro, but I would also check around to see what other X800/X850 versions are availible in AGP right now (for reasonable money.) An X800XT AIW might be an even better choice, I think there are some good deals on that card in AGP right now. If you wanted to go up to $175 I would also consider the 7600GT from Leadtek on Newegg.
 
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Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
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Ja, X800XT AIW and 7600GT are current faves. They perform aboot the same and are within $20 of each other. I would not put too much stock in the latter's support for SM3 or HDR (still sans AA? no thanks) however it does offer AVC acceleration and a relatively efficient design.

Screwegg. eWiz has 'em for $181 shipped via froogle ($1 more oh teh noes) or 3gplaza for $173 shipped (or perhaps best: $166 and buy $9 more schtuff to get free shipping).

*Shipping based upon my destination. Does not necessarily constitute a hearty endorsement of any product or service. May cause flatulence.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
You don't have an extra $30 for a 7900GT? Come on that one dinner no drinks at applebees.

If not I'd go for x850xt recommended eariler it's almost as fast like 5-20% slower...
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Originally posted by: Zebo
You don't have an extra $30 for a 7900GT? Come on that one dinner no drinks at applebees.

If not I'd go for x850xt recommended eariler it's almost as fast like 5-20% slower...
Click to expand...

$155 = X800XT AIW
$165 = 7600GT
$225 = X850XT (used)
$375 = 7900GT (Gaywad 7800GS+)

plus shipping (last being overseas)

Hopefully, some 79xx variant will become a standard (reference) offering now that the 7600GT has supplanted the 7800GS.
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Originally posted by: Zebo
I don get your prices? For example a 7900GT is $230
Click to expand...

Hmm, maybe my prices are in pesos or Australian dollars or maybe as per topic they are for AGP :p


 
C

CaiNaM

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 2000
3,718
0
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Originally posted by: Auric
Originally posted by: Zebo
Hopefully, some 79xx variant will become a standard (reference) offering now that the 7600GT has supplanted the 7800GS.
Click to expand...
so with only 128b memory bus (7800gs has 256b) and 4 less rendering pipes, the 7600gt is still equal to the 7800gs?
Click to expand...
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Originally posted by: CaiNaM
Originally posted by: Auric
Originally posted by: Zebo
Hopefully, some 79xx variant will become a standard (reference) offering now that the 7600GT has supplanted the 7800GS.
Click to expand...
so with only 128b memory bus (7800gs has 256b) and 4 less rendering pipes, the 7600gt is still equal to the 7800gs?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the peppy li'l 7600GT sports a newer core (G73 based upon G71, rather than sourced from G70 rejects as the 7800GS) and makes up much of the memory bus defecit with greater efficiency and higher frequencies. At half the price it's gotta hurt to be stocking any 7800GS now after only a six month existance.

Some reviews: 4gamer, clubic, hardwarezone, trustedreviews
Click to expand...
 
C

CaiNaM

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 2000
3,718
0
0
Originally posted by: Auric
Originally posted by: CaiNaM
Originally posted by: Auric
Originally posted by: Zebo
Hopefully, some 79xx variant will become a standard (reference) offering now that the 7600GT has supplanted the 7800GS.
Click to expand...
so with only 128b memory bus (7800gs has 256b) and 4 less rendering pipes, the 7600gt is still equal to the 7800gs?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the peppy li'l 7600GT sports a newer core (G73 based upon G71, rather than sourced from G70 rejects as the 7800GS) and makes up much of the memory bus defecit with greater efficiency and higher frequencies. At half the price it's gotta hurt to be stocking any 7800GS now after only a six month existance.

Some reviews: 4gamer, clubic, hardwarezone, trustedreviews
Click to expand...

hmm... interesting..

although, leadtek is the only one who makes an agp version?
Click to expand...
 
P

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
16,986
1
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Originally posted by: thegimp03
If you go for an x850 series card, get an x850xt. You can easily find them for around $150 and a lot of times less than that. Don't go for an x850pro.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

X850XT is still a very capable card.
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Originally posted by: Pabster
:thumbsup:

X850XT is still a very capable card.
Click to expand...


And still very expensive in AGP such that you may as well get the GS+ for about the same price.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Originally posted by: Auric
Originally posted by: Zebo
I don get your prices? For example a 7900GT is $230
Click to expand...

Hmm, maybe my prices are in pesos or Australian dollars or maybe as per topic they are for AGP :p
Click to expand...

I stand by my statement;)
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Leadtek 7600GT AGP

As fast as a X850XT/6800 ultra.
This card is pretty decent in terms of features, size, heat, noise, quality AND performance.

What more can you ask?
Click to expand...

Ackshilly, I think it is faster than Ultra but not quite as fast as XT at default clocks at least. Presumably the XT does not have as much o'erclocking headroom but I have not actually checked futuremark orb or such. But yes, compared to such previous gen high-end cards the GT is tidgy, has low power consumption, is cool and quiet and has all the latest features too. So I would say it is more than decent and could only really be improved with a lower price but with the market to itself at the mo' the premium is understandable.

 
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