Best AGP video cards?

[Fox5]

I currently have a 6600GT, are there any AGP cards that would be a good jump over that for not too much? The X850XT is too expensive, it costs more than the faster 7800GT.
So anything cheaper, and how much of a jump would it be? Or should I just wait to go all PCI-express this summer?

 

[eljaye925]

This X850Xt is $250.00 after $50 MIR. Seems like a good price to me.

Microcenter

 

[v8envy]

Cheap, high performance, AGP. Pick two.

In all seriousness, the $250 X850XT is as good as it gets stock for AGP. The 6800GS holds some potential to be decent, but the AGP version's specs look troublingly low.

There is lots more choice in the PCIe camp, including the X800GT16 from Powercolor, GTO from Connect3D and GTO^2 from Sapphire which offer tremendous performance after modding and/or overclocking.

 

[Wolfshanze]

I currently have a 6600GT, are there any AGP cards that would be a good jump over that for not too much?

The short answer is NO.

The long answer is "depending on your definition of 'not too much' I'm afriad!".

Since you think the X850XT is too expensive, you'd also think the 6800GT is too expensive.

Since you obviously don't want to "upgrade" a 6600GT to a 6600GT, about the only price range you're talking about is either a 6800NU or possibly a 6800GS (that may be too expensive for your liking... dunno).

I would say since you already have a 6600GT and you consider a X850XT and 6800GT too expensive, that brings me back to the short answer... NO... there's nothing worth upgrading to for you that justifies the cost based on your criteria. Stick with the 6600GT unless you consider $300 worth the upgrade cost.

 

[Fox5]

Hmm, the $250 x850xt isn't that bad, I didn't realize how close it performed to the 7800GT.

 

[Wolfshanze]

$250 x850xt isn't that bad

That's a misnomer... you still need $300 bucks up-front, and the fortitude and patience to deal with a 6-8-week (if you're lucky) rebate.

 

[Eureka]

Yeah, you do, but you should be able to fork up $50 for the time being, right?

Anyway, it's the only good upgrade from a 6600GT at the moment, and probably will be the final upgrade for AGP anyway.

Just got my x850xt, going to send out rebate soon... I love this card anyway.

Norm

 

[abs0lut3]

Originally posted by: Fox5
I currently have a 6600GT, are there any AGP cards that would be a good jump over that for not too much? The X850XT is too expensive, it costs more than the faster 7800GT.
So anything cheaper, and how much of a jump would it be? Or should I just wait to go all PCI-express this summer?

9800Pro modded to XT lolz. PLUS, with the 9800Pro being around 100 bucks and the Artic Cooling is only 10 bucks at SVC, I don't think there is anything cheaper than that...

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: abs0lut3

Originally posted by: Fox5
I currently have a 6600GT, are there any AGP cards that would be a good jump over that for not too much? The X850XT is too expensive, it costs more than the faster 7800GT.
So anything cheaper, and how much of a jump would it be? Or should I just wait to go all PCI-express this summer?

9800Pro modded to XT lolz. PLUS, with the 9800Pro being around 100 bucks and the Artic Cooling is only 10 bucks at SVC, I don't think there is anything cheaper than that...

Lol, 9800Pro is generally slower than a 6600GT. Prior to a 6600GT I had a 9700pro with Artic Cooling, so the X850XT would definetely be a bigger jump than the 6600GT was.

 

[Munky]

Basically, only a x850xt-level card would give you a big performance boost from a 6600gt, and at the moment it seems like the cheapest high-end agp card. So if you cant fork over the money, then just wait until you upgrade the whole rig.

 

[abs0lut3]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: abs0lut3

Originally posted by: Fox5
I currently have a 6600GT, are there any AGP cards that would be a good jump over that for not too much? The X850XT is too expensive, it costs more than the faster 7800GT.
So anything cheaper, and how much of a jump would it be? Or should I just wait to go all PCI-express this summer?

9800Pro modded to XT lolz. PLUS, with the 9800Pro being around 100 bucks and the Artic Cooling is only 10 bucks at SVC, I don't think there is anything cheaper than that...

Lol, 9800Pro is generally slower than a 6600GT. Prior to a 6600GT I had a 9700pro with Artic Cooling, so the X850XT would definetely be a bigger jump than the 6600GT was.

With XT mod? Are you serious?

X850XT is definitely a huge jump but then it won't be cheap anymore because now you need to buy a high power power supply which not much so compared to 9800Pro/XT mod.

Remember, OP emphasized on being cheap because he is planning to convert to PCIe the following summer. $300 dollars my friend, is not cheap.

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: abs0lut3
With XT mod? Are you serious?

So, you're suggesting he go from a 9700pro, to a 6600gt, to a 9800pro and try to mod to xt? That would have to be the worst use of any funds that I could imagine, all around.

Frankly, the 6600gt was a neglible improvement to start with, and what you are suggesting is completely lateral. Sure, the xt (assuming a successful mod!) has some advantage in AA/AF modes, but it still loses to the gt in many games without AA (and let's face, AA isn't too likely any more on those cards in modern game). Also, newer nvidia drivers have reduced even that minor advantage.

The only sensible thing at this point is to stick with the 6600gt or go for a X850XT on sale. If you are willing to risk modding, a X800GTO^2 would be a good bet to get X850XT speeds (a helluva lot better than a 9800pro mod!).

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: abs0lut3

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: abs0lut3

Originally posted by: Fox5
I currently have a 6600GT, are there any AGP cards that would be a good jump over that for not too much? The X850XT is too expensive, it costs more than the faster 7800GT.
So anything cheaper, and how much of a jump would it be? Or should I just wait to go all PCI-express this summer?

9800Pro modded to XT lolz. PLUS, with the 9800Pro being around 100 bucks and the Artic Cooling is only 10 bucks at SVC, I don't think there is anything cheaper than that...

Lol, 9800Pro is generally slower than a 6600GT. Prior to a 6600GT I had a 9700pro with Artic Cooling, so the X850XT would definetely be a bigger jump than the 6600GT was.

With XT mod? Are you serious?

X850XT is definitely a huge jump but then it won't be cheap anymore because now you need to buy a high power power supply which not much so compared to 9800Pro/XT mod.

Remember, OP emphasized on being cheap because he is planning to convert to PCIe the following summer. $300 dollars my friend, is not cheap.

Ha, I am the original poster.

And yeah, $300 isn't cheap, but it's not outrageous like the $700 video cards now.
I've already got a 480W power supply, plus a louder (and thus unused) 550W power supply.

Taking my previous vid card purchases into perspective, I'd say $300 is too much. I paid $100 for my voodoo 3, $200 for my geforce 3, $400 for my 9700 pro (but hey, it lasted a while without being significantly outclasses), then $200 for the small upgrade of a 6600gt.

I think I'll wait it out until the next gen of cards when I do a complete system overhaul, if I pick up an expensive AGP card now, that means I have to figure out how to get rid of it to recoup some of the money 6-10 months from now, it's far less hassle just to wait.

If you are willing to risk modding, a X800GTO^2 would be a good bet to get X850XT speeds (a helluva lot better than a 9800pro mod!).

Isn't the X800GTO^2 only a PCI-E card?

 

[Wolfshanze]

I would say since you already have a 6600GT and you consider a X850XT and 6800GT too expensive, that brings me back to the short answer... NO... there's nothing worth upgrading to for you that justifies the cost based on your criteria. Stick with the 6600GT unless you consider $300 worth the upgrade cost.

I think I'll wait it out until the next gen of cards when I do a complete system overhaul, if I pick up an expensive AGP card now, that means I have to figure out how to get rid of it to recoup some of the money 6-10 months from now, it's far less hassle just to wait.

Well, that's what I was saying all along! Sit-tight on the 6600GT... nothing is worth the upgrade at this point.

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: Fox5
Isn't the X800GTO^2 only a PCI-E card?

My bad ... I believe you're right that only the X800GTO is currently available in AGP, but I've seen speculation/wishful thinking(?) about an AGP X800GTO^2 coming.

The X850XT was recently on sale here in Canada for $299CDN, no rebate (about $250 US), which I think is an excellent deal for it. Of course, I'm quite happy with my equivalently clockeed X800XTPE that I got for $270CDN back in september

 

[imported_mystro]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
Anyway, it's the only good upgrade from a 6600GT at the moment, and probably will be the final upgrade for AGP anyway.
Norm

I'm having my doubts that the AGP cards will phase out in the next few years and I'm sure the card makers now realize the big market is still AGP so they're making the cards for both using a bridge design right?..realisticly there is no compelling reason to build a new system just to get pci-e..none whatsoever and from what I've been reading,AGP has all kinds of growing room with tons of unused bandwidth or whatever.

I'm betting AGP is here for the foreseeable future and why not...90% of the mobos support it,let's see the 7800 in AGP next and ati's equivilent (?) also..they'd be crazy not too offer these stepup cards for millions of ppl...we're the buyers and the AGP owners,let's see what kind of buiness ppl they really are?

I'm going to buy a agp aiw800xt $250+- to replace this 9500pro regardless ;=)