Best bang for the buck right now is the Radeon 9600 Pro 256meg for $132

[JEDI]

Price based on Pricewatch.

From Tom's Hardware UT2003 benchmarks:
http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030714/vga_card_guide-13.html

Based on the prices of video cards and how they stack in UT2003, I say the Radeon 9600 Pro is best bang *right now*

 

[McArra]

I don't think so. I say Radeon 9700np and still 4200Ti.

 

[Wedge1]

I agree with JEDI, only I'm not sure if 256 megs are necessary. Can anybody explain when that much memory might be needed, rather than 128?

 

[NYHoustonman]

Originally posted by: Wedge1
I agree with JEDI, only I'm not sure if 256 megs are necessary. Can anybody explain when that much memory might be needed, rather than 128?

As textures, etc. get bigger, more memory will be needed, but I don't think a 9600 pro would have the speed to make the extra memory really be worth it.

 

[Erickarim]

max users really love 256.
( 3d max studio )

 

[modedepe]

First of all 256mb on a 9600 pro is overkill. Second of all, where can you get a 9600 pro for $132? I looked on pricewatch, the only one I see at $132 is a 9600 np 256mb. A few dollars above that you have the 9600 pro ez crap version. I highly doubt you can get a real 9600 pro for that price. I think the cheapest you'll get one for is $150, which still isn't bad. IMO, the best bang for the buck is the ti4200, which performs just below the 9600 pro in a lot of cases. 9600 pro and 9800np are also good choices if you can spend a little more.

 

[Tab]

Eww Tomshardware.....

Anyway I would say a Radeon 9600 Pro 128

 

[GullyFoyle]

I shopped quite a while for a 9600 Pro's, and the others are right, you can't get a real one for less than $150.

I think the Ti4200 is still the bang for the buck leader, but my vote for second place is the $250 9800 np that everybody and their mother can upgrade the BIOS and turn it into a Pro. (spoken with my wallet, since I ordered one yesterday!)

 

[Blastman]

As already pointed out, 256MB is not needed on a midrange card. It can never run fast enough at very high resolutions (1600x1200) with AA/AF cranked all the way up to use it anyway. 128MB is plenty.

You?d be much better off to spend a few $ more and go for a 128MB 9600 pro in the $150 range. It will run games significantly faster than a 9600 256MB. Make sure it is clocked 400/300DDR and not one of the 9600 pro ?EZ? or ?Lite? versions clocked 400/200.


PS. THG latest VGA buyers guide is complete garbage.

 

[Keysplayr]

To give you an idea of how much memory will be needed, Doom3 will utilize about 80 MB of texture memory at max according to John Carmack. And we all know how intense Doom3 will be. 256 is major overkill for even the high end cards which would be the only ones that are fast enough that "might" be able to use that much memory.

So if you plan to play Doom3 and have a 64 MB card, time to upgrade. Any of the Ti Series G4 cards with 128 will be able to play Doom3 from one degree to another even though they are DirectX8 cards.. 9500,9600,9700 , 9800, 5800 and 5900FX cards which are DX9 cards will do fine. 128 is more than enough as of right now. Next year? who knows....

My 2 cents..

GM

 

[Wedge1]

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
I shopped quite a while for a 9600 Pro's, and the others are right, you can't get a real one for less than $150.

I think the Ti4200 is still the bang for the buck leader, but my vote for second place is the $250 9800 np that everybody and their mother can upgrade the BIOS and turn it into a Pro. (spoken with my wallet, since I ordered one yesterday!)

Where in the world can you buy a 9800 np for $250?

Also, would anybody here choose the 9700 np over a 9600 pro? Why or why not?

 

[alrocky]

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
I shopped quite a while for a 9600 Pro's, and the others are right, you can't get a real one for less than $150.

Well, it's only a 128mb but you can get an Visiontek Xtasy 9600 Pro for $99 AMIR @ CompUSA this week.

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: Wedge1

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
I shopped quite a while for a 9600 Pro's, and the others are right, you can't get a real one for less than $150.

I think the Ti4200 is still the bang for the buck leader, but my vote for second place is the $250 9800 np that everybody and their mother can upgrade the BIOS and turn it into a Pro. (spoken with my wallet, since I ordered one yesterday!)

Where in the world can you buy a 9800 np for $250?

Also, would anybody here choose the 9700 np over a 9600 pro? Why or why not?

I think newegg's are $250. Allstarshop and bananapc are even cheaper, around $235 I think. If I could get a 9700np for around $200 I'd get it over the 9600 pro, just cause it's a lot faster.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Originally posted by: Wedge1

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
I shopped quite a while for a 9600 Pro's, and the others are right, you can't get a real one for less than $150.

I think the Ti4200 is still the bang for the buck leader, but my vote for second place is the $250 9800 np that everybody and their mother can upgrade the BIOS and turn it into a Pro. (spoken with my wallet, since I ordered one yesterday!)

Where in the world can you buy a 9800 np for $250?

Also, would anybody here choose the 9700 np over a 9600 pro? Why or why not?

Newegg, as mentioned, is a great store...Also check out www.pricewatch.com. You really shouldn't be looking to buy this kind of stuff at a retail store unless there's a good sale.

 

[GullyFoyle]

Originally posted by: alrocky

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
I shopped quite a while for a 9600 Pro's, and the others are right, you can't get a real one for less than $150.

Well, it's only a 128mb but you can get an Visiontek Xtasy 9600 Pro for $99 AMIR @ CompUSA this week.

The CompUsa card is being mis-advertised, it's really a non-pro.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: McArra
I don't think so. I say Radeon 9700np and still 4200Ti.

9700np is $215 i thought? at $215, i wouldnt say that's best bang 4 the buck

 

[alrocky]

Originally posted by: DanDeighan

Originally posted by: alrocky

Originally posted by: DanDeighan I shopped quite a while for a 9600 Pro's, and the others are right, you can't get a real one for less than $150.

Well, it's only a 128mb but you can get an Visiontek Xtasy 9600 Pro for $99 AMIR @ CompUSA this week.

The CompUsa card is being mis-advertised, it's really a non-pro.

You appear to be correct as per info on the VisionTek site. The CompUSA rebates also go to New Rochelle, NY, a place folks seem to have trouble getting their rebates.

This also seems to be at least the second CompUSA 'typo' regarding mis-identified products this week.

Thank you for the correction.

 

[ethebubbeth]

Originally posted by: McArra
I don't think so. I say Radeon 9700np and still 4200Ti.

i concur

 

[Pete]

I didn't realize 9600 Pro's were sold with 256MB RAM?

 

[kylebisme]

i don't think they are.

 

[Plester]

newegg always has just about every ti4200 under the sun in the refurb section ranging from $75-$99, often have the asus and albatron 4200s w/ 3.3ns ddr and ti4400/4600 pcbs for $99 too. hard to beat that for bang for the buck.

 

[Eric1285]

I picked up a brand new ATI 9600 Pro for about $130. There is a lot of hype about them overclocking well. I've gotten 2 that haven't overclocked well at all. The one I have now is decent. Still, I ordered a 9500 np to see if I can softmod.

 

[blazerazor]

What's a better card? .. 9500 np (to be overclocked), a 9600 Pro, or a 9800 Non-pro?

trying to stay in $200 - 250 price range.

 

[NYHoustonman]

I would say go with the 9800 np...If you can afford it, I don't see any reason not too.

 

[Wedge1]

Originally posted by: blazerazor
What's a better card? .. 9500 np (to be overclocked), a 9600 Pro, or a 9800 Non-pro?

trying to stay in $200 - 250 price range.

Yea I was wondering the same; I'm looking at those three, but I'm thinking it will be either the 9600 pro or 9800 np. I like the fact that the 9600 pro produces less heat due to the .13 micron dye. But with the 9800 np you get a much greater performance, even without modding it or overclocking it? True statement or not?