Best GPU for my needs? ATI tossup...come help out!

[AtomicDude512]

OK, I need a video card that can do 1280x1024 with at least 4x AA and 4x AF with maximum details settings and have DX 9 support and be pretty "future proof". Anything else I forgot to add? Oh yeah, it needs to be able to do that with FPS over about 60.

I think the Radeon 9500Pro looks good but I think it's bandwidth might hold me back, would a Radeon 9700np suite me better? I also want one with a fan that is pretty quiet, my old GeForce4 fan was about 40db I think! :Q

Being as there only seems to be a price difference between the two GPUs of about $45 dollars I thinking the 9700np, what do you think?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Mem]

I think the 9700NP is your best choice and also the best value for money,infact I`ve one on the way(Sapphire 9700NP Retail).

 

[Schadenfroh]

not only will you need a 9700 np, you will also need a speedy cpu/memory

 

[Pete]

A 9500P is basically limited to 1024x768 with AA+AF. A 9700 will bump you up to 1280x960/1024, but even so, not all games will be 60fps with those options (FPSes may require you to bump the AA down to 2x). You can basically set 16x Performance AF on all the time with the R3x0 series, then add as much AA as your framerate will allow.

If you'd like numbers to check for yourself, find the latest reviews at the following sites: GamePC.com (In the Labs), 3DCenter.de, ComputerBase.com, and Hardware.fr. They each have benches at 4x4 or 4x8, and their benchmarks span a huge variety of games. Note that most of these reviews use Quality AF, which takes a much bigger performance bite than Performance AF. So figure the cards will run 10-30% faster with Perf rather than Qual AF.

 

[AtomicDude512]

Well, I guess I'll be going the 9700/9800 way depending on how cheap (or good enough deals) I can find for them.

Thanks everyone!