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Budget ATI cards?

M

merrimackjay

Member
Hello,

So I'm going to be buying a new system from newegg today (specs below) and I can't decide on a video card to get. I want ATI, so no need to recommend NVidia for me, but here is what newegg has in my budget range: (all are 128mb)

9800SE
9600
9600Pro
9600XT
9600SE
9700Pro (this is stretching my budget)

Which would be the best choice of those ATI cards?

The computer I am building is:

Asus a7n8x-e deluxe
Barton 2500+
1gig corsairXMS pc3200c2
Seagate 160gig SATA 8mb buffer
Lite-On 16x dvd-rom
Enermax, CS-31881TA-B3A case
1 120mm antech blue led fan
3 80mm coolermaster blue led fans
floppy drive
my existing plextor burner

Thank you!!!!


FYI, these are the specific cards newegg offers:

$109 Saphire 9600 OEM
$125 ATI 9600SE Retail
$138 Powercolor 9600Pro Retail
$149 Saphire 9600Pro OEM
$149 Powercolor 9600Pro Retail
$153 Saphire 9800SE OEM
$158 Saphire 9600XT OEM
$169 Connect3d 9600XT Retail
$175 Saphire 9600XT Retail
$175 Powercolor 9600XT Retail
$177 Powercolor 9800SE Retail
$179 Saphire 9600Pro Retail
$189 ATI 9600XT Retail
$190 ASUS 9600XT Retail
$200 ASUS 9600XT Retail
$215 Powercolor 9700Pro Retail
 
The Powercolor 9700 Pro is now $209 @ Zipzoomfly.com. Of course, that would be the fastest card out of the group. The next card I would consider is the Saphire 9600XT for $158. It provides great bank for the buck when none of the extra "fluff" that goes along with a retail card.
 
Originally posted by: merrimackjay
What is so bad about the 9800SE? What if I could overclock the Saphire 9800SE, would it then be better than the 9700Pro?
Click to expand...

9800SE is a crappy 9800 with 4 pipelines which performs similar to a 9600Pro. If you buy a 256bit one, you may be one of those lucky people who have moded it to 9800pro, but that is unprobable.

I'd go with the 9700Pro without doubt.
 
Originally posted by: merrimackjay
So the 9700Pro and the 9600XT are both better than the 9800SE?
Click to expand...

Basically, yes. The 9800SE and the 9600XT are close in performance, but close in price as well.

Go look around

here
 
Thanks everyone. I was going to get the Saphire 9600XT OEM for $158 until I saw that it is out of stock... I think I'll bite the bullet and get the Powercolor 9700Pro instead...
 
Originally posted by: merrimackjay
Thanks everyone. I was going to get the Saphire 9600XT OEM for $158 until I saw that it is out of stock... I think I'll bite the bullet and get the Powercolor 9700Pro instead...
Click to expand...

Good choice 😉
 
Note: you didn't mention it, but if you can a 9700 non-pro or 9500 Pro, that would be an excellent choice as well.
 
Originally posted by: d33pblue
Originally posted by: merrimackjay
So the 9700Pro and the 9600XT are both better than the 9800SE?
Click to expand...

Basically, yes. The 9800SE and the 9600XT are close in performance, but close in price as well.

Go look around

here
Click to expand...
A 325/500 or 325/540 one will suck (note that the toms review uses a very fast 9800SE, at 380/675, not the kind you'll find at newegg, which ahs the fastest as a 380/600)
A 9800SE at 380/600 will be right in there with a 9600 Pro...but costs more. You've got it made if you can softmod it, but overall there seems to be about a 40% chance of that, and if you lose, you're also out $20 or so that could go to a game for that 9600XT you could be buying.
The 9700 Pro is by far the best buy if it can be fit into your budget.
 
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