Comparison Vid Card Question

[Cook1]

How does a nVidia FX5600 Ultra 256Mb 8X AGP Video Card compare to a PNY GeForce 4 Ti4400 128 meg?

 

[Sonic587]

Ti4400 is an overall better card. Ultra comes close somewhat, but it's definitely not an upgrade.

Are you looking into changing cards? If so, what's your max budget?

 

[Cook1]

Well, looking to buy either of those cards, not sure which one to get.

 

[Sonic587]

I really wouldn't go with either if you plan on playing newer games.

Also, the PNY TI4400s had a lot of problems. I owned one myself. Broke down after only 3 months and almost took my monitor with it. Tried to RMA with PNY and they would only give me a plain 5600. I can't find it now, but there was a huge thread on another forum about those cards breaking down.

How much are you willing to spend on a new card?

 

[Cook1]

I have $160 to spend, so thought I could get a lower end 256MB card or would just a higher end 128MB be better? I really don't know much about Vid Cards, been using a Geforce 2 for years now.

 

[Cawchy87]

get a 9700pro 128mb, the extra 128mb isn't worth it on any card below a 9800xt or 5950 (not even sure if it is useful then).

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-236R&depa=0

 

[Cook1]

Are there any worth while nvidia cards around that same thing?

 

[imported_oneiros]

I would save up another $40 and get a 9800 Pro 128mb.

 

[Cook1]

I know this is going to sound stupid but, on the outside of my case I have a lil Nvidia engraving, so would like to keep a nvidia card....no flames. I made my case very pleasing to the eye inside and such so would like to "try" to stick with it.

 

[usernamemax20charact]

If you don't need one immediately, wait for the 6600 or 6600GT to come out.

 

[Cook1]

Yeah but those aren't going to be for $160 I wouldn't imagine.

 

[Cawchy87]

you will get 80-90 percent of the proformance with the 9700pro of the 9800pro. and it is in his price range. i could tell him "save up some more money and get a 6800." 150 is enough to drop on a vid card for some of us who don't care if we play at 1200x1600 or with AA/AF.

A comparable vid card to the 9700pro would be the 5900xt but it is a little bit more.

Here is the cheapest one i could find: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-164-018&depa=0

I haven't had any experiance with that company before nor have a heard reviews about them though. The 9700pro still beats the 5900xt in most benchmarks and surprisingly even call of duty which is an open GL game.

LINK: http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-13.html#unreal_tournament_2003

 

[Cook1]

Thanks for the links

 

[Cook1]

Oh and, heard anything bad on the Ti4600 cards?

 

[maluckey]

The Ti-4xxx cards are all solid performers. The only steps up are the 5700, 5900 and newer cards. Don't bother with the 5200, 5600 series. The Ti-4600 will out run them in any contest. If you can find an 8x AGP variant, then the only real next step up would be a 5900 or higher card.

I run a Ti-4200 128mb, and a 5900XT. The biggest gap is with FSAA/AF. With these settings enabled, the 5900 pulls ahead by 12-25 FPS. You can compare the 5900 series to the TI-4200 128mb by saying that the slower 5900 series runs with 2xQ/2x FSAA/AF at the same speed as a 128 MB Ti-4200 with those settings disabled.

A good buy is the 5900 card by Leadtek. It easily accepts the flash to a 5950. You can then overclock it about as far as a stock 5950! The only real difference is the firmware (BIOS). A cheaper choice is the Leadtek 5900XT. It runs all day at 450/900 in 3D mode, and can be pushed even further. That is faster than a stock 5900 card as far as performance goes.