Friend Needs Cheap Card: 6200 or 9600 XT ?

[WhipperSnapper]

A friend of mine is looking for a cheap AGP card as an upgrade to his computer's integrated graphics. We're looking for a new card for under $100, preferably.

Which is faster? A 128 bit nVidia 6200 or a 9600 XT? So far I haven't found any benchmarks that really compare the two, but I can't say that I've looked too hard either. I know the 9600 XT is one of the best 4 pipe cards, but the 6200's are newer. My gut says to go with the 9600 XT.

Which would be the best route? Do all of the cards that use 256 MB or memory use cheaper, slower memory, or do some have the same memory speeds as the 128 MB cards? Is there a good way to tell which 256 MB cards are good and which ones are bad? (Say, 9600 XT 256 MB card #1 versus 9600 XT 256 MB card #2.)

 

[dug777]

i had both a 128bit 6200 and a ABIT vguru 9550 that hit 9600XT speeds, and that kicked the crap outta the 6200...

 

[mezrah]

i have the 9600xt and it works wonderfully. I play all the recent games at 10x7 or 12x9 without a hitch (granted i don't use AA or AF).

 

[WhipperSnapper]

That's exactly what I suspected.

Now to figure out which 256 MB 9600 XT's are good and which ones are slower than the 128 MB 9600 XT's. It's not that we specifically want 256 MB, but for almost the same price why not as long as the memory isn't slower.

 

[dug777]

some hl2 benchies for you

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2281&p=4

 

[mezrah]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

That's exactly what I suspected.

Now to figure out which 256 MB 9600 XT's are good and which ones are slower than the 128 MB 9600 XT's. It's not that we specifically want 256 MB, but for almost the same price why not as long as the memory isn't slower.

Mine is 128mb, brand new from ebay for $50. Don't know how much 256mb helps out, but if you can get it for the same price as a 128mb you might as well.

 

[BenSkywalker]

A friend of mine is looking for a cheap AGP card as an upgrade to his computer's integrated graphics. We're looking for a new card for under $100, preferably.

What about a a 6600 for a few dollars over $100? Link. It will smoke either the 9600XT or the 6200.