GeforceFX 5600 Ultra rev2 or Radeon 9600 Pro

[MadScientist]

I'm looking for a video card to replace my Geforce2 Ultra on my new Asus P4C800-E deluxe board and have narrowed it down to the new GeforceFX 5600 Ultra rev2 flip chip and the Radeon 9600 pro. Anything higher is out of my price range. The new 5600 Ultra flip chip has a 400Mhz memory clock and a 800Mhz (400/400) engine clock. The Gainward FX Ultra/760 Golden Sample looks promising. Gainward has set the default clock speeds of this card to 450Mhz memory and 900Mhz engine. According to this Review performance of the cards is about equal. Googlegear is currently selling the Gainward card for $217. shipped but this price should drop within the next few weeks as more vendors carry this card and more manufacturers release their rev2 ultras. I've also given the Geforce4 Ti4600 some thought, but would like a card that's DX9 compliant.
Opinions? Other recommendations?

 

[Lonyo]

For $217 get a Radeon 9700 non-pro.
Much better than the 5600U.

See this thread

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
For $217 get a Radeon 9700 non-pro.
Much better than the 5600U.

See this thread

 

[Schadenfroh]

the 5600 ultra rev2 between those 2, but go for the 9700 np if you can

 

[stardust]

I was more daring and went from the ES PNY GeforceFX5600 Ultra Rev2 to the ATI Radeon 9800 Non-Pro.
it's now WAY past 9700Pro speeds or even 9800Pro speeds.Take the consideration, wait a while and save some money.

I would still pick the 5600Ultra if you like the VIVO functionlity and trust that Gainward would deliver you the best 5600ULTRA possible. I posted a thread early on that the speeds of the Gainward ULTRA versus the PNY ULTRA differed by up to 10%!
The gainward will surely beat the 9600PRO and you will be whole heartedly satisfied with your bundle. (my OEM was lacking)

I would go for the 5600U anytime over the Ti4600.

 

[Pete]

$217 puts you squarely in 9700 territory (see the thread Lonyo linked), and a 9700 will be much faster than either a 5600U or 9600P. If you're willing to stretch, you should have no complaints whatsoever with a $245 9800.

 

[MadScientist]

Thanks for the advice. I'm heading on over to eBay to check out what the 9700 and 9700 pros are going for.