GPU throw up: 9500 Pro, 9600 Pro, 9700 Gold and 9800 Gold

[Malladine]

I actually have 4 cards i'm throwing up at the moment and am certainly open to suggestions, including Nvidia's offerings.

9600 Pro for $179

9500 Pro for $186

9800 non-pro for $279

Powercolor 9700 non-pro for $229

Obviously, price is a factor. I would like to keep the card until 2005 or so, but that isn't absolutely necessary. Things such as: is the 9800np worth the extra $ (+50 vs 9700np, +100 vs 9600 pro, +$93 vs 9500 pro). How about the Price difference between the 9700 and the 9600/9500 cards? Any advice based on personal experience and/or extensive benchmark viewing is appreciated.

 

[faziwazi]

Instead of getting the Sapphire 9600, you should get this 9600 pro Its a pretty good deal, im considering to get this.

The difference between the two is that this one is a true ATI the other one is a Sapphire.

 

[Viper96720]

You can get the video cards cheaper at newegg. The 9600 Pro is only $152. The ATI board is $178. I say get the best you can afford.

 

[pelikan]

If you want to keep it for awhile and you play the latest games, then I say get at least the 9700np. Like Viper said, get the best you can afford.

 

[Corporate Thug]

if you want to keep it til 2005, i cant recommend anything lower than a 9700 pro

 

[jeffrey]

Go for the 9800np if you are even thinking about not upgrading until 2005.

 

[rickon66]

9700

 

[merlocka]

If you are gonna keep the card for a long time, get the best card you can afford (i.e. 9800)

If you like to swap cards often or overclock, check into a 9500np or a 9700np

 

[Blastman]

I would rule out that particular Sapphire 9600pro. They make 3 models.

Sapphire 9600pro ?Fireblade ? 2.8ns Samsung ?(same as ATI reference design)
Sapphire 9600pro ? retail box ? 2.8ns Etrontech ? (different)
Sapphire 9600pro ? OEM/bulk ? 3.3ns Samsung ? (different)

I?m seeing a 7-10% performance drop in the benchmarks on both the 2.8 Etrontech and 3.3Samsung models. I might be posting a warning about these cards pretty soon. Don?t know if it?s a manufacturing glitch or Sapphire bungled their 9600pro design when they strayed from the ATI reference.

 

[Malladine]

Thanks for the replies!

Hmm.

I want to run HL2 and Doom3. The 9500 Pro will run those, i'm sure. So, I could buy that card for $186 and save myself $100 to go towards an upgrade at the end of next year or the beginning of 2005. OR, I can spend the extra and get the 9800np to last me a further, what? year?

Hmm indeed...

I guess I just have to grow some balls and decide 😛

 

[t4t3r]

Don't feel bad, I can't decide either! For me I'm trying to decide the same as you, whether to spend about $300 now for a 9800, or go with a 9600pro/9500pro and use that money for r420 next year. I think i'm going to bare down and grab a 9800np at Best Buy and run that for about a year or so.