Help me choose a graphics card

[Kyteland]

I built a new computer about 5 months ago but didn't upgrade the graphics card. I am still using my old diamond viper v770 TNT2 card, and it's getting a little slow.

My question is this. Is it worth it to buy the latest/greatest considering I will probably keep it for 2-3 years, or should I go cheap and probably have to upgrade sooner?

I was looking at getting one of the Radeon 9x00 series of cards.


Also, when is this alleged proce drop going to happen on the 9700?

 

[Malladine]

It's all based on personal opinion, as usual, so here's mine: I'd go for the 9700 Gold. In fact, I just did!

I expect it to last me at least until 2006, if not further, given some ram/cpu/mobo upgrades. $232 is by FAR the most i've ever spent on a VPU and i'm going to make it worth it

 

[Electric Amish]

If you have the money, get the 9700 Pro. No question. If not, get the 9500 Pro.

amish

 

[Oldnewbe]

What are the advantages to having a high powered ( priced ) video card? What uses do you need the better card for?

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: Oldnewbe
What are the advantages to having a high powered ( priced ) video card? What uses do you need the better card for?

Games mostly. I could go out and pick up a sub $100 card, but I would have to replace it with another sub $100 card in a year. If I pay the extra money now for the better card, not only will I enjoy it more, but I will probably end up paying the same seeing as I intend to use it for a long time.

 

[Vonkhan]

go in for a future proof card ... 9500pro if u're on a budget, 9700pro if u got the $$$

 

[HumbleFish]

For a great budget card, You can get a AGP 128MB Gainward Golden Sample GeForce3 Ti200/Ti450 for $93.00 Shipped at www.newegg.com... I'm now getting 200+ FPS in Incoming as compared to about 40FPS with my 16MB Asus TNT1.

Also, You should consider if You're going to buy new games, or are You going to stick with Your old games... Since my upgrade, I'm now having trouble with some of my old games.

Edit- Geforce3

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: HumbleFish
For a great budget card, You can get a AGP 128MB Gainward Golden Sample Ti200/Ti450 for $93.00 Shipped at www.newegg.com... I'm now getting 200+ FPS in Incoming as compared to about 40FPS with my 16MB Asus TNT1.

Also, You should consider if You're going to buy new games, or are You going to stick with Your old games... Since my upgrade, I'm now having trouble with some of my old games.

dang those 4200s are getting cheap. but hey, if you just update the drivers from nvidias website on your tnt2, this 4200 will use the same driver. much easier to install when you dont have to switch over from detanators to catalyst.

 

[HumbleFish]

Schadenfroh,

I think You miss read, the card is a Geforce3 Ti200/Ti250, not a Geforce4 4200.

 

[Schadenfroh]

dang, i did misread, i saw the 200 and thought it was a 4200, forget my previous post

 

[thorin]

IMHO get a card that's a Generation behind (ie: a GF4 4200 now that their price has fallen..... you can get them below $200 CDN now), it'll still perform great in today's games and you won't spend an arm and a leg on it. Plus it'll still be useful to your brother-in-law or parents in a year or a year and a half and you can sell it to them when you're ready for another upgrade.

Thorin

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: thorin
IMHO get a card that's a Generation behind (ie: a GF4 4200 now that their price has fallen..... you can get them below $200 CDN now), it'll still perform great in today's games and you won't spend an arm and a leg on it. Plus it'll still be useful to your brother-in-law or parents in a year or a year and a half and you can sell it to them when you're ready for another upgrade.

Thorin

I'd rather pay $175 for a Radeon 9500 Pro than $120 for a Geforce 4 TI4200...

amish

 

[ExtraMSG]

After looking at Tom's VGA charts, it seems like the 4200s were still a better value than the 9500 Pro for comparable performance except for AA/AF (which is no big deal to me). I went with the Gainward Golden Sample 4200 128 mb. $140 shipped from Newegg.

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: thorin
IMHO get a card that's a Generation behind (ie: a GF4 4200 now that their price has fallen..... you can get them below $200 CDN now), it'll still perform great in today's games and you won't spend an arm and a leg on it. Plus it'll still be useful to your brother-in-law or parents in a year or a year and a half and you can sell it to them when you're ready for another upgrade.

I'd rather pay $175 for a Radeon 9500 Pro than $120 for a Geforce 4 TI4200...

amish

It was just an example. Hence the ie:

Thorin

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

I recently upgrade my 16Mb tnt (Diamond Viper V550) to a geforce4 Ti4200 128Mb card (Leadtek Winfast A280LE TDH myVIVO).

I did this as i was happy with the current price of Ti4200 cards. They are more than fast enough for my occassional gaming (currently Need for speed HP2 and Simcity 4).

As you currently have a TNT2 card , which ever card you get , will be a huge improvement in both speed and image quality/ features. I would recommend a card a generation behind as they tend to offer better value, as the latest and greatest cards tend to come with a substantal cost premium.

My recommendation would be either a Ti4200 or a 9500 Pro depending on how much you want to spend.

 

[jspeicher]

I just added a Ti4200 and I'm positive they will do the job for a good amount of time yet.

I think next year I'll invest in a radeon when they are cheap.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
If you have the money, get the 9700 Pro. No question. If not, get the 9500 Pro.

amish

exactly

 

[human2k]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
If you have the money, get the 9700 Pro. No question. If not, get the 9500 Pro.

amish

I would get the 9700NP for $230.