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Help With deciding a video card...

L

L337Llama

Senior member
Right now, I got two computers.

My main one has a mobile 2400 XP thats overclocked to 3000+, and 512 DDR 400 ram (soon to be a gig in dual channel) and no video card.

My other one has a 900mhz athlon, 128mb of ram, and an Rage 128 pro (32mb version)

Anyway, my main comp had a video card that was being loaned to me (ti4200). I gave it back and now I need a video card.

Since I cant use the computer without a video card, I need to buy one now. Im trying to decided in between a refurbed 9600xt for 100 or a refurb 9800 Pro for 150. Chances are, Im gonna use the card till either Christmas or my birthday (early Febuary) and then take it out of the better computer and into the older one.

I'm having a hard time if the extra 50$ is gonna be worth the performance gained and for the amount of time I'll use it.

What suggestions do you have?
 
Guys, he's not asking which card is faster, he's asking is it worthing to pay the extra 50$ and get the Pro then put it in the older PC after 5 months? And my answer is "No", because you're gonna use it for only 5 months, after that, you won't notice a difference at all between the two cards when you move it to your older system because of its CPU bottleneck, and the 9600XT plays all the games well right now, so there's no need to pay the extra 50$ for a card you won't be using for more than 5 months while you can buy a 50$ cheaper card that plays all today's games just fine now.
 
IMHO yes it is worth the extra money.
But thats just me. I dont call anything below a 9500 a video card myself.
I have standards. And if it doesnt do at least 1021x768@high in 99% of games out there, then it aint a video card in my books! Its just a 2D display adaptor that has 3D abilites tacked on the side! 😉 🙂 🙂
 
Thank you Prayfordeath.

I know the 9800 pro is better and all that stuff.

I'm leaning towards the 9600XT for now, but I also found a 64mb ti4200 for 50$. Although it would be somewhat of a downgrade from the card I was using before (an 128mb ti4200, but the 64 would have higher memory clockspeeds...).

Thanks again and stuff...
 
9800pro and 9600xt will not be on the same playing field in 5 months. 9800pro will still kill it in hl2 and all the other games that come out. The jump from 4 to 8 pipelines and 128bit vs. 256bit mem bus is too large to ignore. 9800pro for sure. also, it has a re-sale value that is at least 50 dollars higher than the 9600xt, so if you decide to sell it then you won't be loosing more money, infact you will probibly loose more money selling the 9600xt for ~100 bucks.
 
If you'll be replacing it for sure during Christmas or no later than Feb, then I say get the 9600XT. I mean, it's only 3-5 months away. And as PrayForDeath said, moving a 9800 Pro to a 900 MHz Athlon is a waste. Save the extra $50 and use it toward a better replacement card later on.
 
9800 pro is better, but if you're going to get a better card in 3 months then you might as well get the 9600xt and wait till then. i'm sure it'll last you. if you're going to use it for a long time then definantly get the 9800 pro.
 
Get the used Ti4200 64MB.
When you move it to the older machine, the 64MB graphics mem isn't goint to be an issue at all.
Then you'll have even more $$$ for the new spanking graphics card for the main machine.
 
Originally posted by: Lonyo
Get the used Ti4200 64MB.
When you move it to the older machine, the 64MB graphics mem isn't goint to be an issue at all.
Then you'll have even more $$$ for the new spanking graphics card for the main machine.
Click to expand...

That's a good solution unless the OP wants some good visual at a higher performance (9600XT), but as I said before, I don't recommed the 9800Pro for your situation.
 
I guess I'll go with the ti4200 for now, since I wont have to worry about changing the drivers, and then get the best card for around 200, (6600/x700 most likely).

The game Ive been playing the most was Kotor, but I can down some of that stuff. And UT2k4 I play on low settings at 10x7 to guarentee no slow frames since its too fast to worry about prettiness. I dont play anything higher then 10x7.

Thanks for the help.
 
Originally posted by: L337Llama
I guess I'll go with the ti4200 for now, since I wont have to worry about changing the drivers, and then get the best card for around 200, (6600/x700 most likely).

The game Ive been playing the most was Kotor, but I can down some of that stuff. And UT2k4 I play on low settings at 10x7 to guarentee no slow frames since its too fast to worry about prettiness. I dont play anything higher then 10x7.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Thats a good idea. Save your money for a good card for down the road in 6 months.
 
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