I Need Clarification!!!!!

[DeRailur]

OMFG I am looking into getting a new video card and am utterly confused by AIT and NVIDIA marketing (where they want me I guess).
I overclock and would like to get a decent card that can be oc'd to contend with the best. Im thinking 9600 but we have pro, reg, xt...
Whats the skinny on the ATI line of cards? Is a 9600 essentially a clocked down 9800? I dont know, please help.
Basically I want something that can be overclocked to good performace levels, has 256mb of ram and is under $200. Thanks

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

Why do you need 256MB of ram? no game uses that much memory and no game will in the near future.

One option is go to outpost.com and get yourself a BFG Geforce FX 5900 for $199.99

Its fast and ive heard it overclocks VERY well.. it only has 128MB of memory tho.

 

[Corporate Thug]

from best to worst : 9600 < 9600 pro < 9600 XT < 9700 < 9800 non pro < 9700 pro < 9800 pro < 9800 XT

stay away from the SE cards

9600 series has 4 pipelines
9700/9800 series has 8 pipelines

 

[modedepe]

Unless you're getting a 9800pro/9800xt or a 5900ultra/5950 don't bother getting a card with 256mb. All cards slower than those are not fast enough to use all that ram, plus it's usually clocked slower.

The 9600 is not just a clocked down 9800, it's a whole different core. The 9600 is a 4 pipeline card with a 128 bit bus whereas the 9800 is an 8 pipe card with a 256 bit bus. 9600xt>9600pro>9600

Under $200 I'd suggest either a 5900 or a 9700. Both will offer good performance and should have some overclocking room.

 

[robcy]

Id say the 5900, most overclock really well, second choice would be the 9800NP they also overclock pretty good. Forget the 256mb unless its very top end (reand $450+), currently mainstream cards do not have the guts to really put the extra ram to use.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Originally posted by: modedepe
Unless you're getting a 9800pro/9800xt or a 5900ultra/5950 don't bother getting a card with 256mb. All cards slower than those are not fast enough to use all that ram, plus it's usually clocked slower.

The 9600 is not just a clocked down 9800, it's a whole different core. The 9600 is a 4 pipeline card with a 128 bit bus whereas the 9800 is an 8 pipe card with a 256 bit bus. 9600xt>9600pro>9600

Under $200 I'd suggest either a 5900 or a 9700. Both will offer good performance and should have some overclocking room.

it dosent matter if the card is fast enough to use that much ram. if the game will use that memory any card will run better. remember, games dont HAVE to use 256megs to benifit from it, they just have to use more than 128megs.


JB

 

[JonnyBlaze]

damn forums got stuck... dp.

JB

 

[Gagabiji]

9600 XT for $182

9600 Pro for $149

 

[robcy]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze

Originally posted by: modedepe
Unless you're getting a 9800pro/9800xt or a 5900ultra/5950 don't bother getting a card with 256mb. All cards slower than those are not fast enough to use all that ram, plus it's usually clocked slower.

The 9600 is not just a clocked down 9800, it's a whole different core. The 9600 is a 4 pipeline card with a 128 bit bus whereas the 9800 is an 8 pipe card with a 256 bit bus. 9600xt>9600pro>9600

Under $200 I'd suggest either a 5900 or a 9700. Both will offer good performance and should have some overclocking room.

it dosent matter if the card is fast enough to use that much ram. if the game will use that memory any card will run better. remember, games dont HAVE to use 256megs to benifit from it, they just have to use more than 128megs.


JB

I cant see the FX5200/256mb being any more game suitable than a 128mb model because of the extra memory. Or for that matter, a 9600 256mb model is actually slower and the 9600 128 model. Now the 5900/9800 256mb models are a little quicker than their 128mb counterparts. If any of the mid/low level cards are playing games with setting that require more than 128mb of memory they will be brought down to slide slow action long before the memory amount comes into play.

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze

Originally posted by: modedepe
Unless you're getting a 9800pro/9800xt or a 5900ultra/5950 don't bother getting a card with 256mb. All cards slower than those are not fast enough to use all that ram, plus it's usually clocked slower.

The 9600 is not just a clocked down 9800, it's a whole different core. The 9600 is a 4 pipeline card with a 128 bit bus whereas the 9800 is an 8 pipe card with a 256 bit bus. 9600xt>9600pro>9600

Under $200 I'd suggest either a 5900 or a 9700. Both will offer good performance and should have some overclocking room.

it dosent matter if the card is fast enough to use that much ram. if the game will use that memory any card will run better. remember, games dont HAVE to use 256megs to benifit from it, they just have to use more than 128megs.


JB

Yes but currently there are no games that use more than 128mb, and probably won't be anytime soon. By the time we do see games that are requiring it 9600's are going to be too slow anyways, and 9800/5900's will be the minimum.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

call of duty does. im sure there will be more coming out soon.

JB

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
call of duty does. im sure there will be more coming out soon.

JB

It does? I wonder why it's so smooth on my 128MB FX5900 with all the details at max then

 

[kylebisme]

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze

Originally posted by: modedepe
Unless you're getting a 9800pro/9800xt or a 5900ultra/5950 don't bother getting a card with 256mb. All cards slower than those are not fast enough to use all that ram, plus it's usually clocked slower.

The 9600 is not just a clocked down 9800, it's a whole different core. The 9600 is a 4 pipeline card with a 128 bit bus whereas the 9800 is an 8 pipe card with a 256 bit bus. 9600xt>9600pro>9600

Under $200 I'd suggest either a 5900 or a 9700. Both will offer good performance and should have some overclocking room.

it dosent matter if the card is fast enough to use that much ram. if the game will use that memory any card will run better. remember, games dont HAVE to use 256megs to benifit from it, they just have to use more than 128megs.


JB

Yes but currently there are no games that use more than 128mb, and probably won't be anytime soon. By the time we do see games that are requiring it 9600's are going to be too slow anyways, and 9800/5900's will be the minimum.

call of duty needs more than 128mb for the extra high settings and i'm sure more will be comeing soon.

 

[Corporate Thug]

KOTOR can take advantage of 256

 

[DeRailur]

why do i need to explain to you what i want, just answer the question i asked not pose more as to what my wants and needs are.

 

[McArra]

Buy a 9600Pro or XT and avoid 256mb, EZ and Lite versions.

 

[DeRailur]

So the 9600 is not the same as a lower clocked 9800. I had read awhile back about being able to change the bios of a 9800 nonpro so it performed exactly like a pro. Is that still possible, as far as the ram in the nps is concerned can it still handle the higher clock speeds? The reason I'm looking into getting 256 is for the future, Id like to know that I'll be able to run HL2 and Doom3 with no probs at high settings.

 

[McArra]

256mb in 9600series means lower clockspeeds, so less performance too. It' not the same core of 9800. 9800 is 0.15 micron tech while 9600 is 0.13 and 9800 has a 8 pipelines while 9600 has 4.

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

Originally posted by: DeRailur
So the 9600 is not the same as a lower clocked 9800. I had read awhile back about being able to change the bios of a 9800 nonpro so it performed exactly like a pro. Is that still possible, as far as the ram in the nps is concerned can it still handle the higher clock speeds? The reason I'm looking into getting 256 is for the future, Id like to know that I'll be able to run HL2 and Doom3 with no probs at high settings.

actually from what i read Doom 3 will not need more than 128MB. Actually from what i read it doesnt need more than 100MB... Buy the best card. Not the one with most memory. A Geforce FX 5900 will outperform a Radeon 9600 in every way basically.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: DeRailur
So the 9600 is not the same as a lower clocked 9800. I had read awhile back about being able to change the bios of a 9800 nonpro so it performed exactly like a pro. Is that still possible, as far as the ram in the nps is concerned can it still handle the higher clock speeds? The reason I'm looking into getting 256 is for the future, Id like to know that I'll be able to run HL2 and Doom3 with no probs at high settings.

wtf? 256mb why? games are going into the age of usings shaders and not textures anymore so memory and memory bandwidth are becoming less of a issue........raw gpu power is the next big factor, (along with cpu and scaling or watever it does)

besides if games do require a 256mb card by the time that happens the 9600 wont be much cop at playing them

 

[JonnyBlaze]

i bet half of the people with 1gig of ram dont even use 512, but they still get it.

whats wrong with doing the same for video cards if you can afford it?

JB

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
i bet half of the people with 1gig of ram dont even use 512, but they still get it.

whats wrong with doing the same for video cards if you can afford it?

JB

i agree but why spend money on 256MB of memory when u could spend the money and get a card with a better GPU? We arent talking about $400 video cards were. We are talking about the best price/performance for $200 or less.. and 256MB of memory in this price range is just useless and not needed. By the time games come out that uses more than 128MB of memory the GPU itself on that card will be to slow to play those games.... Thats all im saying..

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
i bet half of the people with 1gig of ram dont even use 512, but they still get it.

whats wrong with doing the same for video cards if you can afford it?

JB

I agree, but this guy wants to spend under $200. For that range I don't think it's at all practical to get a 256mb card. Like I said before, the only cards it really makes sense to have that much memory on are the higher end ones.

Then again, if you're really hell bent on getting a 256mb card, get a 9600xt. But the truth is, a 128mb 5900 will whoop it virtually every time.

 

[pcmax]

Originally posted by: QuestionsandAnsweres
Why do you need 256MB of ram? no game uses that much memory and no game will in the near future.

One option is go to outpost.com and get yourself a BFG Geforce FX 5900 for $199.99

Its fast and ive heard it overclocks VERY well.. it only has 128MB of memory tho.

 

[SneakyStuff]

If you are thinking about a 9600 series, do yourself a favor and try to find a Radeon 9500 pro, that card was ATI's greatest mid-range card, it has 8 pipelines, the 9600 series only has 4, that says something right there, the 9500 pro actually BEATS the 9600 family, wierd huh, i've seen this card in action on a decent system (P4 2.53 Ghz, 512 mb ddr 2700, win XP pro, and the latest catalyst drivers) and WOW, it runs games FLAWLESSLY even with AA and AF on 4x. And I bet you can pick one up VERY cheap now