Is the Radeon 9700 what to get

[Sandan]

I am looking to upgrade my Radeon 8500 128MB card. I play games and want DX9 capabilities. I have been looking at a lot of reviews and think I want the Radeon 9700 (NonPro) 128 mb card. It is now $195 on pricewatch which is the most I want to pay. Not sure about its performance in dx9 because not many reviews use it. Any opinions. Thanks.
System is: Athalon xp 2400+, ECS motherboard, 512 of pc 2700 ram.

 

[NYHoustonman]

For that amount of money I would probably go for an FX 5900.

 

[nRollo]

I'd say this one is a toss up.
The 5900NU will be faster at OGl, a little faster at DX8.1, and a good deal slower at DX9 PS2.
Also, as the nVidia cards take more hit on AA/AF, they will probably be about the same with these features on.

No clear winner, except on the PS2

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Rollo
I'd say this one is a toss up.
The 5900NU will be faster at OGl, a little faster at DX8.1, and a good deal slower at DX9 PS2.
Also, as the nVidia cards take more hit on AA/AF, they will probably be about the same with these features on.

No clear winner, except on the PS2

Yep. Anyway I'd go with the Radeon but that's just me

 

[dguy6789]

get the rad 9700, you said you want dx9 and the 9700 rocks in that category.

 

[Evdawg]

you can softmod to a pro and overclock... go for the 9700 pro... i love mine

 

[weeder]

i would go with the ati 9700 since you aleady have the catalyst drivers on your system, and you are used to ati. the 9700 will be a huge improvement over your 8500.

 

[JammingJay]

Either the 5900nu or 9700np is a nice viable upgrade for you. As a previous member mentioned, there are differences between the 2 cards, but they perform roughly overall in the same class

 

[modedepe]

Both are good for $195. I'd probably take the 9700.

 

[Richdog]

5900 is a good card, but I think it's crazy to buy a card that doesn't offer better performance with PS 2.0, which will soon be standard. I vote 9700:beer:

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Rollo
I'd say this one is a toss up.
The 5900NU will be faster at OGl, a little faster at DX8.1, and a good deal slower at DX9 PS2.
Also, as the nVidia cards take more hit on AA/AF, they will probably be about the same with these features on.

No clear winner, except on the PS2

completely agree, overall, they are very similar in performance when u consider the respective strengths and weaknesses

 

[beserker15]

you should've gotten that xfx 5900 when it was like $170 after rebates.

 

[Plester]

I have been a nVidia buyer since the TNT, (even owned some of their stock). Tried an origional radeon LE, and a 8500LE but always went back to nVidia - they had much better driver compatability with older games and just plain made a better card. Recently just for something different (and you can only ignore the positive rap for so long), I swapped out my ti4600 for a 9500np that softmods to a 9700 and the 9700 is an outstanding card. ATI has very good drivers now and quite frankly for the last 2 generations they have been making better technology than nVidia. No offense meant to nVidia fans but ATI is what nVidia used to be - the best. If i was thinking of dropping any significant amount of $ on a new vid card today I wouldn't consider anything but ATI.

 

[MrC4]

I too have used Nvidia cards since the Geforce 1 DDR. Recently upgraded to a 9700 NP and a 9800 NP and Nvidia will be hard pressed to get me to give up my ATI cards.

Go with the 9700 NP, you won't be disappointed!

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: weeder
i would go with the ati 9700 since you aleady have the catalyst drivers on your system, and you are used to ati. the 9700 will be a huge improvement over your 8500.

^
Agreed.
With DX9 performance being your concern, and you already have an ATI card installed, I would say 9700np is best choice here.

 

[weeder]

i cant seem to find the 9700 for 200$. if you can find this card for that price,jump on it.

 

[dejacky]

and tell me where u get if for $200 ;-)

 

[Sandan]

Check on Pricewatch.com It is now $194 for the Sapphire Atlantis 128MB at allstarshop.com. Thanks for all the responses. I think I will jump on the 9700 deal tonight.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman
For that amount of money I would probably go for an FX 5900.

Are you mad! lol.
Anyway. The 9700 is the better option.
Its only about 10-20% slower than the 5900 in OGL/DX8, but in DX9 it`d wipe the floor with it. And more and more DX9 titles are coming out all the time.

 

[nRollo]

And more and more DX9 titles are coming out all the time.

LOL- it's veritable FLOOD of them, especially the ones that use the PS2 shaders the 5900 is slower at!

<counts them on half the fingers of one hand and rolls eyes>

 

[dejacky]

If this is truly the case regarding performance, now is the worst time to buy this card. If I were you, I'd wait at least until next Jan/Feb since new dx9 games will be released and video card prices will be down...plus u won't get distracted during finals!

 

[videoclone]

Originally posted by: BoomAM

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman
For that amount of money I would probably go for an FX 5900.

Are you mad! lol.
Anyway. The 9700 is the better option.
Its only about 10-20% slower than the 5900 in OGL/DX8, but in DX9 it`d wipe the floor with it. And more and more DX9 titles are coming out all the time.

The Bench tests say your wrong !!! The FX5900nu is faster then the 9700Pro and non pro in DX9, DX8 and everything else if you think otherwise show me the benchtests to prove it.
With the Latest 52.16 Offical Drivers used ? not old benchmarks with old Nvidia drivers.

Anandtech Fall 2003 Video Card Roundup Part I - ATI's Radeon 9800 XT

Everyone who's seen the latest Benchmarks from anandtech and other sites with the 52.16 driver and the beta 53.xx drivers all know that the FX5900 is now better then the 9700 in DX9 and DX8 .. but still not as good as the 9800 in DX9 ... get the facts right befor you babble out crap ... everyone in this whole thread has been saying how good the 9700 non pro is without even backing up there comments this hasto be the worst ATI fanboy thread ever!

 

[Sid59]

better hurry. the 9700 pros are getting more extinct with the days passing by. It's a damn good card.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: videoclone

Originally posted by: BoomAM

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman
For that amount of money I would probably go for an FX 5900.

Are you mad! lol.
Anyway. The 9700 is the better option.
Its only about 10-20% slower than the 5900 in OGL/DX8, but in DX9 it`d wipe the floor with it. And more and more DX9 titles are coming out all the time.

The Bench tests say your wrong !!! The FX5900nu is faster then the 9700Pro and non pro in DX9, DX8 and everything else if you think otherwise show me the benchtests to prove it.
With the Latest 52.16 Offical Drivers used ? not old benchmarks with old Nvidia drivers.

Anandtech Fall 2003 Video Card Roundup Part I - ATI's Radeon 9800 XT

Everyone who's seen the latest Benchmarks from anandtech and other sites with the 52.16 driver and the beta 53.xx drivers all know that the FX5900 is now better then the 9700 in DX9 and DX8 .. but still not as good as the 9800 in DX9 ... get the facts right befor you babble out crap ... everyone in this whole thread has been saying how good the 9700 non pro is without even backing up there comments this hasto be the worst ATI fanboy thread ever!

Wha?

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress

Originally posted by: videoclone

Originally posted by: BoomAM

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman
For that amount of money I would probably go for an FX 5900.

Are you mad! lol.
Anyway. The 9700 is the better option.
Its only about 10-20% slower than the 5900 in OGL/DX8, but in DX9 it`d wipe the floor with it. And more and more DX9 titles are coming out all the time.

The Bench tests say your wrong !!! The FX5900nu is faster then the 9700Pro and non pro in DX9, DX8 and everything else if you think otherwise show me the benchtests to prove it.
With the Latest 52.16 Offical Drivers used ? not old benchmarks with old Nvidia drivers.

Anandtech Fall 2003 Video Card Roundup Part I - ATI's Radeon 9800 XT

Everyone who's seen the latest Benchmarks from anandtech and other sites with the 52.16 driver and the beta 53.xx drivers all know that the FX5900 is now better then the 9700 in DX9 and DX8 .. but still not as good as the 9800 in DX9 ... get the facts right befor you babble out crap ... everyone in this whole thread has been saying how good the 9700 non pro is without even backing up there comments this hasto be the worst ATI fanboy thread ever!

Wha?

me too

the above link has benchies for the following vid cards (unless i can't read)

Radeon 9800 XT
Radeon 9800 Pro
Radeon 9800
Radeon 9700 Pro
Radeon 9600 Pro
Nvidia NV38
GeForce FX 5900 ULTRA
Geforce FC 5600 Ultra

i don't see YOUR claims that this benchie proves the 5900 NU is faster than the Radeon 9700 Pro