Is this a good upgrade with $130 to spend?

[trmiv]

I've got $130 to spend on a new video card. I currently have a Radeon 8500 LE. The system is an Athlon XP running at 2ghz, with 512 megs of dual channel DDR at 400 mhz. I am thinking of picking up this refurbished 9700 pro from Crucial. Is this a good upgrade in this price range, or is there something someone else can suggest?

 

[Gamingphreek]

That is an awesome card. Youll be happy!

-Kevin

 

[trmiv]

Would it be worth it to spend a bit more to get this 9800 Pro?

 

[nRollo]

Spend a little more and get a new 9700Pro. Refurbs on vid cards are a crap shoot.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: trmiv
Would it be worth it to spend a bit more to get this 9800 Pro?

NO!!!!!

That's a 128 bit card. A real 9800pro is 256 bit. It's a rip off Dude!!!

 

[trmiv]

Ah, I see that now.

 

[Johnnybatters]

I killed (OC it to death and ruined it? I guess, it just stopped working) my MSI 5200 on Friday so I spent $144 on a powercolor RADEON 9800SE so I hope it works better than the one I killed. Hope to have it Monday.

By the way this is my first post in this forum and I just want to say hey...HEY!

What's up with that icon? Who is that? Osama

 

[ronnn]

I wouldn't buy a 9700pro. I have one and really it really struggles at times. I think in the next couple of months there will be some nice choices, possibly the x700pro or whatever.

 

[Cawchy87]

ronn. i have one as well. and i can play any game out right now on high detail 1024x786.

9700pro would be a VERY good upgrade.

I would buy one from the fs/ft fourms tho insted of newegg.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Originally posted by: trmiv
Would it be worth it to spend a bit more to get this 9800 Pro?

lol NO! NO! NO! stick with the 9700 Pro

 

[Godsend1]

I just bought a 9700PRO of Anands sale/trade forum for $115. Upgraded from an FX5200. definately a good card

 

[trmiv]

I went ahead and got the Crucial 9700 pro, should be here Wednesday. It's quite an upgrade from what I have now, and should play The Sims 2 well, (my wife loves it, and the current card chugs on her massive houses), and I'll be able to play Far Cry, Doom 3, and HL2(when if finally comes out, who knows). I wanted a 6600 GT, but I'm not willing to wait for the AGP versions. Early next year I'll upgrade the CPU, mainboard and memory, and then I'll be ready to spend a bit more on a better PCIe card.

 

[Aries64]

trmiv,

If you can swing the a few more bucks you can get an ATI 9800 Pro 128MB brand new on the internet. Or, if you are in California, you may be able to find a brand-new, sealed 9800 Pro 256MB at a computer show. I bought an ATI 9800 Pro 256MB for $500.00 at Fry's when it was THE hot card, then late last year (Q3) I saw the same card for $145.00! Time is on your side. Look around.

I wouldn't buy that REFURBISHED 9700 Pro for $130.00. Too many good deals on the net' these days.

 

[trmiv]

already purchased. the best i could find a new 9800 pro 256-bit was $179.99. besides, i don't really want to spend anymore right now. i sold something for $130 on eBay, so this is going to cover that.