Need A Video Card Suggestion ... Now Some Questions ...

[magis123]

First off here are my system specs:


Dell Poweredge 400SC Server
Intel Pentium 3.2 GHz/800 MHz FSB CPU
Buffalo 2.0 GB DDR400 Winbond CH-5 PC3200 RAM (4x512 MB) in Dual Channel Set Up
Western Digital 120.0 GB 8 MB Cache SE Hard Drive x 2
Lite-On 40125S 40x12x48x CD-RW Drive (overclocked to 48125W 48x12x48x CD-RW Drive)
Delta 12x DVD-ROM Drive
AGP - PNY GeForce4 MX440 64MB Graphics Card
PCI - Lucent 56k v.92 WinModem


That basically sums up my system, but my graphics card just leaves a ton to be desired ... I cannot really complain since when I bought the card it only cost me like $35 and they were then retailing for $75+ but still it now just will not suffice ... I game a good bit on my computer (specifically Neverwinter Nights & Madden 2004 right now) ...

Ideally I would like to stay in the $150 ball park range but have some flexibility ... I have been looking around somewhat and these are some of the options I have been looking at (some prices at some local vendors, some online) ...

MSI GeForce4 Ti4200 128MB AGP 8X - $130.00
MSI GeForce4 Ti4600 128MB AGP 8X - $180.00 (a little high and almost out of my price range)

Sapphire Atlantis ATI Radeon 9500 64MB AGP 8X - $125.00
Sapphire Atlantis ATI Radeon Pro Ultimate 128MB AGP 8X - $190.00 (a little high and almost out of my price range)

I really am leaning more towards an ATI chipset although I have always used nVidia technology ... but I just don't know ... I would just like to hear some opinions and maybe help me formulate some of my own based upon those given ...

 

[Jeff7181]

I would go with a 9600 Pro. It should be in your price range... and it will provide better performance with AA and AF on than a Ti4600... and lets face it... everyone likes to run AA and AF if you can.

Of course, if you can spare some extra money you could go with a 9800 non pro or a FX5900 non ultra for about 235-250 and get MUCH better performance... either one of those would definately hold you over till the new GPU's from nVidia and ATI come out next spring probably.

 

[Vonkhan]

9600 Pro

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
9600 Pro

yeah, if you must buy something go for this
good card that wont break the bank. fs/t it in a few months and get a 9800xx card or something

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
9600 Pro

 

[tenoc]

The basic question is, do you game at all?

If yes, then that MX absolutely neuters that system.

The 9600 Pro is far and gone your best solution in the $150 price range.

 

[Regs]

9600p

And how do you overclock a cd burner? .

 

[Emultra]

With that kind of computer, why wouldn't you want to go with the créme de la créme? I say go all the way, and get a 9800/Pro/XT or 5950.

 

[tenoc]

And how do you overclock a cd burner? .

Update the firmware?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Emultra
With that kind of computer, why wouldn't you want to go with the créme de la créme? I say go all the way, and get a 9800/Pro/XT or 5950.

Cause the french suck =)

 

[DahDee]

Find the extra pennies and get this:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16814102304

Merry Christmas to you!

If you can wait just a little bit, you can get a Radeon 9600XT, may be somewhere in your budget ballpark:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/VGA/9600-xt.asp

 

[Blastman]

Gigacube makes a ? ?Ultimate Extreme Version??of the 9600pro. It comes with 2.5ns Samsungs and is clocked 400/365 DDR --- quite a bit faster than the normal 9600 pro?s 400/300. With the fast memory it will probably outrun a 9600XT.

The Gigacube runs about $180 ? see...

komusa

dvcentury

 

[magis123]

Originally posted by: Regs
And how do you overclock a cd burner? .

How do you overclock a CD-RW Drive, simply by using the firmware for an upgraded model ... the 40 and 48 series Lite-On's have a good chance of being compatible (I have overclocked 7 of them and only one failed the process and needed reflashed back to the older firmware) ...

And yes I game on this system, so this damn MX440 is killing not only FPS but also just about anything else gamewise, it just isn't as crisp and clean ... I mean I have a Dell 5100 Laptop with a Radeon 7500 16MB card in it and the graphics are actually better on it than they are on my desktop ... isn't that kind of sad ...

I have looked at the Radeon 9600 Pro Ultimate before but really was not able to find all that much information out about it and also noticed there is a 256 MB version of the Ultimate ... realizing that more memory typically means better performance, has anyone seen noticeable increases in the 9600 cards with 256 MB > 128 MB?

And to those suggesting the 9800 Pro's, I would sure as heck love to buy one, but I have to comprimise right now and use my alloted budget to purchase my items and buy stuff that I can slip in under the impending wedding radar ... it is always fun to have to watch for the postman to come so that you can sneak out there and grab your stuff before anyone notices

 

[Blastman]

I would stay away from the 256MB 9600s.

256MB 9600pro?s are clocked 400/200 DDR ? with slow 5ns memory
128MB 9600pro?s are clocked 400/300 DDR ? usually with 2.8 or 3.3ns memory

100mhz faster memory on the 128MB card. Will be quite a bit faster than the 256MB model. You?d be much better off to go for the 128MB 9600 pro in the $150 range, 256MB is just not needed on a midrange card.

 

[lifeguard1999]

9600 Pro Ultimate for $174

And it is as quiet as can be....

 

[magis123]

Ok, going to bump this back up ... I have a guy offering to sell me an ATI 9700 Pro which he has used for about 3-4 months at stock core speeds for $175.00 ... would this be a better overall purchase than the 9600 Pro or such ... need a quick answer ... if so then money is getting shipped over to him ...

 

[McArra]

Yes! Buy that 9700pro now!!

 

[Mitzi]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Emultra
With that kind of computer, why wouldn't you want to go with the créme de la créme? I say go all the way, and get a 9800/Pro/XT or 5950.

Cause the french suck =)

Not true...they make fantastic cheese

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: magis123
Ok, going to bump this back up ... I have a guy offering to sell me an ATI 9700 Pro which he has used for about 3-4 months at stock core speeds for $175.00 ... would this be a better overall purchase than the 9600 Pro or such ... need a quick answer ... if so then money is getting shipped over to him ...

Yep, that 9700Pro will kill the other cards mentioned as an option.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Mitzi

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Emultra
With that kind of computer, why wouldn't you want to go with the créme de la créme? I say go all the way, and get a 9800/Pro/XT or 5950.

Cause the french suck =)

Not true...they make fantastic cheese

I'll agree their foreign policy sucks but they also make great vodka - Grey Goose! :beer: :wine:

 

[magis123]

Ok, so here is the video card I bought, it is a ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB (per the verified sticker on the card) ... not too bad I guess for $175.00, this should make my computer fly ... well, I am going to run some 3dmark01se benchmarks on my system as is right now with the MX440 card in, I'll post them up here in a bit and then once I get my new card (which should be Saturday), I'll post up my new benches ...

 

[magis123]

Well, I ran 3DMark2001SE on my system and it gave me an overall score of: 6878 I guess that is definitely not the greatest considering the best FPS I saw was on the Lobby Test with low detail at 119.2 ... I wonder what the overall difference will be with the 9700 Pro

 

[magis123]

Well, I got the card today, sweet deal full ATI version Radeon 9700 Pro ... and my updated 3DMark2001SE score : 16893

Is that good?

I was just browsing around Futuremark's website and seeing scores a lot higher than mine ... any ideas anyone? Here is a link to my score:

LINK

 

[modedepe]

Your score seems a little low, since you have such a high end cpu in your system. Make sure you have aa, af, and vsync off.