NEED ADVICE PLEASE-9800 pro,xt,or wait

[duane26]

I have enjoyed reading everyones opinions concerning ati's video cards, know I would like a little advice. I just built a new computer and I want to replace my nvidia fx 5200(128mb)(pci) in approximently 3 weeks. I am looking foword to playing HL2 and Final Fantasy 11. After reading tons of reviews and waying my options I have come to a few choices.

1. Purchase a Sapphire 9800 Pro Ultimate edition for $380 at NewEgg.com, this card has a nice large heatsink that you can add a fan($10) to for cooling and comes with a GREAT bundle( 3 full games+ overclocking utility), I have read good things about Sapphire and their overclocking ability.http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/video/Sapphire_Ultimate_1.html.

2. Purchase the 9800XT($499) from either ati,sapphire, or asus depending on what I read about in the next few weeks. It would be nice to have this turbo charged card with 256mb for only $120 more, thats how I look at it.

3. Or I can keep the fx and wait for the R420, which is like 3-6 months.Only problem with this is in the computer world you can always get STUCK waiting because their is always something better and faster coming out. And I would like to play FF11 and HL2 when it comes out.

I want this purchase to give me the best gaming for 6 months and great gaming for 1 to 1 and a half years.Will a 9800 give me that long? Thank-You for your time.

 

[Schadenfroh]

wait

 

[Pete]

I think a $250 9800 is the best price/performance compromise for the high-end. I'm not sure a $400 9800P is worth it, as you can surely buy the included games for less than $100 total. If you're looking forward to Half-Life 2, you might consider waiting a month to see what cards ATi bundles it in with, but those cards are probably going to sell for near-retail prices, so you may do just as well buying a 9800 now and HL2 separately, when it debuts.

You can see even the top-end cards, the XT and NV38, have trouble reaching even 60fps at 1024x768 on some newer benchmarks in Anand's latest XT review, so don't count on a 9800 giving you "great gaming" for another 18 months. I guess it depends on your idea of great. The 9800 should be a great card for another year, but if it starts to feel slow, you should still be able to sell it for a good portion of its purchase price and upgrade to a faster card in that time.

 

[GiBro]

Originally posted by: duane26
I have enjoyed reading everyones opinions concerning ati's video cards, know I would like a little advice. I just built a new computer and I want to replace my nvidia fx 5200(128mb)(pci) in approximently 3 weeks. I am looking foword to playing HL2 and Final Fantasy 11. After reading tons of reviews and waying my options I have come to a few choices.

1. Purchase a Sapphire 9800 Pro Ultimate edition for $380 at NewEgg.com, this card has a nice large heatsink that you can add a fan($10) to for cooling and comes with a GREAT bundle( 3 full games+ overclocking utility), I have read good things about Sapphire and their overclocking ability.http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/video/Sapphire_Ultimate_1.html.

2. Purchase the 9800XT($499) from either ati,sapphire, or asus depending on what I read about in the next few weeks. It would be nice to have this turbo charged card with 256mb for only $120 more, thats how I look at it.

3. Or I can keep the fx and wait for the R420, which is like 3-6 months.Only problem with this is in the computer world you can always get STUCK waiting because their is always something better and faster coming out. And I would like to play FF11 and HL2 when it comes out.

I want this purchase to give me the best gaming for 6 months and great gaming for 1 to 1 and a half years.Will a 9800 give me that long? Thank-You for your time.

Well, if you dont mind parting with an extra 120 bucks, then id say got for the XT. IF that will hamper you in anyway, then stay with the 9800. That seems to be the bang for he buck right now. Maybe even a 9700pro and OC that baby. But with HL2 and D3 around the corner, i believe the XT will be better equipped for those along with anything else that will be out. Dont get me wrong, the 9800pro is wicked and can stay with the XT for most of the games, but, those are todays games. Such as HL2 and so forth will really max that card out. Plus, when the 3.8's are released, people are saying that the XT will really show its tru power over the 9800. The 3.8's are going to be released Oct 8th if you wanna wait till then. This way people can play around and get a better feel for the card.

Dont even bother with the 420. I Mean, thats sooo far away from now, its not even funny. Been reading around that march (if accurate and on time) is the time frame. Too far to worry about....

 

[CombatChuk]

Go with the 9800 Pro use the money saved to buy some games. (Tron 2 kicks butt)

 

[Vonkhan]

Since u're gonna splurge anyway, get the 9800XT - it should be available for $450 within October. There's always better stuff on the horizon and that horizon never gets here

 

[duane26]

What exactly are the 3.8's, October 8th?

 

[ginfest]

Originally posted by: GiBro

Originally posted by: duane26
I have enjoyed reading everyones opinions concerning ati's video cards, know I would like a little advice. I just built a new computer and I want to replace my nvidia fx 5200(128mb)(pci) in approximently 3 weeks. I am looking foword to playing HL2 and Final Fantasy 11. After reading tons of reviews and waying my options I have come to a few choices.

1. Purchase a Sapphire 9800 Pro Ultimate edition for $380 at NewEgg.com, this card has a nice large heatsink that you can add a fan($10) to for cooling and comes with a GREAT bundle( 3 full games+ overclocking utility), I have read good things about Sapphire and their overclocking ability.http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/video/Sapphire_Ultimate_1.html.

2. Purchase the 9800XT($499) from either ati,sapphire, or asus depending on what I read about in the next few weeks. It would be nice to have this turbo charged card with 256mb for only $120 more, thats how I look at it.

3. Or I can keep the fx and wait for the R420, which is like 3-6 months.Only problem with this is in the computer world you can always get STUCK waiting because their is always something better and faster coming out. And I would like to play FF11 and HL2 when it comes out.

I want this purchase to give me the best gaming for 6 months and great gaming for 1 to 1 and a half years.Will a 9800 give me that long? Thank-You for your time.

Well, if you dont mind parting with an extra 120 bucks, then id say got for the XT. IF that will hamper you in anyway, then stay with the 9800. That seems to be the bang for he buck right now. Maybe even a 9700pro and OC that baby. But with HL2 and D3 around the corner, i believe the XT will be better equipped for those along with anything else that will be out. Dont get me wrong, the 9800pro is wicked and can stay with the XT for most of the games, but, those are todays games. Such as HL2 and so forth will really max that card out. Plus, when the 3.8's are released, people are saying that the XT will really show its tru power over the 9800. The 3.8's are going to be released Oct 8th if you wanna wait till then. This way people can play around and get a better feel for the card.

Dont even bother with the 420. I Mean, thats sooo far away from now, its not even funny. Been reading around that march (if accurate and on time) is the time frame. Too far to worry about....

You seem to infer that the XT will really show it's merits over the 9800P with next-gen games? So is the XT going to be capable of playing the latest and greatest at 1280x960 with AA/AF and min 60 fps?
Bottom line, if it can't it's not worth buying to replace my 9800P and not worth the $$ premium over the 9800P for the OP.



Mike G

 

[VIAN]

Wait for the R400, because it's going to come out soon and its a bigger revision than any XT. It'll probably do more work per clock and plenty of other features will most likely be available and by that time 256MB will be cheaper and standardized. New technology is coming wait it out. Especially when it will run HL2 and D3 better than the R300. Its gotto be at least guaranteed that they both come out next year. Don't buy things now for things that you want to play next year. Wait.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Since u're gonna splurge anyway, get the 9800XT - it should be available for $450 within October. There's always better stuff on the horizon and that horizon never gets here