Need AGP card to replace aging 9700pro

[Daemos]

I have a pretty old system, but I would like to get a new video card something that performs better than the 9700pro in all aspects.

I have a budget of say under 200CND (cheaper the better)

The ATI x1650 Pro and Nvidia 7600GS both fit my budget easily, but I've done searching and the naming schemes make it almost impossible to tell what cards are faster than the last gen.

From what I've been reading the X1650 pro sucks and is bearly faster than a 9800 pro (Which was bearly faster than my 9700 pro) and that I should look for an X850XT instead but this naming thing has got me confused haha.

Any advice? I have no idea how much video card technology has come from the 5 or 6 years I've owned the 9700 pro...I am not playing the latest and greatest games, but I'd like to be able to play some of the older games at higher res with faster frame rates, and some newer games as well.

I assumed any modern card for today, esp anythying with like x1300 or x1600 would kick the living crap out of my 9700 pro...I mean it's 5 years later...arn't computers supposed to double in speed every 6 months? I mean my rig is still good today (although I did upgrade the mobo/cpu ONCE, so I could donate my old Athlon 2100+ to a older PC)

 

[AVP]

Honestly, if i were you, I wouldn't upgrade to either card from your 9700 pro. The $200 canadian just won't last all that long. I would however get this 7800gs. This will blow your 9700pro out of the water, and it is $215 after mail in rebate at NCIX

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?...256GSOC&manufacture=BFG%20Technologies

Worse comes to worse, Toms Hardware interactive vga charts show x1650pro above the 7600gs.

 

[TAL0N]

I'm in a similar situation and spent alot of time looking at the available AGP options.

First you might want to read this Buyers Guide which is also linked from our video forums here

Then look at this article at Toms AGP Platform Analysis, Part 1 which includes a 9700Pro vs newer cards in a rig similar to yours (AXP 2500+). Then in AGP Platform Analysis, Part 2 they show the performance gains you can expect from upgrading both the video card and platform.

The best AGP card you can buy is X1950Pro but if you read Toms hardware analysis you know it wouldn't do you any good over the lower cost midrange cards in your system.

Below them are the nVidia 7600GT and ATi 1650XT at around $140 US after rebates. Then you've got the 7600GS and X1650Pro for about $100 US after rebates.

The reality is that you will pay a premium of about $50 for midrange AGP cards these days over their PCIe counterpart. I strongly suggest you consider building a new rig with a PCIe x16 slot, you might be surprised how cheap the AMD Athlon 64 socket 939 processors and mobos are now. Then you could upgrade to a X1950Pro PCIe or better for about the cost of a 7600GT AGP and get double the performance.

 

[dmxlite]

NCIX also has the X1950 Pro AGP for $209.99 after MIR.
You have to click on the Time to Upgrade Sale link on the main page to see the price. Sale ends today.

 

[Daemos]

I'm actually quite impressed...according to those benchmarks the 9700 pro is quite good still, as it compares to many midrange cards...talk about longevity in a video card...

My cpu and mobo are not that slow (although still slow in comparison to modern systems), I have a P4C 2.8ghz running at ~3.2 ghz with 1GB dual channel DDR...

But from what I gather unless if I go to the X1950 Pro I won't get any sort of real improvement =/ I'm not looking to play the latest and greatest, I just want to play some of the older games at higher res (not 1600x1200) but 1200x960 with some AA etc...

Hmm that puts me into a debate now if I Should upgrade or not...

 

[hellokeith]

Considering your processor and ram, I wouldn't suggest anything more than a 6800 series. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/...em-details.asp?EdpNo=2746206&CatId=318

 

[evolucion8]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
Considering your processor and ram, I wouldn't suggest anything more than a 6800 series. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/...em-details.asp?EdpNo=2746206&CatId=318

I don't recommend it, moving from a 8 pixel pipeline Radeon 9700PRO to a 8 pixel pipeline GeForce 6800XT doesn't make any sense, and the P4 at 3.2GHz is not that outdated, is a bottleneck in new cards, but in the resolution which he wants to play is minimal the difference, is you want absolutely the best AGP, go to the X1950PRO, second place belongs to the 7800GS or the X850XT, or if you want a cheaper but good solution you may want the 7600GT or Radeon X1650XT. Cards like 7600GS or X1600PRO represents a minimal increase in performance over your card which doesn't worth your money.

 

[hans030390]

I'd recommend a 7600gt, 7800gs, or x1950 pro. If you have the money, go for the latter...if not, the first two can be about equal (to the best of my knowledge), so I can't say for sure.

 

[hellokeith]

Originally posted by: evolucion8
the P4 at 3.2GHz is not that outdated

Hrmm, he must have just updated, because when I posted his sig said Athlon XP 2100.

 

[Daemos]

I just did update. I have had the 2.8 running at around 3.2ghz for a few years now, at least 4 years! to be exact, the Bios revision on my mother board is from jan 2003

I bought the Athlon Xp2100+ back in 2001 or something like that.

 

[TAL0N]

I was going by your old signature with the AXP 2100+, but since you're on a P4 @3.2 I think you'd be crazy not to upgrade to one of the mid-range cards mentioned above.

But back to your original question.

I assumed any modern card for today, esp anythying with like x1300 or x1600 would kick the living crap out of my 9700 pro...

... I just want to play some of the older games at higher res (not 1600x1200) but 1200x960 with some AA etc...

For rough comparison purposes here's the approx performance order of old and new AGP cards. (ripped and slightly altered from this list at overlcock.net I think you'd be quite happy with the ability to play older games at 1280x960 with FSAA/AF on a new or used 800Pro or higher ranked card from this list.

X1950Pro
X1900GT
7800GS
7600GT
X1650XT
X850XT/XTPE
X800XT/XTPE
6800Ultra/EE
6800GT
6800GS
X800XL
X850Pro
X1650Pro
X800Pro
X800GTO/GTO2
X1600XT
7600GS
X800
7300GT
6800
X1600Pro
X1300XT
6800XT/LE
6600GT
X700Pro
9800XT
9800Pro
9700Pro
9800
9800SE 256bit
X700
5950Ultra
9700

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Honestly, I wouldn't bother upgrading. You have a fantastic card, and I'm sure it can play anything you throw at it (although I'm not sure about Oblivion.) Like someone else already said, it makes very little sense to invest in AGP at this point. Save your money and go with PCI-e later.

...and, OP, where were you when you could buy an AIW 800XL for CDN$170 from FutureShop, last year?
As a Canadian, do yourself a favour and regularly check out the Hot Deals section @ RedFlagDeals forums!

 

[Daemos]

I know I shouldn't be upgrading the old system now, but I just want to play some of my older games in higher res and with fsaa and af turned on.

The most intensive game I've played lately is Quake 4, Fear, and Half life 2, those ran on low settings okay, anything high it would go pretty slow if I ran into multiple enemies.

I saw that deal last year on FS, I wasn't thinking of upgrading.

I just want this system to last me a little longer (which I know it's quite old already, and I'm already impressed it has lasted me this far) but if it can last another 2 years I'd be happy.

The NCIX one is very tempting, I keep looking at it, haha, I'm gonna check ebay for any used X850XTs and see how much those cost

I mean I could go out and buy the latest and greatest machine without much issue, but I don't need the latest gaming machine, I just want my machine, it does what I need it to do and I'm quite content with it

I like having savings, and I like having money that I can put into investments to use in case of emergency's

The reason my budget for the video card is where it is, is that's all I'm willing to spend, it's not that I don't have the money. If I only had 200CND to spend on something, then I might have to hurt my self for being so careless with my money, as I'm a university student, and only work part time, things can come up.

 

[Dacalo]

9700 Pro is an awesome card. I used it for more than 3 years (which is very unlike me) and now it is serving in my brother's comp. There should be some good deals on AGP cards for that price.

 

[TAL0N]

@Daemos make sure you read this Mid Range GPU Roundup - Summer 2006 before you make your final decision. It covers most of the cards that have been mentioned and gives a true idea of their performance potential in games you mentioned. Then get the best performing card you can that's within your budget.