Need help narrowing down a video card

[bacontaco]

I've been putting together a new computer and need help narrowing down a video card to purchase. I'm looking for something in the $100 price range, maybe $150 at the very most if it is an exceptional card. Of course, cards in the range must be a generation or two old, but since I haven't kept up to date very much with the market, I need some help.

Here is a list of components in the computer I am putting together:

A7N8X-X Motherboard (8X AGP)
Athlon 2500+ Barton Core CPU
512 MB PC3200 RAM

I am leaning towards ATI, since it sounds like they are manufacturing better products at this point.

Does anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive video card that would go well in my machine? Thanks very much for your time and help!

 

[tigereye]

Ti-4200 -> $100 or less
Radeon 9600 Pro -> $150

The 9600 will give you DX9 plus ability to use AA/AF.

 

[FullRoast]

I just got an ATI card, but in your price range, "a generation or two old", a card with an nVIDA TI4200 chip and 128 MB memory would make great choice. That assumes you want to do some gaming. If not, you could spend even less. You might check out this video card comparison.

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: tigereye
Ti-4200 -> $100 or less
Radeon 9600 Pro -> $150

The 9600 will give you DX9 plus ability to use AA/AF.

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: McArra

Originally posted by: tigereye
Ti-4200 -> $100 or less
Radeon 9600 Pro -> $150

The 9600 will give you DX9 plus ability to use AA/AF.

i'd spend the extra $50 on the 9600pro just b/c of DX9 and AA/AF. its much more "future proof" than the ti4200. don't get me wrong, i love mine, but i know that games and such will only get more complicated...

 

[agentorange3]

for your price range i would get a 4200 or 9500/9600.

 

[bacontaco]

I think I'm going to go with a 9600 since it has DX9 and is "future-proof" as someone put it. When I searched on Pricewatch, I got 6 different versions of the 9600, and I'm a little confused. I've looked for a comparison, but have had no luck. Pricewatch lists the following versions of the 9600:

$150 - RADEON 9600 Pro Ultra
$187 - RADEON 9600 Pro Ultimate
$134 - RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB
$136 - RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB
$122 - RADEON 9600 256MB
$108 - RADEON 9600 128MB

Does anyone have any opinions about which one to get? I've read through many of the threads here about the 9600, and I see a lot saying that the 256mb version is a waste and the 128mb version is superior. But why?

Please keep in mind that I will probably plan OC the video card in the future.

Thanks again for your time and help!

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: bacontaco
I think I'm going to go with a 9600 since it has DX9 and is "future-proof" as someone put it. When I searched on Pricewatch, I got 6 different versions of the 9600, and I'm a little confused. I've looked for a comparison, but have had no luck. Pricewatch lists the following versions of the 9600:

$150 - RADEON 9600 Pro Ultra
$187 - RADEON 9600 Pro Ultimate
$134 - RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB
$136 - RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB
$122 - RADEON 9600 256MB
$108 - RADEON 9600 128MB

Does anyone have any opinions about which one to get? I've read through many of the threads here about the 9600, and I see a lot saying that the 256mb version is a waste and the 128mb version is superior. But why?

Please keep in mind that I will probably plan OC the video card in the future.

Thanks again for your time and help!

A 128mb one is better because

a. it costs less
b. the memory on the 128mb card is usually faster
c. 256mb doesn't even make an impact on top of the line cards. You put that same amount on a mid range card and it does even less, since a mid range doesn't have the power to run at settings as high as on a top of the line card.

From your list, $136 - RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB this would be the best. But for that price I would guess that is an underclocked ez version. If it is an ez version, avoid it and get $150 - RADEON 9600 Pro Ultra this one instead, assuming it too is not an ez.

 

[GullyFoyle]

I'll give this a shot. People can correct me if I'm wrong:

Your basic configs:

RADEON 9600 Pro -- GPU = 400 Mhz, Memory = 300 Mhz (600 Mhz Effective because of DDR)
Radeon 9600 (non-pro) -- GPU = 325 Mhz, Memory = 200 Mhz (x2=400)

Variations:

RADEON 9600 Pro Ultra -- GPU = 400 Mhz, Memory = 337 (x2=674)
RADEON 9600 Pro Ultimate -- GPU = A 9600 pro with a Zalman fanless heatsink

You also missed:

Radeon 9600 Pro EZ & Radeon 9600 Pro Lite - GPU = 400Mhz, Memory = 200(x2=400) or 250(x2=500)
WATCH OUT FOR THESE. If the 9600 Pro you are looking at is less than $150, it's probably one of these.

 

[crapito]

if an ATi 9600 sounds like your kinda card, which I also recommend, btw, the 128mb 9600 Pro (non-EZ or Lite) version is the best bang for your buck. the Ultra/Ultimate cards may be a little better, but also more $.

here's a link to the least expensive ($152 shipped) 128mb 9600 Pro (non-EZ/Lite) version at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-142-013&depa=0

 

[Blastman]

The best 9600 pro?s come with 2.8ns (ns = nano-second) Samsung memory.

Powercolor Radeon 9600pro ? ?Bravo? ? ? 400/337 ? 2.8ns Samsung
Sapphire Radeon 9600pro ? 'Fireblade' ? ? 400/300 ? 2.8ns Samsung (guaranteed o/c to 337)

All the BB ATI retail 9600pro?s used to come exclusively with 2.8ns Samsungs but now they shipping them with the 3.3ns Samsungs --- although the 3.3ns Samsung?s seem to be overclocking better than in the past. It?s possible they upped the voltage slightly in the BIOS. I?ve seen 345MHz out of the 3.3?s. The 2.8?s usually didn?t go much faster than that.

This FIC R96P 9600pro tested at Xbit came with 2.8 Samsungs and overclocked quite nicely ? 490/370.

You want a 128MB 9600pro (not a 256MB model with slow memory), preferably one of those with the 2.8 Samungs if you want to overclock. My second choice would be a built by ATI retail 9600pro, some may still be shipping with the 2.8?s.

That Connect 9600pro 128MB that crapito linked to looks like it has 3.3ns Samsungs. Very nice card for $152.

 

[Pete]

For ~$100, you can get a 9600 (Froogle for "Smart PC Radeon 9600" and you'll see it for $98 at one store--please verify with that store that that card has 128bit, not 64bit, memory before buying) . ~$145 will net you a 9600 Pro. FYI, Dan's got the right specs for both. I wouldn't consider a 4200 or a 5600 in this price range, based on my reading. I would consider paying more for the Pro depending on the games you play.

Digit-Life has comparative scores for each card in their 3Digest. Keep in mind the 9600 will have better-looking AA and less-framerate-intensive (but slightly less effective) AF, not to mention DX9 compliance, better-looking DVD playback, and probably better signal quality (sharper, more legible text). I'd consider waiting until Sept. 30th to see how the regular 9600 will play Half-Life 2 compared to a 4200 if you're at all interested in that game.