Need new video card ASAP!

[Vortex22]

The fan on my old Radeon 8500 is beginning to crap out, and I'm way overdue for an upgrade anyway.
Max price is $250, and I would prefer ATI because of possible driver issues, and I've had good luck with ATI cards in the past. I'm open to all suggestions though. I'm looking to order one today, so I need some quick suggestions for best bang for your buck cards around $200. TIA

Edit: It's a pretty old comp, needs to be AGP. I'm just looking for something to mainly play WoW, so it doesn't have to be top of the line.

 

[Bona Fide]

Leadtek 6800GT. Actually, any 6800GT will do fine, but I recommend Leadtek because of the beefy heatsink/fan unit.

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

Hey i'm looking for a new card also before mine craps out =/

I myself might get the leadtek 6800gt but you want an ATI. I've been looking at ATI's and it looks like the 800XL seems fairly decent and i'vee seen it at about 250.

hope that helps

Originally posted by: Vortex22
The fan on my old Radeon 8500 is beginning to crap out, and I'm way overdue for an upgrade anyway.
Max price is $250, and I would prefer ATI because of possible driver issues, and I've had good luck with ATI cards in the past. I'm open to all suggestions though. I'm looking to order one today, so I need some quick suggestions for best bang for your buck cards around $200. TIA

Edit: It's a pretty old comp, needs to be AGP. I'm just looking for something to mainly play WoW, so it doesn't have to be top of the line.

 

[Vortex22]

Are there any extra steps I should take when switching to another manufacturer other than simply uninstalling the previous drivers and installing the new ones? You know, to avoid headaches with traces of old ATI software that could cause issues.

 

[Vortex22]

Looks like the 6800GT is closer to $300, at least according to newegg.

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

Originally posted by: Vortex22
Looks like the 6800GT is closer to $300, at least according to newegg.

the one i'm looking at is 289 and comes with a crap load of software. Do a google maybe for leadtek. don't know how you are about buying from places you're not sure about.

as far as drivers ATI has a "remove all" program that deletes everything ATI from the system and registry. So that isn't an issue.

If you want an ATI then just do that.

 

[Vortex22]

My biggest problem is that there are too many different types of the same card
X800 X800GT X800SE X800Pro

I found a Sapphire X800 pro for $240, but it is worth the extra price over an X800?
Also, I've heard the 6600GT is great for the price. They are cheaper than the X800, but how does performance stack up?
I was originally looking at X800, X800Pro, and 6600GT before I made this post, and they still look like the best choices for me.

So what would you choose between those three? Is the pro worth the extra money?

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

ahhh - tomshardware has an extensive VGA benchmark listing - here http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20050705/index.html

that should help a little. keep in mind thats a single source so take it as a grain of salt.

Originally posted by: Vortex22
My biggest problem is that there are too many different types of the same card
X800 X800GT X800SE X800Pro

I found a Sapphire X800 pro for $240, but it is worth the extra price over an X800?
Also, I've heard the 6600GT is great for the price. They are cheaper than the X800, but how does performance stack up?
I was originally looking at X800, X800Pro, and 6600GT before I made this post, and they still look like the best choices for me.

So what would you choose between those three? Is the pro worth the extra money?

 

[Vortex22]

Thanks a lot. I think I'm just gonna go with the X800 pro, I know it will be more than enough for what I'm using it for. It's an ASUS though, not Sapphire. I haven't had any problems with Asus in the past though, so it shouldn't be a problem. Stupid AGP cards are more expensive than the PCI-E ones

 

[M0RPH]

Removing drivers is not a problem so I wouldn't let that restrict you to another ATI card. Unfortunately there are not too many good deals on AGP ATI cards in this price range. I would just go with a 6600GT like this one.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Avoid the X800 (plain) or X800GT like the plague; they only have 8 pipelines. The X800XL (16 pipelines) is an excellent card, and well worth your money. The Nvidia 6800GT is another superb card (also with 16 pipelines). I'd say make a choice between those two.

I'd also skip the 6600GT since for a bit more money you can get double the pipelines on either an X800XL or 6800GT.

 

[jevans64]

I would get either an x800 pro ViVo or x800xl. The ViVo cards for AGP can be softmodded to 16 pipes and the XL is already 16 pipes with a lower clock. I would also say that these cards will perform best in a P4 2.4 GHz w/800 MHz FSB ( or AMD of similar specs ) or better.

The Leadtek 6800GTs are not really that great. The HSF is huge but the fan runs at a lower speed, making it not any better at cooling than a single-slot solution. It is quieter though.

Gigabyte x800xl ==> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125186

Asus x800pro ViVo ==> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121519

Getting this card and having a successful BIOS flash ( nearly 100% success rate ) will get you 16 pipes, which will KILL a 6800GT and will match a 6800 Ultra with a modest overclock.

Go here for flashing information.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/100

My x800pro ViVo unlocked fine but only overclocked to 500 / 540. I scored around 11900 3D Mark 03.

 

[Sonikku]

Get this card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142052

And UL/OC it to x850xt speeds.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: Vortex22
Are there any extra steps I should take when switching to another manufacturer other than simply uninstalling the previous drivers and installing the new ones? You know, to avoid headaches with traces of old ATI software that could cause issues.

After you remove your old driver, be sure to use DriverCleaner(in safe mode) and then install the new drivers.

 

[M0RPH]

Originally posted by: Sonikku
Get this card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142052

And UL/OC it to x850xt speeds.

He needs an AGP card. And that's not even the one that's supposed to be moddable to X850XT, it's the Sapphire X800GTO2.

 

[VIAN]

I say something like a X700 Pro, X800GT, 6600GT (Nvidia), X800, 6800 (Nvidia).

Whichever one is the lowest priced.

EDIT: I love how all of you people seem to be forgeting that he has an older computer and that those 300 dollar graphics chips may be too much Overkill for what he might have.

What are you specs by the way?

Since he has an older machine, keeping to his price point would be best. A 6600GT would be fine for WOW. He was already playing it with a 8500 it seems and how freakin old is that. Super old.

Changing from one graphics manufacture to is simple, uninstall drivers, shutdown, install new card, reboot in safe mode and run driver cleaner, reboot and install new video card drivers - you should be fine.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: fibes

Originally posted by: Vortex22
Are there any extra steps I should take when switching to another manufacturer other than simply uninstalling the previous drivers and installing the new ones? You know, to avoid headaches with traces of old ATI software that could cause issues.

After you remove your old driver, be sure to use DriverCleaner(in safe mode) and then install the new drivers.

Here is the link to DriverCleaner

 

[Vortex22]

Since this computer is so old and I'm likely going to be building a new one very soon, I decided to go the cheap route and get a 9800pro just to hold me over. Buying an expensive AGP card would be sort of a waste since I won't be able to swap it over. I know it will play WoW fine, which is all I use this comp for right now anyway. Thanks for all the advice though, I'll make sure to remember it when im building the new system.