Need some upgrade advice.

[DragonFire]

Iv read some posts about this already but it seems like its a mix with no clear winner.

Right now I have a Geforce3 which was fine intill I went to play UT2004 demo at 1024x786 with the settings I wanted. 10fps just wont work!

First I was think of a FX 5700 Ultra, then thought about a FX 5900se(XT) but then I read it might just be better to get a 5900 nu since it would have faster ram. Then somewhere it was suggested that if your going to pay $200 for a FX 5900, why not get a ATI 9800Pro?

So I was wondering what would be my best bet for under $250? That will be able to play Ut 2004 and HL 2 at I hope 1280x1024?

 

[BenSkywalker]

So I was wondering what would be my best bet for under $250? That will be able to play Ut 2004 and HL 2 at I hope 1280x1024?

UT2K4 should run comparable on either platform, HL2 will likely run quite a bit better on a R9800Pro. Do you have your H2O setup with a waterblock for the GPU? If so, you should be able to get a nasty OC out of either the 5900 or the R9800Pro, better then the 5950U or 9800XT if you aren't afraid of some modifications to the boards(which I assume your not if you went through the trouble of an out door radiator ).

 

[DragonFire]

Well dont have a GPU waterblock (yet) a GF3 doesnt really need one. Just saw in another post that CompUSA has the 9800 pro for $200 after rebates so I think I'll be leaving here in about an hour to pick one up!

This will be a little weird for me, IV had Nvidia cards since the TNT days!

which I assume your not if you went through the trouble of an out door radiator

Due to a unknow problem at this time Im running my 2400+ at 2266Mhz, 1.80 volts. My idel temp right now is 69F go to about 75-77F under load

 

[SneakyStuff]

Radeon 9800 pro, $200 @ CompUSA this week, that is the absolute BEST deal out now, no questions.

$300 - $70 instantly - $30 MiR = $200

 

[bandana163]

200$ is a very good price for a 9800pro. If you want a new card now, CompUSA's offer is very tempting.

 

[Bucksnort]

I have xp2400+ and 266-a chipset and gf3ti500. I tried the 5900se and it was a good card and stable but I didnt like the performance with aa&af enabled. Im probably going to get the 9800p.

 

[Bucksnort]

 

[SneakyStuff]

Do so, the 9800 pro absolutely SMASHES the 5900se

 

[DragonFire]

Just got home from CompUSA, I got there last one!

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
Do so, the 9800 pro absolutely SMASHES the 5900se

i dont know about "SMASHES", but it deffinately is the better card.

a 9800 pro "SMASHES" a geforce 2 or something along those lines

 

[Bucksnort]

Nice, let us on the fence know how it installs and any problems u observe. Thanks

 

[DragonFire]

Installed just fine, not a problem yet. Damn does 3dmark 2001 look nice! Only got 12,000 tho. I need to do somw tweaking...

 

[BenSkywalker]

Well dont have a GPU waterblock (yet) a GF3 doesnt really need one.

Get yourself a DD M4 on top of a peltier(well, that could be optional depending on how nuts you want to go) hooked up to your H20 setup and volt mod your new board and it will scream. Of course, for now you could underclock it and it will feel like its screaming compared to your GF3

You want to see what you gfx board can do up the res to 1600x1200 on 3DM2K1 set it for 4x AA and force 16x AF in the control panel. That bench is way too CPU limited to appreciate a new vid card upgrade at default settings, you have to bump it up a bit.

 

[SneakyStuff]

CHANGE YOUR SIG!