Need upgrade from TI 4200 to 9800 but which one?

[bhof]

I want to get a 9800 pro 128 256 bit, I think. I mostly play UT2004. There are so many different 9800 pro's, I don't know which is the best bang for the buck. Would I see much gain with a 256 model or how about the ATLANTIS with 256 ram but 128 bit? Some seem to have different coolers, any worth while lookin at?
I am running win2k, with XP2600 and 512 ddr, and 64 mb TI 4200.
Lastly will a new video card make me shoot better and give me better aim, or am I still going to be a lousy player. ggggg

 

[apoppin]

Of the 128MB version, they're all about the same. Perhaps Sapphire uses a cheaper HS for its 256MB than ATI's (no biggie).

There are only 2 versions to (really) consider - BOTH 256bit; 1 with 128MB ram and the other with 256MB ram.

the ONLY advantage of the 256MB Radeon Pro is that it can be easily flashed to an XT (it IS already an 'xt' in disguise, held back by its bios).

HOWEVER, the 256bit/256MB are ~$265 which is kinda expensive considering the plain GeForce 6800 128MB (with guaranteed performance at least 12% faster than the XT) is only ~$300 (look in Hot Deals), maybe less.

Of course, you can get a 256bit/128MB Pro for ~$200 . . .



No! But a better videocard will improve your sex life.



:roll:

EDItED

 

[SickBeast]

Don't go from a 4200 to a 9800 for UT2004. The 4200 runs that game quite well. Even my old R8500 runs UT2004 very well at 1024x768, maybe even 1280x1024. You won't be getting any extra features with the 9800 in UT2004; it's a DX8 game. If I were you I would wait for the next midrange cards that are coming down the pike. They will aparently outperform a 9800XT, and maybe even a 6800NU.

Oh, and you will still get PWNED if you suck at UT, regardless of your rig. Your deaths will just look prettier.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Don't go from a 4200 to a 9800 for UT2004. The 4200 runs that game quite well. Even my old R8500 runs UT2004 very well at 1024x768, maybe even 1280x1024. You won't be getting any extra features with the 9800 in UT2004; it's a DX8 game. If I were you I would wait for the next midrange cards that are coming down the pike. They will aparently outperform a 9800XT, and maybe even a 6800NU.

Oh, and you will still get PWNED if you suck at UT, regardless of your rig. Your deaths will just look prettier.

I don't agree with this Sick Beast. A 9800Pro will give a much smoother game experience at UT2004, which should improve his game. If you're dropping frames or stuttering because your card is choking, it's tough to be good.

 

[Megatomic]

Let me add my $.02... If I pay big $$$ for a game, I want it to look pretty while getting high fps. My 4800SE played UT2004 smoothly with minimal quality settings but I wanted AF and AA on while running at 1152x864. The GF just couldn't handle it.

I upgraded to a 9800 Pro and now I can play with AA and AF at my desired resolution. It was well worth the money to me.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Don't go from a 4200 to a 9800 for UT2004. The 4200 runs that game quite well. Even my old R8500 runs UT2004 very well at 1024x768, maybe even 1280x1024. You won't be getting any extra features with the 9800 in UT2004; it's a DX8 game. If I were you I would wait for the next midrange cards that are coming down the pike. They will aparently outperform a 9800XT, and maybe even a 6800NU.

Oh, and you will still get PWNED if you suck at UT, regardless of your rig. Your deaths will just look prettier.

I don't agree with this Sick Beast. A 9800Pro will give a much smoother game experience at UT2004, which should improve his game. If you're dropping frames or stuttering because your card is choking, it's tough to be good.

curious, is UT 2004 the same engine as Unreal II? If so, yes - the 9800Pro IS a significant upgrade over the ti4200.

I went from an o/c'd Radeon 8500-128MB to a 9800 RadeonPro-128 (B4 i got my 'xt') and Unreal II was much improved visually (with AA/AF) and especially superior FPS (smoother).

However, if the original poster is considering a 256MB Radeon Pro . . . the GF 6800 IS a faster newer card for similar bucks and it will be even better as new games come out.

 

[bhof]

Thanks guys I think I get the idea. To summerize>>

yes - the 9800Pro IS a significant upgrade over the ti4200 (GOOD)

No! But a better videocard will improve your sex life. (VERY GOOD)

It was well worth the money to me. (GOOD)

Oh, and you will still get PWNED if you suck at UT, regardless of your rig. (BAD)

Your deaths will just look prettier. (live well, die pretty)

I think I should get a 9800 128mb, and give it to my grandson in a few months when the next newest, greatest, video invention, comes out and drops the price on the better one. I hate spending more money on a video card than the MB / processor together cost.

 

[JeffCY]

Wow... you're a grandfather playing UT2004 huh? That's awesome. My father's a gamer as well, except he plays mostly turn based strategy games or RPGs (games that don't require fast reflexes).

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Don't go from a 4200 to a 9800 for UT2004. The 4200 runs that game quite well. Even my old R8500 runs UT2004 very well at 1024x768, maybe even 1280x1024. You won't be getting any extra features with the 9800 in UT2004; it's a DX8 game. If I were you I would wait for the next midrange cards that are coming down the pike. They will aparently outperform a 9800XT, and maybe even a 6800NU.

Oh, and you will still get PWNED if you suck at UT, regardless of your rig. Your deaths will just look prettier.

I don't agree with this Sick Beast. A 9800Pro will give a much smoother game experience at UT2004, which should improve his game. If you're dropping frames or stuttering because your card is choking, it's tough to be good.

Well yeah, he would get a very significant performance boost in the game, that is undenyable. It will probably be 2.5 times faster than his current setup with AA/AF enabled. I stand by my statement that a ti4200 is more than adequate for UT2004 without AA/AF though. I always reccomend against upgrading hardware to run a single game anyway.

I don't think the game will stutter or choke if he tweaks the settings properly. I run UT2004 on a R8500 64MB on my machine at work, and it's pretty much a constant 60FPS with the correct settings. Basically I run at 1024x768 w/ no AA, 8XAF, trilinear filtering disabled, and pretty much medium to high settings for everything else. I can even run with TruForm enabled, maximum character detail, and high world detail. I would imagine that the ti4200 would be at least 20% faster than my 8500. That's why I thought he would be fine without upgrading.

Despite all this, $200 for a 9800PRO is a very reasonable price. If you have the money and are dying to upgrade, I guess just do it. It appears that you've been holding off for quite some time so I can understand why you want to upgrade.

 

[mitchafi]

What does TruForm do anyways...?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: mitchafi
What does TruForm do anyways...?

It's a feature of the R8500 that never really caught on very seriously. All the newer ATi cards have the feature as well, but it was only hardware-accelerated on the 8500/9100. In any event, it "rounds" the blockiness out of polygons making them appear smoother and more natural. The only games I've played that use the feature are Half-Life, RTCW, and UT2003/2004. It's actually a very nice feature on the 8500; it's a shame it never really caught on. On the 9700/9800 cards it's not worth the burden it places on your CPU IMO; you'll drop some serious frames in UT2004 if you leave it enabled and your CPU is not up to the task.

 

[Cawchy87]

although the ti4200 is a very good card for the price, it is "outdated" in comparison to the 9800 pro. you WILL see improvments in fps and you will be able to make the textures, players etc. look better. In my opinion, if you play a game quite a bit then it is worth it. Even if you do die quite often. I die a lot at call of duty but i love the game and upgraded my vid card to play it better. It was worth every penny

Go for it!

 

[RockGuitarDude]

I have a 9800 Pro for sale with a Thermaltake Giant 3 installed via Artic Silver 5. It overclocks great too. PM me if you are interested.

 

[ohiopcgamer]

I just upgraded to the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro card from my Gainward TI4600 VIVO card and the difference in the gaming graphics was amazing. I am SO glad I did. Even goofing around with 3DMark03 my score went from 1771 with the TI4600 to just under 7000 with the 9800 Pro.
I can see things in Far Cry that didnt even exist using my old card (such as detailed tropical fish in the lagoons or dragonflys going by in the weeds, etc.) Of course the bad guys still looked like bad guys.. lol

Be sure to get the 256bit 128Mb version of the 9800 Pro, as there are some sub $200.00 versions being offered online and in some stores that are lower bit rate than the original card. In fact the manufacturer of the sub-par card is rumoured to be issuing an apology (under pressure from ATI) for misleading buyers.

 

[bhof]

Ok, I wish Rock Guitardude would have been a little quicker on his post. I already ordered a Refurb 128mb 256 bit from newegg for $170. I have had good luck with many refurbs from them. If it don't work out I can always return it.

Yes JEffCY I am a grandfather and my 9 year old grandson whom I just won temporary custody of, and I, play together on line and over our home lan. That is basically why I need a faster card than him, slower reflexes. ggggg I am tired of the little stinker laughing as he totally destroys me on line. He also has a 128mb TI 4200. Mine was only a 64mb. Any other advice on how I can show him that old age and treachery will win over youth and skill.

PS: He is also running a faster system. Mine is a:
XP 2600 333FSB with 512 pc2700, TI4200 with 64mb.
His is an:
XP 3000 400FSB with 1GB pc3200, TI4200 with 128mb.

Perhaps I should give mine to my wife and build a 64 bit XP3200 with 1mb cache and a gig of ram, and the new 9800pro, maybe then I could beat him.

 

[bhof]

How do you enable/disable AA/AF? I am not sure what these settings do or how to check them?