New Video Card not for heavy gaming.

[beatmix01]

Let me pose this question to all.

I need a new video card for the system I am building.

A64 3500 (939)
Abit AV8


I am the furthest thing from a heavy gamer. Most of my work is in digital audio and video.

Currently my system has a Ti4400. What would a good upgrade path be for approx. $150

 

[boran]

ehmkeep the Ti4400 and wait till you can grab a 9800 pro for $150,

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: boran
ehmkeep the Ti4400 and wait till you can grab a 9800 pro for $150,

Define "heavy gamer". What games do you play now, or plan on playing with the new system.

If you don't really game at all, then stick with the Ti4400 as boran mentioned, and wait until the prices of the mid-range cards come down to $150.

 

[beatmix01]

The only reason I plan on replacing the video card is because I have to pass down my current rig to my younger brother. The only other AGP card i have in my house is the one that was in a machine that got fried. I'd rather not tempt fate and swap it in a working system.

 

[Blastman]

A 9600XT would be a small upgrade with no AA/AF -- and a big upgrade with AA/AF.

Sapphire 128MB 9600XT runs $136.
ATI 128MB 9600XT runs $159.

Both Sapphire and BBATI cards have excellent 2D display quality which should probably be a priority if you are not a heavy gamer. I have a BBATI 9600XT and the 2D is the best I?ve seen on any card -- slightly better than the Sapphire cards I?ve had.

To get a sizable upgrade in overall performance you would have to jump up to a 9800pro. Particularly if you want to run both AA and AF in your games. My 9600XT runs really fast with 8/16-AF and while it?s playable in a lot of games with 4AA/8AF, it takes a bigger performance hit than I like. With just 8AF it?s at least 2x a fast as your 4400@8AF. So if you just want to run AF the 9600XT could be a big upgrade.

The Sapphire 9800pro runs $198 newegg if you are willing to stretch your budget.

 

[Blastman]

Here are links to the 9600XT?s I was talking about?.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-326&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-331&depa=0

 

[BlueWeasel]

Here's a guy with a 9800NP for sale that flashed to a Pro for $160 shipped.

 

[beatmix01]

How about the nvidia cards? So far its only been ATI recommended. In terms of the amount of gaming I will do. If I play Doom3 for more than a week I will be surprised.

 

[Cawchy87]

you can try finding a 5900xt for 150 but the cheapest one i can find is 170. i would go with either a 9800np or a 9700pro

 

[nitromullet]

ATi's 2D quality was better on last year's cards than nVidia IMO, you won't get this year's cards at that price yet. If your primary focus is on 2D applications on a Windows machine, ATi is the way to go.

 

[beatmix01]

opinions on this card? I like the dual dvi on it.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-128-186&depa=0

and the price is right.

 

[OSUBeaver]

If you ahve the time, ebay has some great deals on 9800pro's. My friend kept clicking search and a buy it now for 99.99 pops up every once in a while, but people buy the minute it comes up. He got one and its legit. Also we saw a 9700pro for 74.99 buy it now thawt got snatched right away.

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: beatmix01
opinions on this card? I like the dual dvi on it.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-128-186&depa=0

and the price is right.

very very bad for the price. I would get a refurb 9700pro for ~130 if i were you.