NewbieQ: Radeon 9600xt v.s. 9600pro

[Jaguars4r]

Im in the market for a graphics card and found out that ATI Radeon is the best bang for the buck. I am looking to spend around $100 for one and have seen that 9600 pro and 9600 xt is right in the price range. I will be playing games like Doom III and Half Life 2 so Im wondering if the XT is really worth it for extra bucks. I also see that when you buy the XT yu can get the Half Life 2 promo game inside but im having a hard time finding one. Whats your guys thought, should I get the PRO or spend an extra $30 bucks for an XT even if I cant find the HL2 inside? Their are pretty much the same but I hear that the XT is just slightly updated or somthin, what do yu guys think? thanks

 

[dguy6789]

No, not at all. The XT is in no situation ever, noticably faster.

 

[Bateluer]

The 9600 PRo and 9600 XT are fairly dated cards for Doom 3 and Half Life 2, the XT is the faster card, but they're are both going to be dang slow in Doom 3 especially.

Might be worth the effort to hoard your cash for another month or so and pick up a 6600GT.

 

[Jaguars4r]

The 9600 PRo and 9600 XT are fairly dated cards for Doom 3 and Half Life 2

It even says on the XT box that the graphics cards is preferred for HL2?? Would yu spend the extra bucks for the XT? I mean is the PRO and XT a HUGE difference? Or a very slight one?

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Jaguars4r

The 9600 PRo and 9600 XT are fairly dated cards for Doom 3 and Half Life 2

It even says on the XT box that the graphics cards is preferred for HL2?? Would yu spend the extra bucks for the XT? I mean is the PRO and XT a HUGE difference? Or a very slight one?

Marketing. The difference will be slight, but HL2 will run on both of them because of the way Valve designed the game, just don't expect loads of eye candy and anti aliasing. Doom 3 performance will be anemic on both cards though.

 

[Jaguars4r]

since they both wont be all that good for DOOMIII and pretty much the same for HL2, what would yu do?

A) Spend about $90 on 9600PRO
or
B) Spend about $125 on 9600XT

I mean, will it even be able to play DOOM III?? Honestly, Are they THAT BAD?? So HL2 will be OK but DOOM III will just suck?

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Jaguars4r
since they both wont be all that good for DOOMIII and pretty much the same for HL2, what would yu do?

A) Spend about $90 on 9600PRO
or
B) Spend about $125 on 9600XT

I mean, will it even be able to play DOOM III?? Honestly, Are they THAT BAD?? So HL2 will be OK but DOOM III will just suck?

You can get a 6600 Vanilla for about 125 that will run Doom 3 a lot better than a 9600, but its PCIe only. I really don't believe anything in the 9600/X600 line is worth buying, its too dated IMO.

Browse the Hot Deals forum for a 9800 Pro, or maybe a 6800 LE/Vanilla card instead. Both are leaps and bounds ahead of the 9600s.

 

[Jaguars4r]

You can get a 6600 Vanilla for about 125 that will run Doom 3 a lot better than a 9600, but its PCIe only

So a GeForce 6600 128 or 256 are both better than the 9600pro/XT?? The 6600 is PCI express, what does that mean again?

 

[imported_alp]

means it probably won't run on your current motherboard.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Jaguars4r

You can get a 6600 Vanilla for about 125 that will run Doom 3 a lot better than a 9600, but its PCIe only

So a GeForce 6600 128 or 256 are both better than the 9600pro/XT?? The 6600 is PCI express, what does that mean again?

PCIe is the replacement for AGP. Alp is correct in saying it probably won't work on your mobo.

Your best bet is probably to find a used 9800 Pro, check the FS/T forum, just make sure you are getting the 256bit memory version and not the crippled 128bit version.

 

[Mav007]

I was in the same situation and decided to go with the 9600XT for now. I would check your local BB, I just picked up the XT for $169.00 plus a $100 rebate. So for $69.00 it will hold me over for awhile.

Good luck

 

[HappyNic]

yeah the 9600XT at $69 is a great deal

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: HappyNic
yeah the 9600XT at $69 is a great deal

At that price yes, very good deal.

 

[kogase]

Eh... also, the XT comes with a HL2, and the Pro doesn't. Assuming this deal is still going at all.

 

[Punamo]

I don't think the BB 9600xt with $100 rebate comes with HL2. I just got one but I haven't opened it and it's not saying anything about free HL2 on the box. Tempting...

 

[Ackmed]

The 9600's play HL2 fine with a lower res and settings. Check the Anand review for numbers.

I got a 9600 Pro for my daughters PC about 4-5 months ago, for $55 no rebate at CC. Great deal then, still would be today.

 

[Navid]

Another advantage of 9600XT over 9600 pro is that it has temperature sensors on the card. So, you can see the temperature of the graphics processing unit.

 

[Jaguars4r]

I just picked up the XT for $169.00 plus a $100 rebate. So for $69.00 it will hold me over for awhile.

WHOA!!! Is this a Mail-in rebate or an Instant rebate? I was just their and it said nothing about a rebate. $169 but SOLD OUT

please let me know... Thank you

 

[dguy6789]

Whoever is saying the 9600 pro/XT arent good for half life 2 are complete morons. The 9600XT runs half life 2 at 1024X768 at max settings at over 60 fps. It is faster then any geforce fx in dx9 mode, and is still faster then any geforce fx if put in dx8 mode as well. The 9600s have some life in them still.

 

[Jaguars4r]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Whoever is saying the 9600 pro/XT arent good for half life 2 are complete morons. The 9600XT runs half life 2 at 1024X768 at max settings at over 60 fps. It is faster then any geforce fx in dx9 mode, and is still faster then any geforce fx if put in dx8 mode as well. The 9600s have some life in them still.

So you definetly recommend HL2 and maybe DOOM III w/ the XT/PRO?

 

[kogase]

No to Doom 3. The only playable configuration for D3 would be 640x480 Low Quality. But it would look awful.

 

[dguy6789]

Doom 3, although slower then half life 2, can be run at very good looking settings as well. A 9600 Pro with the newest omega drivers, and a few tweaks can run doom 3 at 1024X768 at ultra settings at a good 30fps, and much faster at medium settings. Get a 9600 pro and try it out for yourself if you dont believe me.

 

[SonicIce]

If the 6600's ever go AGP, that would be your best bet. Maybe wait and see what happens. I think they will. That would beat a 9600XT easy. A 9600XT runs Doom 3 perfectly fine at high quality 800x600 maybe 1027x768.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Jaguars4r
since they both wont be all that good for DOOMIII and pretty much the same for HL2, what would yu do?

A) Spend about $90 on 9600PRO
or
B) Spend about $125 on 9600XT

I mean, will it even be able to play DOOM III?? Honestly, Are they THAT BAD?? So HL2 will be OK but DOOM III will just suck?

Those two cards are very slow and useless for Doom3/Half Life 2/Far Cry.

For $150 you could get a 9700Pro that would be OK for everything but Doom 3. 9600s are really feeble cards by todays standards. They are half as fast as last years best, which in turn are half as fast as this year's best. Sorry. $100 does not a HL2/Doom 3 card make.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Doom 3, although slower then half life 2, can be run at very good looking settings as well. A 9600 Pro with the newest omega drivers, and a few tweaks can run doom 3 at 1024X768 at ultra settings at a good 30fps, and much faster at medium settings. Get a 9600 pro and try it out for yourself if you dont believe me.

Don't listen to this guy, you will regret it.

Those "60 fps" benches are at 10X7, no AA/AF. Do you know how huge your jaggies will be at 10X7? The straight lines will look like staircases.

As for Doom3, I'd say it's totally unplayable on a 9600 anything.