Pick My Video Card --- PLEASE!

[Lamont Burns]

I know all are variations of one another on this topic, so bare with me:

Playing mainly:
Galaxies (80% of my gaming)
CS
HL2 in the future
HALO


Building a custom system. 2800 P4 512 DDR

Looking at:
5700 Ultra (prefer ATI however)
9600 XT 128
9800 SE 128
9600 PRO 256

Please consider Galaxies, and those that play it know the memory which it can suck up b/c of it's massiveness. (Or, if I am wrong on that point, tell me)

I want something that I don't need to replace in 6 MOs, and plays galaxies the best (non 9800 PRO)

the 9700 PRO is not an option where I am getting the system probably. So act as if it is unavailable when commenting.

Is the 9600 XT better than the 9800 SE?

I have a GFti4200 64MB now, which stutters like mad on Galaxies.

Thanks for the input!

 

[MDE]

I'd get either a 9800 or a FX5900 nu\SE\XT. They aren't much more expensinve and perform much better than either the 9600 or 5700.

 

[modedepe]

The 9600xt should be faster than the 9800se. It would be the one I'd pick out of the ones you have listed, however I would probably get a 5900 or 9700 instead if I was not picking from the list. Is getting no video card now and adding your own later an option?

 

[SneakyStuff]

9500 pro, look into it

 

[RussianSensation]

5900se/xt if u can find it cheap ($170-190US)
Otherwise 9600XT

 

[Lamont Burns]

Yes, I could stick with the 4200 and upgrade later, which I may just do. Or, I may buck up and get the 9800 128...any substantial reason to get the 256 9800?

 

[RussianSensation]

I wouldn't pay in excess of $70-100 for extra 128mb of ram alone, because when the 128mb card becomes too slow for gaming, the fact of the matter is that 256mb of ram wont save it either. Its only beneficial in 1600x1200 4AA/8AF in Unreal and Call of Duty as far as I know. In my book thats like saying "put away $100 towards a new videocard upgrade and spend the rest"

 

[Sarobi]

I'd pick in this order of preference

1. 5900 XT/SE

2. 9600 XT or 5700 U

3. 9600 Pro or 9800 SE

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: Sarobi
I'd pick in this order of preference

1. 5900 XT/SE

2. 9600 XT or 5700 U

3. 9600 Pro or 9800 SE

 

[batmang]

5900 SE/XT

 

[Lamont Burns]

I ended up putting a 9800 PRO in my system instead...I couldn't resist.

I guess I picked a good card tho huh?

Ended up selling my xbox and some games to cushion the advanced system I decided to splurge on.

It's only money right? And it is MY hobby, and MY money, so stop nagging me already wife!

s-s-sorry, I blacked out there for a second.

 

[modedepe]

lol, enjoy it, should be nice.

 

[RussianSensation]

Hey, LAMONTBURNS, you are like batmang ...

You recommend them a card from the list they have given you, and instead they go out and buy top of the line

Enjoy your cards guys. For now I am just gonna make sweet love to my gf while watching my Radeon 8500 hit 28.87 Frames at 1024x768 ohhhhhhh yesssssssss!!!! wow one of these days I am gonna have to shell out $$$ for an upgrade. Oh well there is no need for it, 1600x1200 4AA/6AF in Half-Life 2 it is for me .... not even breaking a sweat lol

 

[Schadenfroh]

5900 for 210ish bucks and o/c to ultra

 

[Cerb]

Of those you list, a 9600XT 128. But sticking with the 4200 is best for now.
...oh, and the 9500 Pro wouldn't be bad, but the 9600XTs are a fair bit cheaper and not much worse.
9600 Pro 256 < 9600 Pro 128 < 9600 XT 128 = 9500 Pro
The FX 5700 is in there somewhere, depending on the game.
The 9500 Pro has a 10% GPU power advantage, but slower memory (275*8/540 vs 500*4/600), and acts accordingly (a bit faster with AA/AF, slower in other cases, and a small OC of the 9600 XT will get you even with it)

 

[Rogodin2]

Good for you

One needs to splurge every once in a few moons.

I would have taking the 9600xt out of your picks.

but you already chose

good luck and don't forget to use the cat 4.1

rogo