radeon 9500 non-pro (128 mb) vs geforce 4200 (128 mb) straight up

[Applebutter]

i know the radeon 9500 pro competes somewhere between the 4400 and the 4600 and even better when aa/af are enabled and some 9500s can be modded to perform like 9700s but does anyone have a good link that compares the 9500 np and 4200 and maybe some other cards such as the 9500 pro?

opinions is the 9500np worth the price if the mod to 9700 doesn't work?

 

[Creig]

Koolance PC2-C Watercooled case
Epox 8K5A3+
T-Bred A 1800+
512mb Crucial PC2100
ATI Radeon 9500 w/Infineon 3.3ns

R300
215R8ABGA13F
G25485.1
0243AA
TAIWAN

1) Stock processor @ 1.53 GHz/stock card.... @ 275/540 =.. 9641 3DMarks
2) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/stock card.... @ 275/540 = 10627 3DMarks
3) Stock processor @ 1.53 GHz/9700 update @ 275/540 = 11016 3DMarks
4) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/9700 update @ 275/540 = 12716 3DMarks
5) O/C processor... @ 1.83 GHz/9700 update @ 325/600 = 13329 3DMarks
6) O/C processor... @ 2.00 Ghz/9700 update @ 380/600 = 14308 3DMarks

Fillrate 1) 927.9 single/1103.5 multi
Fillrate 2) 928.0 single/1103.4 multi
Fillrate 3) 1538.0 single/2163.4 multi
Fillrate 4) 1548.0 single/2173.5 multi
Fillrate 5) 1749.1 single/2538.2 multi
Fillrate 6) 1839.6 single/2938.2 multi

 

[Creig]

9641 3DMarks for a 1.53GHz AMD and 10627 3Dmarks for a 1.83GHz AMD seems worth $160, doesn't it? And that doesn't take into account the fact that you can overclock the core and memory of the 9500 without doing the Soft9700 mod which will push it even higher.

 

[hollowman]

I like my 9500 better than Ti4200. It just look so much better 2D,3D, and even the v-out. =)

As for the 3D performance, I would think Ti4200 has slight edge. But I wouldn't trade my card for Ti4200. (Well... mine works just fine with mod so.. )


<--- running my 9500 @ 9700 Softmod OCed (370/305)

 

[Killrose]

The 9500 non-Pro looses, But.. with 4xFSAA and 8XAnisio wins big time.
Here

 

[AnAndAustin]

Yeah considering the Rad9500 tends to cost roughly 50% more than the GF4TI4200, if the mod doesn't work (about a 50% chance IF you have a 9500_128MB on 9700 PCB) you are no better off other than slight increases in image quality, TVout, AA, AF and DX9 (whenever that becomes in any way useful). With both cards stock you will be just below a 4200, maxing out AA & AF will get you in front (just) but a 4200 runs VERY efficently with medium AA & AF, something many reviewers seem to forget to include. Apparently if you don't already have a 9500_128MB based on a 9700 PCB your chances of finding one is very slim as they are now built on their own PCB just as the 9500PRO is. If you don't mind picking a straw try a Rad9500 but I'd suggest you play it safe and either get a 4200 for sheer value and medium AA & AF, a Rad8500/9100/9000PRO for great value and full AF but no AA OR a Rad9500PRO or 9700 which offer all the benefits of Rad9500 but without any of the risks ... they are great o/c'ers too!

 

[EdipisReks]

i would just spend the $20 and get a 9500 Pro.

 

[hollowman]

Originally posted by: EdipisReks
i would just spend the $20 and get a 9500 Pro.

i too would like to spend $20 and get a 9500 pro.

 

[Applebutter]

thx guys i appreciate your input....probably gonna go with the 9500 pro when the price comes down a bit or if i can find a good deal somewhere soon

 

[Mingon]

I have just gone back to my ti4200 from a radeon non pro (both 128mb). The ti4200 was quicker @stock speeds but the radeon showed big gains by just overclocking the core as it is relatively fill rate limited. The 2d output of both cards was brillant and there was no difference in 2d output. The reason I changed back was that the non - overclocked nvdia was quicker, but most importantly I use the card for 3d modelling in autocad - and the 9500 non pro had terrible performance.

 

[Creig]

Mingon, did you apply the Soft9700 patch to your non-pro? If you didn't then you were really missing out on your 9500's possible performance level. Fillrates nearly double after the patch is applied. And did you know that same guy who brought us the Soft9700 patch is also working on producing a FireGL patch? Now THAT would speed up your modeling times.

 

[Mingon]

Mingon, did you apply the Soft9700 patch to your non-pro? If you didn't then you were really missing out on your 9500's possible performance level. Fillrates nearly double after the patch is applied. And did you know that same guy who brought us the Soft9700 patch is also working on producing a FireGL patch? Now THAT would speed up your modeling times.

I did and the card produced artifacts - bad checkerboard. What was strange was that the checkerboard did not occur in Autocad, but the performance was still less than the ti4200 so as an all rounder the ti4200 got the vote.

 

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by: hollowman

Originally posted by: EdipisReks
i would just spend the $20 and get a 9500 Pro.

i too would like to spend $20 and get a 9500 pro.

you knew what i meant! jerk!

 

[fluxquantum]

Originally posted by: AnAndAustin
Yeah considering the Rad9500 tends to cost roughly 50% more than the GF4TI4200, if the mod doesn't work (about a 50% chance IF you have a 9500_128MB on 9700 PCB) you are no better off other than slight increases in image quality, TVout, AA, AF and DX9 (whenever that becomes in any way useful). With both cards stock you will be just below a 4200, maxing out AA & AF will get you in front (just) but a 4200 runs VERY efficently with medium AA & AF, something many reviewers seem to forget to include. Apparently if you don't already have a 9500_128MB based on a 9700 PCB your chances of finding one is very slim as they are now built on their own PCB just as the 9500PRO is. If you don't mind picking a straw try a Rad9500 but I'd suggest you play it safe and either get a 4200 for sheer value and medium AA & AF, a Rad8500/9100/9000PRO for great value and full AF but no AA OR a Rad9500PRO or 9700 which offer all the benefits of Rad9500 but without any of the risks ... they are great o/c'ers too!

good advice. i have been really confused about which card to buy.