• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

RADEON 9800 PRO AGP card upgrade

H

hasitha

Junior Member
Hi
I am looking to upgrade my video card. What is best AGP card for my machine considering my current configuration? I am planning to buy PCI-Express later. But I can not afford whole system now. So I am looking for temporary solution for 1 yr- 2yrs. Thanks you in advance.



Windows XP Pro
AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Newcastle 1.8GHz Socket 754 Processor
connect3D RADEON 9800 PRO 128 Radeon 9800PRO 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)
CHAINTECH VNF3-250 Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250 ATX AMD Motherboard
SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series SP1614C 160GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150
DYNAPOWER USA ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply
 
Originally posted by: mushroom3
the x1950pro should last you but it will probably be bottlenecked by the CPU
Click to expand...

So what should I buy since x1950pro bottleneck my CPU. I am not planning to upgrade memory or CPU.
 
Next step down (disregarding less bang for the drakmar X1950GT and 7900GS) are X1650XT or 7600GT. Performance is roughly equivalent but the former was cheaper last I checked. It also is available with 512MB RAM. Goggle reviews and prices yerownself 😛
 
Originally posted by: Auric
Next step down (disregarding less bang for the drakmar X1950GT and 7900GS) are X1650XT or 7600GT. Performance is roughly equivalent but the former was cheaper last I checked. It also is available with 512MB RAM. Goggle reviews and prices yerownself 😛
Click to expand...

What?s performance of this card compare to 9800 Pro?
 
Originally posted by: mushroom3
thats the problem 😛 i dont think its worth the cost
Click to expand...


so no point of upgrading my pc? should I wait and get new system? i would be happy if I get 75% - 100% performance increase for around $100- 150.
 
I don't bother with benchmarks or measurements - but I have a P4 system, and I replaced the 9800 Pro with the X1650, and it breathed some new life into the old AGP slot. I do a lot of digital image processing, and that has become faster with better quality screen images.
 
Going from a 9800 Pro to a 6800GT which is very close to a 7600GT in performance resulted in just about double the gaming performance across the board on my old overclocked Athlon XP @ 2.4ghz so you'll see a large boost in framerates regardless of which card you go with, however theres a good chance that you would need to upgrade your power supply for the X1950XT or even the Pro depending on its +12v amp rating.

I'd suggest going with either a XFX 7900GS @ $209 or if you want to save a few bucks & sacrifice some performance, the EVGA 7800GS @ $179 before $20 MIR will provide a large boost in gaming performance too without killing your psu... the AGP version of the 7600GT is only slightly cheaper & isn't quite as fast so I wouldn't bother with it.

You should also keep an eye on the FS/FT forum & see if you can find a deal on an ATI X800XT or better yet an X850XT, either of which will keep right up with the 7800GS in most games & if you get lucky can be had for +/- $100 ... slightly less desirable would be an Nvidia 6800GT/GS or Ultra.
 
I upgraded from a 9700Pro to an X850 about a year back, made a big difference in gaming. On a 3.0c system, running at 1920x1080. Still, I foresee an upgrade in MoBo/memory/video sometime this year.
 
Originally posted by: hasitha
Originally posted by: mushroom3
thats the problem 😛 i dont think its worth the cost
Click to expand...


so no point of upgrading my pc? should I wait and get new system? i would be happy if I get 75% - 100% performance increase for around $100- 150.
Click to expand...

X1950GT, I think that card is probably the closest to what you want close to your price range.
 
I just went throught the same deal. I went with the 1650xt 256 GDDR3. I figured that this card and my processor will probably be neck and neck (p4 3.0, 1.5gb ram). I think anything higher, your processor will be bottlenecking it and you wont see much of a performance increase. I'll also note that I spent the $130 for this AGP card b/c I'm not wanting to do a full blown upgrade for another year or two. That being said, if I needed the performance of a higher end card (8800, 1950 etc) I would of just gone ahead and redid the whole deal.
 
Both CPU and Power supply may bottleneck me depend on videocard. Now main concern is power unit 430W. What cards I shouldn?t buy? How to find power reading on different cards?. Newegg does not give power requirements on their video cards. Once I remove my 9800 Pro I believe I can add up to 150W worth video cards. Thank you again for your input. Specially BladeVenom , Captante.
 
Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Originally posted by: hasitha
Originally posted by: mushroom3
thats the problem 😛 i dont think its worth the cost
Click to expand...


so no point of upgrading my pc? should I wait and get new system? i would be happy if I get 75% - 100% performance increase for around $100- 150.
Click to expand...

X1950GT, I think that card is probably the closest to what you want close to your price range.
Click to expand...


Actually I forgot about this one & it might actually be the best bet for you.
 
X1950GT may indeed be good given sufficient power. I disregarded it since the price was too close to the X1950Pro last I checked but now it doesn't look so bad. Still, it must be carefully considered versus an X1650XT on price/performance and the 512MB option allowing higher quality modes and the pre-emption of performance degradation given 1GB system RAM.

As to P4 3.0 matching with this class of GPU, if these X1000 series cards scale like the 7600GT, then they still need more CPU power to reach their potential. 3DM05 benches are 5800 @ 3.0 and 6500 @ 3.6. But that's apparently the limit because even an EE @ 3.8 offers no improvement (at least in that benchmark).

No idea how that translates to the A64 in question.
 
The X1950GT is considerably faster then the X1650XT especially in newer games & with AA/AF cranked up ... the 512mb option for the X1650XT isn't worth the extra money on that level GPU because it really isn't powerful enough to push games at resolutions where the extra RAM helps performance.
 
My card came in today. I'm not big on benchmarking and what not, but, I'll compare it on HL2 w/ before and after's. If you really really want benchmarking, I'll go ahead and download and run one.

Edit: I'm replacing my 9800pro 128mb w/ x1650xt 256mb.

System: P4 3.0, 1.5gb pc3200 ram, 9800pro, Asus p4p8000pe (I believe).
 
At current prices it ain't worth it but 512MB would be useful. Adequate RAM capacity does not improve performance it prevents degradation from paging and at the same time allows for higher quality settings (textures). This class of card can manage 1280x960 with some AA/AF no problemo. 1GB + 256MB is okay but 512MB would be ideal.

But again, if the prices are the same between the two 256MB cards then there is no point even considering the lower performance XT. Recently there were rebates on the HIS models, at least, making them cheaper than the equivalent 7600GT's (and as said, X1950GT's were recently much higher than both).

Now it has reversed so the 7600GT is cheaper at only $150 and the X1650XT and X1950GT are $166 shipped. 7900GS seems overpriced at $190 for the lower spec RAM version.

So, revised recommendations should prolly be 7600GT for lowest cost and no power issue (indeed, lower requirements than 9800) versus the X1950GT at marginally higher cost but a significant performance increase if that "Dynapower" won't balk and commit murder suicide.
 
Originally posted by: goatjc
My card came in today. I'm not big on benchmarking and what not, but, I'll compare it on HL2 w/ before and after's. If you really really want benchmarking, I'll go ahead and download and run one.

Edit: I'm replacing my 9800pro 128mb w/ x1650xt 256mb.

System: P4 3.0, 1.5gb pc3200 ram, 9800pro, Asus p4p8000pe (I believe).
Click to expand...

Yeah pls put out some benchmarks. I am leaning towards x1950GT. But I worry about PSU. Its 430W.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top