real world difference between performance and budget vid cards

[dvdwmth]

 

[dvdwmth]

whoops.

Anyway, I currently have a first generation gforce card and I manage to run ghost recon with most of the bells and whistles without the game slowing down enough to notice. Unfortunately the fan on the card tanked and I have run into a few progs that just wont run on this card so its time for a replacement. Putting aside statistics (ive seen all the stuff on toms hardware and the like) has anyone actually used a budget card next to a perfomance oriented card running the same games and noticed a significant difference. If i were to put a 9600xt card in the machine would graphics really appear different when Im emersed in the action then if i was using a 9200 card. Is it just about frame rates or will i actually see different effects with a better card assuming that I have the video settings in the game set to best quality.

 

[DannyBoy]

With a better, faster card, you are also looking at better AA/AF, which will improve details and texture vastly.

Comparing a 9200 with a 9600xt is like comparing a race between an olympic gold medalyst & my 70 year old grandmother.

btw, welcome to the forums.

 

[andrewjtc]

Definitely.

When I upgraded from a Radeon 9100 to a Radeon 9600 Pro, I was actually able to run at higher resolutions (from 800x600 with low-medium details to 1024x768 with almost everything on plus 4xAA and 4xAF) with most of my games (KoTOR, POP, GTA:VC, etc).

 

[screw3d]

You would NEVER go back after having a taste of AA/AF!

 

[SSibalNom]

if GR is the only game you play... I don't know if youd really gain that much, my experience playing the rainbow six series (r6 original and takedown) has been after my 8500 it just doesnt change much, the 8500 ran everything max on TD and original r6, and when I changed to a 9800pro it really didnt look any different, ghost recon is probably a similiar engine and may be the same, however, every other game is a whole lot better.

 

[VIAN]

Each hardware supports certain effects. Geforce 256 supports DX7, or something to that stage. When using that card to play newer games with DX8.1 or DX9 effects, you won't see a difference because the card doesn't allow the effects to go past DX7, but with newer cards, you will see the effects. Newer cards also will get you higher frame rates and the ability to use AA and AF which the Geforce doesn't really support to the fullest extent. It's about time you upgraded.

 

[dvdwmth]

thanks for the replys. Im not a big gamer but I must see half life 2, so new card it will be. It seems that the lighting effects that directx 9 makes possible will be a great visual leap forward so Im going to pick up something that will enable those effects. Probably a radeon 9600pro.

 

[VIAN]

get the 9600 XT, it comes with a free copy of Half-life 2.