Recommendations for AMD Athlon 64 3000+?

[grabbingsand]

Afternoon, gentlemen. Here is the setup:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Chaintech VNF3-250
Mushkin 512mb DDR400 3200

I am not going to confess my current video card because I've seen what happens to others who've done so. All you need to know is that I recognize my misguided sin and I am trying to make amends through judicious upgrade. Amen.

My price range is $125 to $170. I know the new cards are shipping and I know prices will soon be dropping, but I'd like to see your recommendations on the product and prices that are out right now. And yes, I will be doubling the memory in another month or so.

Currently on the docket for consideration are these:

GIGABYTE ATI RADEON 9600 PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit - I'm pretty sure that I will need a card at least as good as the 9600 Pro, and Gigabyte seems to have a decent product.

SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600XT Video Card, 256MB DDR, 128-bit - I hear nothing but good about Sapphire's ATI-based cards. Will the card even use all 256mb? Also, I believe this retail box comes with a HalfLife 2 coupon, though I can't quite be sure.

BFG GeForce FX 5700 ULTRA Video Card, 128MB GDDR2, 128-bit - I'm not completely sold on the superiority of ATI, so what do we think about the 5700 Ultra? And what about the 475/900 in the specs?

What will I do with this new card? Well, I'll probably be playing Splinter Cell, City of Heroes, UT2K4, FarCry, Thief 3, KOTOR ... and someday, when they're released, I would like to enjoy HL2 and D3.

Gentlemen ... start your opinions!

 

[Steg55]

It has to be the 5700 Ultra over either of the ATi cards - it has that much more power - especially when you come to add AA/AF - 900Mhz (overclock to 1Ghz) memory cannot be argued with.
However, for little more than the 5700 you can get a 5900XT which will blow everything on your list out of the water due to its 256-bit Memory bus and 4x2 pipeline configuration - and they overclock like a dream.

So thats my recommendation - a 5900XT

Steg

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Steg55
It has to be the 5700 Ultra over either of the ATi cards - it has that much more power - especially when you come to add AA/AF - 900Mhz (overclock to 1Ghz) memory cannot be argued with.
However, for little more than the 5700 you can get a 5900XT which will blow everything on your list out of the water due to its 256-bit Memory bus and 4x2 pipeline configuration - and they overclock like a dream.

So thats my recommendation - a 5900XT

Steg

what he said, or a 9800 pro for 190ish

 

[Delorian]

Hey, while in that price range I'd say go for a 9800 SE. It has about the same performance as the 9600 XT in the same price range and has an 80% or so chance of being softmodded (through omega or other 3rd party drivers) to a 9800 Pro. Much better value in my opinion. I just got one myself and it softmodded just fine so I in turn got a NEW 9800 pro for $152.This powercolor one
This is the one that is 256-bit and clocked the same as the pro, all you have to do is unlock the other 4 pipes (hoping that they work). Good luck with any decision you make.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: Delorian
Hey, while in that price range I'd say go for a 9800 SE. It has about the same performance as the 9600 XT in the same price range and has an 80% or so chance of being softmodded (through omega or other 3rd party drivers) to a 9800 Pro. Much better value in my opinion. I just got one myself and it softmodded just fine so I in turn got a NEW 9800 pro for $152.This powercolor one
This is the one that is 256-bit and clocked the same as the pro, all you have to do is unlock the other 4 pipes (hoping that they work). Good luck with any decision you make.

I agree. Go with this one.