Replace my 8500LE/128mb?

[fwtong]

In a few weeks, I'm moving up from a T-Bird 900 to an XP2400. I was wondering if it's worthwhile to upgrade my video card as well, or wait until the next generation of video cards. I have a Sapphire 8500LE/128mb. I'm not an avid video game player, but I do tend to play a lot of games over Winter, Spring and Summer break. As a result, if I do need to upgrade my card, I'm not looking to break the bank on it.

 

[modedepe]

You'll probably need to spend around $200 to get a worthwhile upgrade. If you don't want to spend that much, just stick with your current card. For many games a 8500 still isn't that bad. What games do you play usually?

 

[fwtong]

I don't want to spend $200, that could be better used for next semester's books. I am looking to get HL2, Deus Ex 2 and maybe Doom 3 (not that big of a Doom fan). Currently, I'm playing stuff like GTA: Vice City, Warcraft 3, and other games that have similar system requirements.

 

[CraigRT]

I'd say with an upgraded CPU, the 8500 will work just fine.. keep the cash, IMO.

 

[Sandan]

I have the xp2400+ and an 8500le overclocked to 8500 proper. I am not having any problems with games I play and I play a lot of the newer ones. I was considering a video card upgrade but have decided against it right now. An upgrade would be needed for dx9 games but there not really out yet. And benchmarks for cards even up to the 9800 are not looking good on dx9 games. So, my card plays any game around just fine and when dx9 games are on the market there will be better cards out to handle them.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Sandan
I have the xp2400+ and an 8500le overclocked to 8500 proper. I am not having any problems with games I play and I play a lot of the newer ones. I was considering a video card upgrade but have decided against it right now. An upgrade would be needed for dx9 games but there not really out yet. And benchmarks for cards even up to the 9800 are not looking good on dx9 games. So, my card plays any game around just fine and when dx9 games are on the market there will be better cards out to handle them.

so in other words, keep your 8500

 

[Brian48]

Yeah, a R8500 is still a fine card. The only game out there that doesn't play fast with it is probably Halo, but then again I just think that's a bad port. Everything else runs just great. Even the Doom3 Alpha is playable so long as you keep the res to 800x600 with medium textures.

screenshot #1 w/R8500

 

[dguy6789]

if you want a worth while upgrade, spend $150 and get a radeon 9600 pro, that will play half life 2 and doom 3 fine at highest settings, and should do well in future games. The 8500 is ok, but i couldnt stand the speed of it in some of my games, so i got a 9600 pro.

 

[sandorski]

Another vote for the 9600 Pro.

That said, your 8500 will get a decent boost with that cpu upgrade. I noticed an improvement going from an XP 1700-->XP 2800.

 

[fwtong]

Thanks! I think I'll probably go get a 9600Pro. Since I plan on getting HL2, I look at it as getting HL2 and the 9600 Pro for about $150 minus whatever I can get for my 8500LE.

But, I probably will wait until DX9 games come out first... No point in getting it now.

 

[clicknext]

Just so you know, the 9600Pro does NOT come with HL2. I just went from 8500LE128MB to AIW9600Pro the other day and I think it was a worthwhile upgrade, especially because after you take off price of HL2 (which IS included with the AIW), it's the same as 9600Pro.

 

[fwtong]

Originally posted by: clicknext
Just so you know, the 9600Pro does NOT come with HL2. I just went from 8500LE128MB to AIW9600Pro the other day and I think it was a worthwhile upgrade, especially because after you take off price of HL2 (which IS included with the AIW), it's the same as 9600Pro.

I initially thought that the 9600Pro qualified, but I guess ATI changed or clarified it. Since HL2 doesn't come with the 9600Pro, I'll probably stick with my 8500.

 

[VIAN]

Keep it. Buy next gen.