Should I bother with a 5950?

[dwcal]

Yeah, the 5950 *was* the top of the line of the FX series, but now it only matches a midrange 6600 (you can get a 6600 256MB for about $175, don't know about 6600GT). It's strange people are paying that much on ebay. They must not have gotten the news about the 6600/6800. That's always an option if I buy it. I'm not planning to spend $250. Not a hardcore gamer and always bought midrange cards before.

 

[VIAN]

If you were able to speak with the hundred thousand plus people who bought FX5900xx, I'm sure you will find that they were very happy campers with the exception of FarCry. I was perfectly happy with all my 5900's. Had 3 of them. 2 non ultra's and one Ultra. 5900's offered great performance despite it's lacking PS2.0 power. And I have to say, after the patches for FarCry came out, my performance improved in both framerate and IQ.

Now don't interepret this as me saying they were better than the R3xx series. I am not. Just want that on record. 5600's were mediocre at best and 5200's just blew.

OK, don't get your panties in a twist. I also bought one.

I was a little harsh though. So, I will retract that statement.

For that price the 5950 is a really good deal.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: VIAN

If you were able to speak with the hundred thousand plus people who bought FX5900xx, I'm sure you will find that they were very happy campers with the exception of FarCry. I was perfectly happy with all my 5900's. Had 3 of them. 2 non ultra's and one Ultra. 5900's offered great performance despite it's lacking PS2.0 power. And I have to say, after the patches for FarCry came out, my performance improved in both framerate and IQ.

Now don't interepret this as me saying they were better than the R3xx series. I am not. Just want that on record. 5600's were mediocre at best and 5200's just blew.

OK, don't get your panties in a twist. I also bought one.

I was a little harsh though. So, I will retract that statement.

For that price the 5950 is a really good deal.

:::::slowly untwists panties::::::

 

[Machine350]

Originally posted by: febuld
I think you are better off waiting the month or so until the 6600 comes out. The 6600 should be around 160 or 170, so if you're willing to pay the extra ten or twenty dollars, you can have a more future-proof card then the 5950. Also, you should look into ATI x700 and see how that's priced come november... But all of this depends on what you plan on using your computer for...

:thumbsup:

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Machine350

Originally posted by: febuld
I think you are better off waiting the month or so until the 6600 comes out. The 6600 should be around 160 or 170, so if you're willing to pay the extra ten or twenty dollars, you can have a more future-proof card then the 5950. Also, you should look into ATI x700 and see how that's priced come november... But all of this depends on what you plan on using your computer for...

:thumbsup:

But does the 6800vanilla outperform a 5950? I know the GT definately does.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Machine350

Originally posted by: febuld
I think you are better off waiting the month or so until the 6600 comes out. The 6600 should be around 160 or 170, so if you're willing to pay the extra ten or twenty dollars, you can have a more future-proof card then the 5950. Also, you should look into ATI x700 and see how that's priced come november... But all of this depends on what you plan on using your computer for...

:thumbsup:

But does the 6800vanilla outperform a 5950? I know the GT definately does.

The 6800vanilla outperforms the 5950.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Rollo
I like this:

Seeing as how almost all games are now DX9, that might be a good idea

All games are now DX9? LOL- are there 10 games that use DX9 features out yet?

Okay, let me rephrase: almost all new games are using DX9. Tell me how you would play Far Cry/D3/SW:BG/etc @ high res w/a 5950? Ass

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Machine350

Originally posted by: febuld
I think you are better off waiting the month or so until the 6600 comes out. The 6600 should be around 160 or 170, so if you're willing to pay the extra ten or twenty dollars, you can have a more future-proof card then the 5950. Also, you should look into ATI x700 and see how that's priced come november... But all of this depends on what you plan on using your computer for...

:thumbsup:

But does the 6800vanilla outperform a 5950? I know the GT definately does.

The 6800vanilla outperforms the 5950.

DAMN DAMN DAMN!!! I meant 6600vanilla.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Rollo
I like this:

Seeing as how almost all games are now DX9, that might be a good idea

All games are now DX9? LOL- are there 10 games that use DX9 features out yet?

Okay, let me rephrase: almost all new games are using DX9. Tell me how you would play Far Cry/D3/SW:BG/etc @ high res w/a 5950? Ass

Allow me to redirect: How would you play Far Cry/D3/HL2 at high res with a 9800Pro? Ass- that card is far too feeble by todays standards for high res gaming on modern games.

Your stuck at 10X7, 12X10 best on all cards in this price range anyway for new and upcoming games. (although calling the year + late HL2 "new" is something like calling the Beatles a "new" rock group) The only difference is in the couple extra effects you can see in some games on the 9800Pro. Woot.

Both cards are way behind the curve and will only get to be more so as time goes by.

BTW- I hadn't realized almost all new games were using DX9/PS2 effects. Could you list 5 that have come out in the last 4 months that do?

 

[lordtyranus]

I would not buy a 5xxx card at this time, nor a 6800 card until this PVP issue is resolved. I'm assuming you want this card for a year or 2, and you'll appreciate the 2-3x faster DX9 effects provided by a 9800/6600 card.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

A 5950 for $150 is a good deal particularly considering he wants the 'nix driver support nV offers and it's not just gaming. The 9800p is a better card no doubt about it, but the linux factor evens things out for the OP it seems.

As to naming a bunch of titles with new shaders, I certainly can't! However, just when I thought it was safe to say my rig is golden for quite awhile, I buy KOTOR, set it to 12x10 no AA/AF and see it pimp slap my A64@2.4ghz 6800GT@431/1.1ghz 1GB 3200DDR 36gb Raptor system around like I was holding back money! It's mostly smooth but when there's exploding droids and some throwdown together it sometimes falls to 18-20fps and gets choppy. I googled benchies and saw that the minimum fps I was getting was normal, I guess no one makes a fuss about it because it's 3rd person?

 

[PrayForDeath]

That's a good price for the card.

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
As to naming a bunch of titles with new shaders, I certainly can't! However, just when I thought it was safe to say my rig is golden for quite awhile, I buy KOTOR, set it to 12x10 no AA/AF and see it pimp slap my A64@2.4ghz 6800GT@431/1.1ghz 1GB 3200DDR 36gb Raptor system around like I was holding back money! It's mostly smooth but when there's exploding droids and some throwdown together it sometimes falls to 18-20fps and gets choppy. I googled benchies and saw that the minimum fps I was getting was normal, I guess no one makes a fuss about it because it's 3rd person?

Yeah, that game is really choppy, that's because of coding. But I don't care cuz it's 3rd person just like what you said, I actually finished the game on a GF4 MX440, imagine!! Great game by the way, the best RPG I've ever played.

 

[Cawchy87]

~ 9700pro proformance. If you don't want the hassle of buying online, then local is always nice. If you plan to play half life 2 at all i wouldn't get it.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
~ 9700pro proformance. If you don't want the hassle of buying online, then local is always nice. If you plan to play half life 2 at all i wouldn't get it.

I planned to play HL2....last September.....last Christmas....this Spring.....this September....

Someday I may actually play it!

 

[LocutusX]

Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
That's a good price for the card.

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
As to naming a bunch of titles with new shaders, I certainly can't! However, just when I thought it was safe to say my rig is golden for quite awhile, I buy KOTOR, set it to 12x10 no AA/AF and see it pimp slap my A64@2.4ghz 6800GT@431/1.1ghz 1GB 3200DDR 36gb Raptor system around like I was holding back money! It's mostly smooth but when there's exploding droids and some throwdown together it sometimes falls to 18-20fps and gets choppy. I googled benchies and saw that the minimum fps I was getting was normal, I guess no one makes a fuss about it because it's 3rd person?

Yeah, that game is really choppy, that's because of coding. But I don't care cuz it's 3rd person just like what you said, I actually finished the game on a GF4 MX440, imagine!! Great game by the way, the best RPG I've ever played.

That's because it uses the antiquated Aurora engine developed for Neverwinter Nights in 2002... hopefully NWN2 and KOTOR2 will use a faster "version 2.0" of that engine. I think NWN2 probably will, since they are porting that from OGL to Direct3D.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
That's a good price for the card.

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
As to naming a bunch of titles with new shaders, I certainly can't! However, just when I thought it was safe to say my rig is golden for quite awhile, I buy KOTOR, set it to 12x10 no AA/AF and see it pimp slap my A64@2.4ghz 6800GT@431/1.1ghz 1GB 3200DDR 36gb Raptor system around like I was holding back money! It's mostly smooth but when there's exploding droids and some throwdown together it sometimes falls to 18-20fps and gets choppy. I googled benchies and saw that the minimum fps I was getting was normal, I guess no one makes a fuss about it because it's 3rd person?

Yeah, that game is really choppy, that's because of coding. But I don't care cuz it's 3rd person just like what you said, I actually finished the game on a GF4 MX440, imagine!! Great game by the way, the best RPG I've ever played.

I agree, this is by far the most enjoyable of the few RPG games I've tried. I'm actually starting to get into the genre thanks to it.

That's interesting that the coding is the problem, I wasn't certain what was holding it up. Even Halo runs like butter on my rig despite being badly ported to PC so I wasn't certain what the cause of the slowdown was. Thanks for the info gentlemen :beer: