suggest a video card

stickybytes

Golden Member
Sep 3, 2003
1,043
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0
im stuck in a dilema. i definetely want to buy a completely new system around the new years/febraury. it will most likely be a nforce4/pci-express build so i will have no agp slot.
my current specs

1.6ghz p4
radeon 9000
512mb pc2100

now heres my problem. i want to play hl2 and d3. i know for certain the 9000 won't handle d3 or hl2. i don't know which video card to get. i don't want to spend much money on one because i will be upgrading to pci-e in a few motnhs so i will not be spending much for this card. my monitor's max res is 1024x768 anyways so i can't even take advantage of a stellar video card. so the question is what video card to get?
 

Dahak

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2000
3,752
25
91
some places you can even get a 9800pro for the same price as the 9600xt. I know just a while back a chain up here in canada had the 9800pro 329 - 30 mail in rebate= 299 same price as 9600xt retail no mailins
 

stickybytes

Golden Member
Sep 3, 2003
1,043
0
0
thanks guys for the suggestions. i think the 100-150 mark is the sweet spot.

will a 9600pro be able to run hl2 and d3 at 1024x768 with most of the high settings on without struggling?

also i was thinking along the lines of a geforce4 or fx card too. any suggestions from nvidia given my situation?

 

effee

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2004
1,797
0
0
Originally posted by: stickybytes
thanks guys for the suggestions. i think the 100-150 mark is the sweet spot.

will a 9600pro be able to run hl2 and d3 at 1024x768 with most of the high settings on without struggling?

also i was thinking along the lines of a geforce4 or fx card too. any suggestions from nvidia given my situation?

It WILL struggle. My 9800 Pro struggles with D3 on high settings, and I'm on a A64 3200+ with 1 gig ram.

If you really want good performance, get the 6800GT
 

JSt0rm

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
27,399
3,947
126
but with that 1.6 p4 he will have a bottle neck right there. He needs a new box. A 6800GT will be asleep waiting for that cpu to keep up.
 

gururu

Platinum Member
Jul 16, 2002
2,402
0
0
is that a 1.6A? If so, you can take it easily to 2.2-2.4GHz. Couple that with a used 9700pro and you are golden for the next six months. I passed D3 on a 1.6A@2.3GHz and a 9700pro. played just great with pretty good settings.
 

TStep

Platinum Member
Feb 16, 2003
2,460
10
81
Your box will bottleneck a great card. If you are going PCIe shortly, I wouldn't buy the 6800 agp.

You should be able to dump the 9100 for around $50 and the 1.6 for $50. That should give you $200-$250 to spend. For 10x7 I would not go any lower than 9700 pro or 9800. With a good eye, you can pick one up in the $125-$140 and a 2.53-2.8ish 533 based P4 (if your mobo can handle it) for a little less than $100. Or try OCing that 1.6 a little after you get a 9700-9800 and see if that will hold you over.

I think this would be the least disruptive temp upgrade route.
 

Cawchy87

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2004
5,104
2
81
140 off of ebay?

why not get a 9700pro for 120 off of the fs/ft forums?

150 can get you a 9800 pro there.
 

IamTHEsnake

Senior member
Feb 4, 2004
334
0
0
Originally posted by: stickybytes
thanks guys for the suggestions. i think the 100-150 mark is the sweet spot.

will a 9600pro be able to run hl2 and d3 at 1024x768 with most of the high settings on without struggling?

also i was thinking along the lines of a geforce4 or fx card too. any suggestions from nvidia given my situation?


You can't be cheap on video cards these days. If you want to play the latest and greatest you'll need to invest. At the very least get an x800se or a 6800 Non-ultra.

 

Adn4n

Golden Member
Aug 6, 2004
1,043
0
0
Originally posted by: effee
Originally posted by: stickybytes
thanks guys for the suggestions. i think the 100-150 mark is the sweet spot.

will a 9600pro be able to run hl2 and d3 at 1024x768 with most of the high settings on without struggling?

also i was thinking along the lines of a geforce4 or fx card too. any suggestions from nvidia given my situation?

It WILL struggle. My 9800 Pro struggles with D3 on high settings, and I'm on a A64 3200+ with 1 gig ram.

If you really want good performance, get the 6800GT

My 9800Pro at XT speeds has no problems in Doom 3 whatsoever. Check your drivers.