Suggestion for a friend

[Hermskii]

I have a buddy who is actively searching for a new video card. His system is a Pentium IV 1.8ghz on a DirectX 8 mobo which supports AGP 4X 2.0 . His current video card is one of those TNT2 M64 video cards that really has no power at all. He only expects to play Unreal Tournament with this card for now and expects to buy a fully upgraded system in just over a year. This is just a card to get him into some eye candy while he waits to buy his next system. This card will not transfer into his next system.

I'm not trying to find him the best card ever. I'm trying to find him the best card that his current system can fully utilize. An example card that I would be willing to suggest to him would be the AGP 4X only version of a GeForce 4 t14200 128mb ddr. It is only DirectX8 capable and only has AGP 4X which would match up with his system great!

I have mentioned to him that the ATI 9700 Pro 128mb was a smoking card back then and blew every Nvidia GeForce 4 series card out of the water to the best of my memory. He has found a 256mb 9700 pro for even cheaper than the 128mb version.

Would I dare suggest to him one of these 6800GT AGP cards? It seems like overkill and they would not be able to run at full speed since the mobo only supports AGP 4X and the mobo only supports DirectX 8.

So I know several of you out there had at least one version of one of these two cards in your past. What would you suggest and please be very very specific. Feel free to rant on about your opinion too!

Thank you all very much for your time. BTW, he wants to order this card no later this Thursday.

 

[Hermskii]

Yo! Hurry up with the answers here! Thanks. Bump!

 

[DeathReborn]

A 6600GT would do fine for him. 6800GT is overkill really unless he's talking of UT 2007 in which case the 6800GT should be fine for lower res.

 

[lavaheadache]

a directx8 mobo? clarify. also... 9700 ftw

 

[TanisHalfElven]

i think he means the igp is directx 8

anyway if your really on a budget and don't mind low res than get a 6200. its pretty much able to play quake 4 at high setting and low res so your friend would be happy. but do upgrade your ram to 1 GB

 

[Hermskii]

Thanks all. Now teach me something here. DirectX: I know video cards advertise whether they are DirectX 8 or 9. I thought this was true of mobos as well. I personally have a GeForce4 ti4200 128mb. It is AGPX4 and DirectX8 only. There was a later version of it that was AGP 8X and DirectX 9. My mobo specifies that it is DirectX 8 compatable.

Is it actually only the video card that should be worried about as far as what level of DirectX it is? Teach me. Tell me. I'll listen. I'll learn. I know AGP 8X is backward compatable. I know DirectX 9 is backward compatable. What am I losing by putting a DirectX 8 video card in a DirectX 9 compatable mobo. You know, that kind of stuff is still questionable to me. Thanks.

 

[aatf510]

A AGP 8x card is usually backward compatible meaning it can be used in a mobo with a AGP4x slot.
A mobo is never DirectX compatible.
A GeForce4 ti is a DirectX 8 video card even though it's the newest version what so ever.
A 9700Pro is a DirectX 9.0b video card supporting shader model 2.0
A 6800 is a DirectX 9.0c video card supporting shader model 3.0

 

[DeathReborn]

Originally posted by: toattett
A AGP 8x card is usually backward compatible meaning it can be used in a mobo with a AGP4x slot.
A mobo is never DirectX compatible.
A GeForce4 ti is a DirectX 8 video card even though it's the newest version what so ever.
A 9700Pro is a DirectX 9.0b video card supporting shader model 2.0
A 6800 is a DirectX 9.0c video card supporting shader model 3.0

All that is true except the Mobo.

Motherboards with Onboard Graphics will list the DirectX version of the IGP but it can still use a different DirectX Video Card. His TNT2 M64 is a DirectX 6 Graphics Card. A FX5200 is about 4x as powerful & a 6200 about 6-7x as powerful.

You pointed out the 9700Pro, this site shows you how vastly better the 9700Pro is: http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=207&card2=24

Also to expand on it:

ATI Xxxx (X300, X550, X600, X700 etc) are DirectX 9.0c video card supporting shader model 2.0b.

 

[Munky]

Basically, just get a decent agp card for about $100. Something like a geforce 6600 or 6600gt or a radeon 9800pro is good for that money.

 

[Hermskii]

Thanks all. The final decision was made and he bought the card and even got it delivered already. The final choice was the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb. Thank you all for your input. You were very helpful!