Suggestions for gaming system limited by standard low tv resolution

blackrain

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2005
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I don't know when I am going to be able to get an HDTV. I would imagine for at least the next year I am stuck with my conventional tv...and conventional tv resolution for my gaming system. I see a lot of threads about 2GB ram needed for BF2 and the newer games. Obviously I am not going to need that. I am content with playing at lower resolutions.

FOR NOW, what is the cheapest video and memory I could get away with so that i can actually play all the latest games (including BF2) and upcoming games at low tv resolutions. Obviously, I don't want to spend a lot now if in a year I get an HDTV and then need to upgrade.

I am aware of this thread which seems to suggest ati over nividia for tv gaming:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1788401&enterthread=y

Can you get away with playing BF2 with a 9600 pro and 512mb memory at low settings? I just want to get my gaming system up and running. Right now its down because I haven't decided what ram to get and my video card is a geforce 3.

My specs:
abit vt7 mobo
2.6ghz northwood
Maxtor SATA HD
16x DVDrom
Geforce 3 (soon to be replaced)


 

F1shF4t

Golden Member
Oct 18, 2005
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For low res gaming u should be easily able to get away with a 6600gt or even a standard 6600. I dont know about the prices where u live but here a 6600 is very cheap and costs as much as the limited numbers of 9600pros u can find.

Edit: the 6600 should nearly twice as fast as a 9600pro, considering my 6200 64bit with a considerable overclock on memory bests a fx5700 in most things.
 

blackrain

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2005
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I don't see a plain old 6600 cheaper than $99 on newegg. By the way, I am stuck with agp with that board. How would a 6200 do?
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,757
600
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Last time I checked into it the 6600 was a bad buy unless you needed pci-e. The 9800pros were a little bit cheaper and performed as well or better.
 

blackrain

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2005
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The 9800 pro also seems super expensive...more expensive than 6600GT's

Remember, i'm just interesting in playing at low settings....what can I get by with for cheap right now?
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
You could probably get a used 9800 Pro or 9600XT, although the 9800 will be much faster. BF2 pretty much requires 1GB+ RAM, I wouldn't skimp.
 

RaiderJ

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
7,582
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My brother is using a 9700 Pro with somewhat newer games without issue, so I imagine a 9800 would work fine for many things.
 

blackrain

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2005
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I'm really confused. I just went on pricegrabber and the cheapest 9800 pro I see is $109

For that price I could get a 6800GT...it just seems like this is overkill for low settings on a conventional tv.

Is it pretty much the consensus that you can't be budget conscious these days to play the latest games, even if you are just playing at low settings.

In passing I just did a google search for "BF2" and "9600 pro" and did find some people saying their 9600 pro plays BF2 fine at low settings.
http://forums.gamespace.net.au/archive/index.php/t-4665.html

But I am not just worried about BF2...i'm worried about the next generation games in general. I'm not interested in buying a 9600 to just play BF2...i'm interested in getting to play tomorrow's games as well (at low settings).
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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Originally posted by: blackrain
I'm really confused. I just went on pricegrabber and the cheapest 9800 pro I see is $109

For that price I could get a 6800GT...it just seems like this is overkill for low settings on a conventional tv.

Is it pretty much the consensus that you can't be budget conscious these days to play the latest games, even if you are just playing at low settings.

In passing I just did a google search for "BF2" and "9600 pro" and did find some people saying their 9600 pro plays BF2 fine at low settings.
http://forums.gamespace.net.au/archive/index.php/t-4665.html

But I am not just worried about BF2...i'm worried about the next generation games in general. I'm not interested in buying a 9600 to just play BF2...i'm interested in getting to play tomorrow's games as well (at low settings).

There's no way you're getting a 6800GT for $100.
 

blackrain

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: tekzilla41
That would be a 6600GT for 119 not a 6800GT


right...sorry Its easy to confuse the numbers...or might have been a typo on my part. I meant 6600GT...that's what everybody seems to be suggesting for medium settings.

But again, that was really beside the point
 

robertk2012

Platinum Member
Dec 14, 2004
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I was saying to find a used 9500 pro. Not the 9550. The 9500 pro will beat the 9600 pro any day of the week.
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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look in the FS/FT section or Ebay. i know for sure the 6600 is too much for you cause you just wanna play on low. my friend plays on 10x7 or 12x10 (not sure, he has a 17" lcd) and plays on med-high settings with his plain 6600. find a 9xxx in the sale sectino
 

blackrain

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: robertk2012
I was saying to find a used 9500 pro. Not the 9550. The 9500 pro will beat the 9600 pro any day of the week.


since I couldn't find 9500 pro I thought you were talking about the 9550. I'll see if I can find it on ebay because its not available in too many places online. Thanks for the info
 

blackrain

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
most games are not really easily playable at standard def. thats just too low.

I've previously played Doom 3 and Half Life 2 on my tv with the geforce 3 card and it plays fine for me. The only issue is that its hard to see when information is printed on the screen.