Ti4200 or 9600np???

[whoiswes]

i'm on an extremely tight budget, looking to upgrade from a GF2 MX400, and have about $75 to spend (absolute max - would prefer closer to $40-50 but know that the little bit extra should make quite a difference).

here are two cards i'm looking at, both refurbs at newegg.

Gainward Ti4200 128MB, 4ns RAM, 8X, yada yada yada.
Sapphire Radeon 9600 128MB, 8X, yada yada yada.

assuming that they're approximately the same price, which would you choose??? also, are there any better cards out there for the same amount of money??? i've been looking at everything from GF3's all the way up to 9600XT's, but need to spend as little as possible right now.

FWIW, this is for my 400sc - my Gigabyte GF2MX is too old for the 875-based board.

many thanks, and i apologize if this is a repeat question - i did a search but could not find anything relevant.

 

[Soulkeeper]

i might sound kind of bias because i own a ti4200 (8x version) 128mb
i like this card
it does overclock pretty well too
i've tryed the FX5200 128mb recently and was impressed with it's performance at 800x600 and 1024x768 in dx9 benchmarks and new games for those on a budget

could bump up to a 120 or 150 buck price range and get something with more mem bandwidth if you want

 

[KGB1]

Gainward Ti4200 128MB, 4ns RAM, 8X, yada yada yada.
Sapphire Radeon 9600 128MB, 8X, yada yada yada.

What's the memory speed of the Radeon 9600? If the memory is 3.6ns or below will give you better memory bandwidth. Plus the easy overclockability of the core on the 9600 itself.

I have a Ti4200 and its good @ 275-550 but is only Direct x8. Radeon 9600 would be better option, if you don't mind some bugs and quirks in games (plus even better deal if you can snag one at $75)

 

[Corporate Thug]

4200

 

[MustangSVT]

my 4200 runs perfect @ 300 - 575.

I was hoping for 600mhz memory but i guess 575 will do.

my vote also goes to 4200.

do they both have dvi and video out?

 

[nick1985]

im going to also vote for the 4200

 

[Soulkeeper]

if you could get something with dx9 you'd be a little better off

 

[modedepe]

I'll vote ti4200. Usually faster in dx8 games with no aa or af. And I'm not sure dx9 for the 9600 is much of an advantage, since I don't think the 9600 will really be fast enough to in dx9.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Soulkeeper
if you could get something with dx9 you'd be a little better off

thats not true. so you would rather have a 5200 over a 4200 JUST for dx9? even though the 5200 is to crappy to take advantage of ANYTHING dx9? nice thinking...

 

[SithSolo1]

I love ATi but the regular 9600 is cr@p. My vote goes to 4200.

 

[BFG10K]

The 4200 should demolish the 9600NP across the board.

 

[whoiswes]

thanks guys! unless a damn good deal pops up on a better card, the 4200 is the way i'll probably go!!!

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: shady06
4200

 

[MichaelZ]

4200, chalk it up.

 

[Pete]

Ayup, 4200.

 

[jjyiz28]

err. .im i the only one here that thinks 9600NP is better?? i beleive its better even if you don't use AA/AF. ill look for benchmarks that support this. and not benchmarks that came out right when the 9600's came out.

 

[jjyiz28]

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1933&p=4

look at all the graphs for non AA/AF. they dont use a 9600NP though, its a pro. but still, for even for dx8 games, no AA/AF, 9600pro wins great majority. the few 2 or so that 4200 wins, its kinda funny since it also beats out a 9800XT. now we know that aint the truth.

show i stand by my opinion, 9600NP is better than 4200 in dx8 and non AA/AF.

edit: also shows the 5600ultra beats out 4200 majority. for all you ppl that also think 4200 beats 5600 in dx8 and non AA/AF

 

[Pete]

A 4200 is generally faster. A 9600 is 1/3 slower than a 9600P, placing it even with or below the 4200 in most cases. And a 5600U is $120, vs. much less for a 4200. Pound for pound, the 4200 is just about the best budget card. Plus, most games in the past couple of years were designed with a 4200 in mind, and that means less hassles and potentially greater optimizations and thus performance.

The 9600 is close in many tests, but why pay more for "close?" Both cards should be able to OC, so they should maintain relative performance.

 

[jjyiz28]

the orignial poster said, assumiong the same price, which is better. answer: 9600NP. when the 9600NP trails, it doesn't trails slightly. you even said it was "close". 9600NP is better overall. who ever said anything about pound for pound?? i didnt, the original poster \didn't.

 

[nemesismk2]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
The 4200 should demolish the 9600NP across the board.

 

[Blastman]

Are you sure that 9600 is a 9600np and not a 9600se? The cheapest I?ve seen a 9600 is $95 at Newegg.

If it?s a Sapphire 9600 that would be my vote. I?ve seen 3 people get their Sapphire 9600np to 450/250 (from stock 325/200). More usable AF and some AA.

 

[11427]

That could be,... personally I have never seen a 9600np. Seen 9600SE, 9600, 9600 Pro, and a 9600XT,... but a 9600np??? maybe there is some confusion going on ;-)

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: 11427
That could be,... personally I have never seen a 9600np. Seen 9600SE, 9600, 9600 Pro, and a 9600XT,... but a 9600np??? maybe there is some confusion going on ;-)

i have.

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28
the orignial poster said, assumiong the same price, which is better. answer: 9600NP. when the 9600NP trails, it doesn't trails slightly. you even said it was "close". 9600NP is better overall. who ever said anything about pound for pound?? i didnt, the original poster \didn't.

How is the slower card better? I'm failing to see your reasoning. Did you even look at the benchmarks Pete linked? A 9600np does not perform the same as a 9600 pro.

Originally posted by: Blastman
Are you sure that 9600 is a 9600np and not a 9600se? The cheapest I?ve seen a 9600 is $95 at Newegg.

He said it's a refurb.

 

[11427]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: 11427
That could be,... personally I have never seen a 9600np. Seen 9600SE, 9600, 9600 Pro, and a 9600XT,... but a 9600np??? maybe there is some confusion going on ;-)

i have.

Really? Where? I cannot find a 9600NP listed anywhere,..... ATI does not even list one.
Or did you mean you have confusion? ;-)