Upgrading from 9700 Pro

[PFCWintergreen]

So after four years my graphics card is finally nearing death and since the rest of the system is running fine, I'd prefer not to just dump it. Anyway...
The processor is a XP1900+, and I'm eyeing the X850Pro at the moment. I'd prefer not to spend too much on it, but I also don't want something that's less powerful than the 9700Pro was. So my real question is, is this a decent choice, or is my processor slow enough that a noticeable portion of the card's potential goes unused?

Thanks!

 

[JAG87]

your last sentence is most correct.

you will see some gains but the card will be bottlenecked by the rest of your system.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

The X850 Pro is a fairly fast card, for Shader 2.0 graphics, about as fast as the 7800 GS, if not faster, when SM 3 isn't a factor.

The degree of bottlenecking will depend on your choice of games. The more typical games, with heavy emphasis on GPU, not on CPU, will show the largest gains. Should you choose a game such as Oblivion that also works the CPU heavily, then the amount of potential improvement beyond the 9700 Pro will be more limited. I'm running a Sapphire X800 XT-PE, which may actually be faster than your suggested card, with an XP-M 2600 that Oblivion doesn't like me to run at XP 3200 core speeds. I have it set for almost XP 3000 levels.

I haven't noted what I would considered any slowdown attributable to bottlenecking, but my CPU is a lot more powerful.

P.S. The black marketeer in Catch 22 was referred to even more often as Ex-PFC Wintergreen.

 

[PFCWintergreen]

Oh I know he was I normally go by Wintergreen where it's available, but frequently it isn't.

Anyway. Any other opinions? I realize the card is perhaps a big fast for the processor, but if it's too much then what would you guys suggest? I'd love to be back in the simple days of 3-5 card versions per generation, but it seems that those days are gone

 

[happy medium]

7600gs or a x1600xt for your cpu speed

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: happy medium
7600gs or a x1600xt for your cpu speed

haha, then he mind as well not upgrade at all as those aren't any faster (measureably at least )

OP I suggest you upgrade your system, XP1900 is very slow even for me to recommend an upgrade on the graphics card. Unless you can get a faster processor for that/overclock significantly, I say upgrade the system.

If you want, you can tell us your 3Dmark 2001 score and that will help determine your upgrade path.

 

[beserker15]

You should overclock it. You wouldn't notice too much bottlenecking once you get your cpu to around 2ghz. If a 7600gs is like a 6800 non ultra, than it'll be a decent upgrade. It'll be able to run with aa/af in places where your 9700 cannot. It should play everything at 1024 res.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: beserker15
You should overclock it. You wouldn't notice too much bottlenecking once you get your cpu to around 2ghz. If a 7600gs is like a 6800 non ultra, than it'll be a decent upgrade. It'll be able to run with aa/af in places where your 9700 cannot. It should play everything at 1024 res.

Haha. While I agree about the overclocking, the 7600gs=6800 vanilla believe it or not=6600GT=9800pro so he won't notice much of a difference anyways! :laugh: Funny but they're all similar...

 

[PFCWintergreen]

Well, as a graduation (university) gift my parents are getting me a laptop, but I'm going to wait to get it until I feel some real need. This would just be to keep the computer up and running for awhile until I decide I'd like to get the laptop. It seems like a waste to a degree, but once I get the laptop this computer will go to them, or moreso for my little brother to play some games on.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: beserker15
You should overclock it. You wouldn't notice too much bottlenecking once you get your cpu to around 2ghz. If a 7600gs is like a 6800 non ultra, than it'll be a decent upgrade. It'll be able to run with aa/af in places where your 9700 cannot. It should play everything at 1024 res.

Haha. While I agree about the overclocking, the 7600gs=6800 vanilla believe it or not=6600GT=9800pro so he won't notice much of a difference anyways! :laugh: Funny but they're all similar...

A 7600gs is a bit faster than a 6800 vanilla.
Before you laugh some more check these benchmarks for the 9700pro and the 6800 and remember the 7600gs is a little faster than the 6800. I'd say its a real good ugrade for little money like the op wanted.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/10/04/vga_charts_iv/page10.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page9.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page11.html

and the 1600xt is a little slower than the 7600gs.

 

[Munky]

The 7600gs would be a decent choice, provided that you can get it for under $140 and it's cheaper than the x850pro. The x850pro, however, is considerably faster, so if you can get it for under $170, it's a good choice too.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: munky
The 7600gs would be a decent choice, provided that you can get it for under $140 and it's cheaper than the x850pro. The x850pro, however, is considerably faster, so if you can get it for under $170, it's a good choice too.

Here's the 7600gs from 99.00$ or evga brand for 114.00$

http://www.pricewatch.com/video_cards/991921-1.htm

edit: here's a x850pro for 140.00$ thanks to Munky http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16814102606

I think the x850pro might be too fast for his cpu? mabe?

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: beserker15
You should overclock it. You wouldn't notice too much bottlenecking once you get your cpu to around 2ghz. If a 7600gs is like a 6800 non ultra, than it'll be a decent upgrade. It'll be able to run with aa/af in places where your 9700 cannot. It should play everything at 1024 res.

Haha. While I agree about the overclocking, the 7600gs=6800 vanilla believe it or not=6600GT=9800pro so he won't notice much of a difference anyways! :laugh: Funny but they're all similar...

A 7600gs is a bit faster than a 6800 vanilla.
Before you laugh some more check these benchmarks for the 9700pro and the 6800 and remember the 7600gs is a little faster than the 6800. I'd say its a real good ugrade for little money like the op wanted.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/10/04/vga_charts_iv/page10.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page9.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page11.html

and the 1600xt is a little slower than the 7600gs.

Oblivion says otherwise. Even the 6600GT is faster than the 6800 vanilla. Hes not going to notice the upgrade difference between a 9700pro and a 6800/7600gs. And overclocked 9700pro would provide very similar performance, there is definately a performance difference, but it's barely tangible. If he wants a noticeable performance difference, hes going to need to get an X800GTO or something of the like.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: beserker15
You should overclock it. You wouldn't notice too much bottlenecking once you get your cpu to around 2ghz. If a 7600gs is like a 6800 non ultra, than it'll be a decent upgrade. It'll be able to run with aa/af in places where your 9700 cannot. It should play everything at 1024 res.

Haha. While I agree about the overclocking, the 7600gs=6800 vanilla believe it or not=6600GT=9800pro so he won't notice much of a difference anyways! :laugh: Funny but they're all similar...

A 7600gs is a bit faster than a 6800 vanilla.
Before you laugh some more check these benchmarks for the 9700pro and the 6800 and remember the 7600gs is a little faster than the 6800. I'd say its a real good ugrade for little money like the op wanted.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/10/04/vga_charts_iv/page10.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page9.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page11.html

and the 1600xt is a little slower than the 7600gs.

Oblivion says otherwise. Even the 6600GT is faster than the 6800 vanilla. Hes not going to notice the upgrade difference between a 9700pro and a 6800/7600gs. And overclocked 9700pro would provide very similar performance, there is definately a performance difference, but it's barely tangible. If he wants a noticeable performance difference, hes going to need to get an X800GTO or something of the like.

Well thats ONE example of a game that's more cpu dependent and is better used with the higher clocked cards like the 6600gt. To be honest with his cpu he 's not buying oblivion anyway. Well the 7600gs overclocks too! A 9700pro is 25% slower than the 7600gs and it's only 114.00$ like the op wants. I"m sure he don't want to throw 200.00$ or more into that system? DO you? Plus if he wants to spend more he can grab the x850pro allready suggested by Munky for 140.00$.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: PFCWintergreen
Well, as a graduation (university) gift my parents are getting me a laptop, but I'm going to wait to get it until I feel some real need. This would just be to keep the computer up and running for awhile until I decide I'd like to get the laptop. It seems like a waste to a degree, but once I get the laptop this computer will go to them, or moreso for my little brother to play some games on.

Then again mabe his mom and dad,or little brother will play oblivion?:roll: