Video card help

[gel197]

Okay i'm planning on upgrading my system with a new video card and some more memory. I currently have...

Pentium 4 2.8
Gainward GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128mb
1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel
Windows XP Pro SP1
80gb HD
100 gb HD

I plan on purchasing 1GB 2 x 512 DDR 400 PC 3200.

The main question I have is which card should I buy, these are the two that I was looking at..

eVGA 512-P2-N435-AX Geforce 6800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130240

or...
XFX PVT70GUDF7 Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150108


They're both the same price but one is 256mb and the other one is 512mb, which is kinda confusing me. I mainly want to upgrade for playing games, with my current setup I have to keep the settings pretty low for acceptable gameplay. I also use Photoshop7 alot and will be getting into more graphics programs like C4D.

The people here seem to know their stuff so I figured I would register and hope for a little help with this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[Powermoloch]

you'll do much much much much better with the 7800GT because:....

- better technology
- more pixelpipes
- it will kick the A$$ of the older generation....6800GT will be burned by the 7800GTs performance
- it cost the same as the 6800GT, why spend on an old technology anyways
- WELCOME TO ANANDTECH !

 

[GamerExpress]

Hands down the 7800GT

 

[gel197]

I just thought since the 6800 was 512mb and the 7800 was only 256mb that they might not be that far off performance wise, even though the 7800 is the newer card.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Be aware that modern mobos are VERY fussy about memory timing. You may have issues mixing and matching two different pairs of memory so you should either try to match the new memory to the old one as closely as possibe (ideally the same brand and model) or at least check the specs to make sure the memory has the same timing.

If you're overclocking I would NOT recommend using two pairs of memory. You'll get better stability with one pair of two 1Gb sticks.

Hope this helps...

 

[cmdrdredd]

you have GeForce FX which is an AGP card. You can't swap it for a PCI-Express card because it's a different technology.

What you could do is get either a ATI Radeon x850/x800 or a Nvidia GeForce 6800GT/Ultra which both come in AGP flavors. There are rumors of an AGP version of the ATI X1800 or something but we have to wait and see.

You would have to upgrade your motherboard in the process to get a PCI-Express card.

 

[gel197]

Well as far as the memory goes, I plan on buying the same memory that I already have which is ... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820144310 . So all together i'll end up with 4 sticks of 512mb PC3200 DDR400.

Also the motherboard I have is a P4P800E which supports both AGP and PCI. So I can get the 7800GT 256mb. if I want.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...=866224&SRCCODE=WEBINK&CMP=OTC-INKTOMI

 

[cmdrdredd]

No, PCI-Express is completely different from normal PCI. PCI-Express is BRAND NEW and made specifically for video cards to replace AGP as the standard. You can ONLY get an AGP card for that Mobo. I have the same one, and I got a 6800GT. PCI-Express cards will not fit in AGP or normal PCI slots. Only newer Motherboards have this technology.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
you have GeForce FX which is an AGP card. You can't swap it for a PCI-Express card because it's a different technology.

What you could do is get either a ATI Radeon x850/x800 or a Nvidia GeForce 6800GT/Ultra which both come in AGP flavors. There are rumors of an AGP version of the ATI X1800 or something but we have to wait and see.

You would have to upgrade your motherboard in the process to get a PCI-Express card.

exactly what i was thinking. i would just leave it as-is and upgrade in a year or two.

 

[gel197]

Oh jeez, I was just getting ready to order that one too. Well i'm definitley not waiting a year or two to upgrade my system.

So I guess the new question is, what's the best card I could get for around $300 - $350.

 

[cmdrdredd]

try this one

ATI x850XT -$361 which is slightly above your budget.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102570

ATI X800 All In Wonder - $299 maybe a few features you don't need
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102492

BFG GeForce 6800GT-OC (overclocked) - $365 slightly above your budget (this is the card I use personally)
http://www.futurepowerpc.com/scripts/de...s.asp?PRDCODE=VCBF-R68256GTOC&REFID=PW

The ATI cards are slightly better in DirectX games and the 6800 is better in OpenGL by a slight margin.

 

[gel197]

Those are all 256mb, wouldn't I be better off getting a 512mb like this one instead. Plus this 512mb. is cheaper than the 256's, which now that i'm thinking about it confuses me.

 

[Powermoloch]

Well....a 512 mb video cards are not that necessary at the moment (since performance boosts are not as dramatic). As of now, the 256mb cards variety will suffice at the moment with the games that are out right now. In regards for an AGP card, X850XTAGP will do great for you since... I have one for myself also ^_^

 

[gel197]

So let's say that I wanted to upgrade my motherboard so I could use a PCI Express video card. What would be a good motherboard to buy.