Video card purchase, need help

[OuiKikUrAzz]

Ok, i'm really stuck on what to buy I have three/four choices in mind:

Radeon 9500 pro (sapphire brand)
Radeon 9700 (power color brand)
ti4600 (cheapest brand)
ti4600 (8x) (cheapest brand)

can someone offer me a suggestion as to which to get? I'm looking for straight 3d card, lots of gaming at 1024x768 resolution most of the time, AA and AF occassionaly/never. I need the fastest fastest performance I can get from the card and for it to be able to handle Doom III and HL2 at a VERY VERY playable speed at 1024x768.

Suggestions/recommendation please?

BTW: I will NOT overclock due to bad airflow in an XPC case.

 

[Schadenfroh]

for HL2, they say that a TNT2 level card will be able to run it (dont ask me how) but doom3 is another story. the 9700 is barely handles it. i would reccomend waiting to when teh game comes out to buy more powerfull tech at a lower price. what is your current video card?

but if you were to buy it today
9500: my choice
9700: if i had the money
4600: waist of money 4200 is the same card, for alot less
4600 8x: waist of money, 8x agp offers no performance boost

 

[tallman45]

I would recommend that you wait a few months and hold out for an 9700Pro. You may find a good deal on the 9500 but 8 months from now you may need more performance and then what.

 

[Corporate Thug]

if you want to buy right now, 9700

 

[Harabecw]

a powercolor 9700 may be your best bet. I myself use 1024x768 with X4AA and X16 AF at all times. never once did I drop it...except Splinter Cell >_< the game can't use AA on any card.
with the 9700 you don't have to worry about performance in any game right now, and its more than adequate(sp?) for HL2 and DIII.
From the benchmarks I guess I will be able to play DIII at 1024x768 with X2 AA and X16 performance AF.

 

[BoomAM]

Go for the 9700.

 

[EdipisReks]

i have the Powercolor 9700 gold, and i immediately flashed it with a 9700 Pro bios. great card.

 

[OuiKikUrAzz]

hmm, still pondering whether to go sapphire or powercolor now...anyone have any problems with the power color?