• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Video card recommendation for Athlon 2400

W

Wild1

Member
I will be recycling some old components to make a gaming computer. The system will have an Athlon XP 2400 with a MSI K7N2 delta Motherboard. I have about 3 weeks to be on the look out for a good graphics card for this system. Hope to find one with a good rebate or sale price so I need a few suggestions for a good AGP cards for this system. I do not plan on using the new card beyond this system as I have already began moving towards PCIe. What would you use in this "recycled" system? What type of card would be appropriate for the Athlon 2400?
 
A Radeon 9600XT might not be too bad. If you want to try your luck at unlocking some pipelines, a 6200 might not be bad either, because if you do/can you're basically left with a 6600/6600GT with some over clocking for about $100.
 
Anyone have any input on where the CPU will limit the Video card? What is the highest speed card I should use with this system without wasting $$$?
 
The CPU will limit probably everything above a 9800, but you could still use the extra GPU power in newer games. I saw an improvement moving from a 9700P to a 9800P with my 2400+, and I'm sure I'd still see an improvement at 10x7 4x16 with a 6600GT and an X800XL. The CPU will limit your max framerates and will contribute to a lower min, but newer games can still use all the GPU you can throw at them at the higher resolutions.

But I think a used 9700P/9800/9800P would be the smartest buy, for around $100-120. Anything more than that should probably be put toward a new Athlon 64 system. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Pete
The CPU will limit probably everything above a 9800, but you could still use the extra GPU power in newer games. I saw an improvement moving from a 9700P to a 9800P with my 2400+, and I'm sure I'd still see an improvement at 10x7 4x16 with a 6600GT and an X800XL. The CPU will limit your max framerates and will contribute to a lower min, but newer games can still use all the GPU you can throw at them at the higher resolutions.

But I think a used 9700P/9800/9800P would be the smartest buy, for around $100-120. Anything more than that should probably be put toward a new Athlon 64 system. 🙂
Click to expand...

What if I overclock the 2400, could I possibly make use of the speed of a 6600GT? Hot Deals has some recent deals for a 6600GT in the $150-160 price range. If I can pick up one at this price, would this be a good idea for a 2400 OC? For $40 or so more dollars, I would be tempted to go this route.
 
You could probably use the 6600GT's speed anyway in newer games, but it might not be that much faster with AA+AF. So if you want to play at, say, 10x7 4x8, I'd check benchmarks before writing a check. Of course, the 6600 gives you SM3, which could come in handy in future games. Your call if you're willing to pay more now for potentially less hassle down the road.
 
Thanks for the input everyone. I think I will go with the 6600GT for overclocking headroom and for newer/future games. Now I just have to find one at a good price. XFX has a rebate going on bringing the price to ~158. Linky I've heard mixed input on the XFX brand. Would you buy this or pass betting for a deal on a better brand like eVGA, BFG. Still have 2-3 weeks before I need to order.
 
I don't have any personal experience with xfx, but I've heard nothing but bad stuff about them. If the difference is only like 20 bucks, I'd just go with a more reliable brand.
 
Well I'll just input that I own an XFX 6600GT AGP, and it's been running flawless since day one. Don't know why so many rip on XFX, when most all those posts are "I heard XFX is bad" rather than "I have a bad XFX card". My decision to by their card was simple - they were the only ones that had a 6600GT for sale back in November.
 
Seems like there is a general perception that XFX is not as good as other cards but I can't find any specific reason. Can anyone shed any light on the issues with card/company? DOA product? Poor reliability? Bad support? Crappy drivers?
 
I'm guessing the main difference between good and bad companies is the frequency and quality of your support experiences with them. That said, I have no personal experience with XFX or its mother company, but a few people say stay away. You also have to wonder how they're undercutting everyone else with an extra DVI port. But you can always add an extended warranty with NewEgg or the like to CYA.

Drivers are the same across all ATI and nVidia's discrete (as opposed to laptop) cards, as you get them straight from the IHV.

But I'd pay a little extra simply to get a quieter cooler. The XFX cooler is supposed to be relatively noisy, according to NewEgg reviews.
 
I have recently bought my xfx 6600gt from newegg and I haven't had a problem. It idles at 57C which is nothing to worry about and the updated silver hsf is by no means noisy for me. I notice no sound difference between my old fx5200 vid card anyway. I may be one of the more fortunate ones, for I read a thread about someone having a capacitor floating around their box when they received it. For kicks, I've only managed to OC it to 533/1100 after two days of owning it. Just my two cents.
 
From a thread at FW:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I got XFX 6600GT card in october and in March it bursted in fire. I had to wait 3 weeks to get my replacement from XFX.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WOW.. how far did u overclock it?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually i didn't overclock it at all.. and no my house did burn... after smelling the smoke from the computer i opened the computer then turned on then one of the chips bursted in fire (blue fire)..
------------------------------

And a followup post:

Oh my g*d, I thought "I" was the ONLY one that that happened to!! I bought an XFX 6600GT card from Zipzoomfly (PCI-E). No overclocking whatsoever. Already had some problems with the card (one of the DVI outs would flake out every so often, but I only needed to use one DVI port so I didn't care too much about it). During one intense scene in HLife2, I smelled smoke. I opened my case and FREAKED - there were bright red flames!!! Seriously! I immediately shut hard-turned off my computer and the flames disappeared, so I'm assuming it was tied in to the power/electricity. The card was seared slightly black from the fire. You could tell that the source was this one chip/capacitor on it...

What really scares me is that if I hadn't been at home at that time (and I leave my computer on all day when I'm at school/work), not only would my whole computer be toast, but a real fire could have started. I posted this on the XFX board but never saw/heard of another similar incident.

Fortunately, it was only TWO weeks from when I bought it, so rather than deal with the XFX replacement (I had heard there were problems), I gave up on the stupid card and returned it to ZZFly and swallowed the 15% restocking fee. To this date, I don't know whether to solely blame XFX, or whether Nvidia is also to blame (apparently, the AGP 6600GT's from many vendors were having 2nd DVI-port problems).

Buyer beware! Hopefully they have 'fixed' the problem on these refurbs. Scared the *hit out of me so badly that I didn't even order a replacement video card for 6 months
-----------------------


Unless someone can tell me that other manufacturers have had similar problems with 6600GTs, I won't be getting an XFX.

Dang, that $158 price was temping at Monarch, now I'm back in search mode. I'm thinking eVGA or BFG or Leadtek more or less in that order. Any thoughts/suggestions?

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top