Video Card Suggestions

[Grimmett]

Hey,
I sort of want to upgrade from my Geforce FX5900XT(AGP). I had my eyes set on a 6600gt or a 6800nu. I decided on the 6800 because I've been reading about the softmod thing with rivatuner and the prospects of getting performance close to a 6800gt is tempting me.
My questions are...do I need a NV Silencer to keep the card cool with softmodding and perhaps overclocking it a little? The main question I really have is : Should I just stick with my old card now until I can afford to upgrade to PCI express stuff? I realize that if I buy an AGP card now, Ill have to hold onto my AGP motherboard for a while. I have a socket 754 athlon 3000 in that. Would I be okay for a good while with this setup and the 6800 agp or should I just hold out til later? Thanks!!

 

[fstime]

6800nu, its a 50% chance it will softmod.

I wouldnt take the risk.

The 6800nu will not die with aa and af like the 6600gt does because of 256 bit memory.

Other than that, the nu is around 5-7% faster. Its up to you if you care about aa.

is it possible for you to get onhe of those $300 GTs

 

[Known Unsoldier]

Doubt you'll need an NV5 Silencer for that. Actually, if you just remove the heatsink and replace the factory thermal paste with Arctic Silver 5, I've found that you can reduce the temps by a good 5-6 degrees.

As far as upgrading your mobo at the same time is concerned, I dont know.

 

[Grimmett]

Nah,
I want to stick around the 200 dollar price range for an AGP card. Im just sort of unhappy with my 5900xt and directx 9 games. I have to use dx8.1 in source and my lcd's native resolution is slowing it down even more (1280X1024). I'd really like a 6800gt, but cant afford 300 dollars.

 

[Grimmett]

As far as upgrading your mobo at the same time is concerned, I dont know.

Hey Unknown,
What I meant was should I get the AGP card and not upgrade my motherboard for a while, or wait a while to upgrade to a PCIexpress motherboard and THEN buy a new video card. Sorry about that.

 

[Dufrane]

I am in the same boat. I have the same exact setup but am unsure of whether to get the 6600gt or vanilla 6800.

 

[Known Unsoldier]

I'd just get the AGP card. You can always sell it later once you move to PCI-E, which doesn't seem necessary and/or financially possible in your case for a long time.

 

[exar333]

keep the 200$ and spend another 100$ to get a real upgrade....a 6600gt or 6800nu for you is a waste of money

 

[Grimmett]

keep the 200$ and spend another 100$ to get a real upgrade....a 6600gt or 6800nu for you is a waste of money

LOL, well I cant exactly just go spend another 100 dollars, but that would be the card I want. I'm a college student barely making the bills, so thats out of the question. I might go with Known Unsoldier and buy one now and sell it later. I've done that in the past. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Washoe]

I've got a 6800 vanilla card - 128mb AGP 8x. Picked up the card about 6 months ago. I am content at the moment, but too often I do wish I had waited and planned out the process to go PCI express. It's a bit of a trapped feeling, although as I say, I am content with game playability. I've got a Socket A mobo and Athlon Barton 2500. Since I'm stuck on AGP I'm considering going with the latest Barton 400FSB chip and hold out on that for a while longer before doing the complete overhaul. It's a tough call I guess everyone has to make.

 

[Grimmett]

Ya,
I beginning to agree with you too. My 5900xt will play the games I need it too, although, not at the settings I would like. I'll probably just wait til after my summer job with the EPA and upgrade to PCI Express. By then the new Radeon cards will be out and prices should drop on the 6800gt and Radeon x800 series. Ill have more options with PCI-E then too. I guess I just need to quit itching for upgrades til the time is right.

 

[Mloot]

Just sell your 5900xt in the FS/FT forum for @ $100 (seems to be the going rate, or thereabouts), then use your other $200 to get a 6800gt.

 

[Grimmett]

Ohhh Mann,
Don't tempt me. I think I'm just going to hold off. There seems to be more options for PCI-E now and in the future, and they seem to be cheaper too. I'll just wait until August and go PCI-E I think. Good option though. I did think about doing that. I may still do it if I decide to stick with this computer for a while longer.

MSI K8N neo plat.
Athlon 64 3000
5900xt
34 gb raptor
80gb WD 8mb cache
430W Antec True PSU

 

[imported_Noob]

I say hold off and buy PCIe MB and a next generation video card.

 

[Pete]

I dunno, $100 for a 6800 will be a nice upgrade (especially in shader-heavy games, where a 6800 should offer about 2.5x the framerate of a 5900 in DX9 mode), and an A64 is a decent CPU to pair it with. Moving to a PCIe system will definitely cost more, no matter how you look at it.

 

[ddogg]

i say looking at ur situation wait for a little while longer till the prices of the current gen drop further. then u would be able to afford a worthwhile card!! seems waiting until aug should be good enuf

 

[Grimmett]

I think you all are right. I'll just hold off until the end of summer so I can have something to distract me while Im in class Thanks for the input