Video card upgrade help

[shredman]

Looking for some advice/help:

I want to be able to play games in 1024x1280 with full details and maxed anti-aliasing/anti whatever filtering to get the best image quality. Here is my current rig:

P4 2.53
Epox 4g4a+ mobo
512mb Corsair XMS 3200 (running at 2700 - can't get it higher with this mobo??)
MSI G4 4400 video card

I'm thinking that a video card upgrade is what I need. I've been looking at the Radeon Sapphire 9800 Pro 128 mb or the 256 mb DDRII versions. They are pretty nicely priced at newegg right now (128mb pro is about $210 and the 256 mb is about $309). I think the 128 mb Pro version's price is just about at my sweet spot. The question is: Will upgrading to a 9800 Pro Radeon 128mb allow me to run games like morrowind/IL2 sturmovik/BF1942 etc.. with all details to max and maxed AA?? Should I wait until the next batch of video cards and buy a 5950 when it gets to about $200??

Would adding another 512mb ram help??

thanks, shredman

p.s. does anyone know how to get my epox mobo to run my ram at 3200? I've tried going into cmos settings with no luck. Also, I've heard that this mobo will only run with ONE stick of ram. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[SneakyStuff]

My honest advice, WAIT, you should be able to make due with a ti4400. That's a very decent card. And for your patience, you will be rewarded, the release of the new nextgen cards, will make cards like the 256MB 5900 Ultra, a lot more affordable. (I can't say that for sure, but speculation says the prices will drop) As for AA and what-not, yes, a 9800 pro 128mb would let you max pretty much everything out on those games, but why get that, when you have an ok card now, and you could get a card better than a r9800pro in a month or 2? Just a thought. And your RAM, that's a good amount for now, RAM is expensive in case you haven't noticed

 

[Pete]

10x7 w/AA+AF will be a stretch even for the 9800P in newer games. If the myriad benchmarks available show the 9800P to be fast enough for you in the games you play, then go for it, as it's the best deal in the high end at the moment, and tends to perform better than nV's 5900 with AA+AF.

But if you're willing to spend closer to $400 for 2-3x the speed, and have a burly power supply unit, then wait until May for ATi's and nVidia's next gen monsters.