Video Card Upgrade

[Fingolfin269]

I have not done any video card research since I put my current system together and chose a 9500 Pro about two years ago. It's about that time to upgrade again....

I've never been one to buy the best card on the market. I just don't see any sort of value there for my puproses. After reading around a bit it looks like the 9800 Pro is probably the best bang for the buck card out there. Is this true? Would anyone suggest an alternative choice? BTW, I am only interested in AGP cards.

BTW, my current system specs just in case someone decides I don't even need to up the card:

Abit NF7-S
2100+
512 HyperX PC3000

 

[mwmorph]

9800 pro is probably outdated. considering a 6600gt agp is cheaper and faster than thew pro, i think reaching xt speeds.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I guess that is part of my question. I have found used 9800 Pros going for around $150. The best price I can find on a 6600GT is ~$200 and I'm not really sure that I will notice that much of a difference in performance based on my other system specs if I get more of a bang video card.

 

[Matthias99]

You'll still see a big step up with a faster video card. Frankly, the whole 'cpu limited' thing is WAY overblown; you can always run at a higher resolution and with AA/AF.

The 9800Pro would be an OK upgrade; the 6600GT would be more dramatic. I went from a Ti4600 (about the speed of the 9500Pro, maybe a little slower) to a 9800Pro and was impressed; the 6600GT is another 20% or so faster than the 9800Pro.

 

[mwmorph]

at 2100+ though, the cpu will be a bottleneck. upgrade to 3000+ befroe getting a 6600 cause the extra 50 wont buy you too much extra perfromance at 2100+. the cpu bottleneck is somewhat overblown but at 2100+ the radeon9800 will be just fine. especially at $150. btw, xmake sure the bus is 256Bit and not a 128BIT memory interface cause if it's 128bit, its really just a 9800se.

 

[Matthias99]

You're not so horribly limited by a 2100+ that you wouldn't see an improvement going from a 9800Pro to a 6600GT. 1600x1200 with AA/AF will bring that card to its knees.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Thanks for the tips guys. I ended up formatting my hd and my computer isn't nearly as bad as I thought. I guess waiting almost two years to do it is my own fault. I know, don't say anything.

Anyway, I'm basically still in need of information but it is more for my roommate now and I'm not sure what to do in this case. It's an HP w/ a P4 2.66ghz, 512 megs of ram, and a lame Geforce MX card. Is the 6600 still the best way to go here or would a 256 R9800 Pro be better?

 

[kmmatney]

6600GT is still the best way to go, with the 9800Pro a close second.

Cheaper alternatives would be a 9600Pro (or 9800SE?) or a non-GT 6600, all around $100.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
I have not done any video card research since I put my current system together and chose a 9500 Pro about two years ago. It's about that time to upgrade again....

I've never been one to buy the best card on the market. I just don't see any sort of value there for my puproses. After reading around a bit it looks like the 9800 Pro is probably the best bang for the buck card out there. Is this true? Would anyone suggest an alternative choice? BTW, I am only interested in AGP cards.

BTW, my current system specs just in case someone decides I don't even need to up the card:

Abit NF7-S
2100+
512 HyperX PC3000

I'd go for a plain 6800 instead. Just a few $$$ more.

 

[Cawchy87]

USED 9800pro 128mb or 6800nu

 

[mwmorph]

6800nu. try any brand, theyre all the same. even these with "special coolers" dont help that much. once you buy it, download rivatuner and try to unlock the 4pixel pipes and 1vertex shader. i'd give you a 50/50 chance to unlock both, a lot higher to unlock just 1 verxex shader. then you can probably safely and permantly oc it to about 375/350core 775/750memory. this will get you about 6.5k 3dmarks on your friend's pc.

 

[CoBRaXT]

Yeah, I'd recommend going with the 6800NU (non-ultra) rather than the 9800Pro. You can find a 6800NU for about $250 (or maybe $199 after rebates if you're lucky). I went from a Ti4200 --> 9800 Pro --> 6800 and have seen huge performance jumps with each upgrade. Scores (in Aquamark3) went from 21,000 -> 40,000 - > 63,000.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
6800nu. try any brand, theyre all the same. even these with "special coolers" dont help that much. once you buy it, download rivatuner and try to unlock the 4pixel pipes and 1vertex shader. i'd give you a 50/50 chance to unlock both, a lot higher to unlock just 1 verxex shader. then you can probably safely and permantly oc it to about 375/350core 775/750memory. this will get you about 6.5k 3dmarks on your friend's pc.

is that better than a 6600gt with 500core and 1000ram ?
just curious, also considering new card


Thanks
Dan

 

[TheAudit]

Originally posted by: ZL1

Originally posted by: mwmorph
6800nu. try any brand, theyre all the same. even these with "special coolers" dont help that much. once you buy it, download rivatuner and try to unlock the 4pixel pipes and 1vertex shader. i'd give you a 50/50 chance to unlock both, a lot higher to unlock just 1 verxex shader. then you can probably safely and permantly oc it to about 375/350core 775/750memory. this will get you about 6.5k 3dmarks on your friend's pc.

is that better than a 6600gt with 500core and 1000ram ?
just curious, also considering new card


Thanks
Dan

Yes, it's better but it's more $$$. If you can swing the price then the 6800 would be the way to go.

 

[mwmorph]

yeah, on newegg, 6800(AGP) is costing about $60-$80 more than 6600gt(AGP), but considering you get +4 or +8(double) the pixel pipes and 5 or 6 instead of 3 vertex shaders to make up for the slightly slower memory. The 6600 only has 128bit memory interface, akin to the 9800"special value edition" cards instead of the now industry standard of 256bit on the 6800s and x800s or even the older 9800pros/xt and 5900s.

anyone know which is better, the x700pro or 6600GT?
700pro has 256mb
6600gt has higher clocks

 

[ZL1]

well I guess I'll just have to wait till the 6800 hits at least 250, high 200s as it is at newegg now is just really pushing it for me


Thanks for the advise guys


D