Video Card

[Mamoo]

K, I've been looking around for a card, I have a 2600xp a7n8x board and a gig of dual rate ram. My card is an Ati 9500 Pro. I was looking at the x700 pro 256 agp. Should I go this route or look into nVidia. It has been a while since I built so I was just hoping for some help. I saw a 6600gt vs the x700 but it was pci-e versions. Like to keep it in the $200 range too. Don't see need for anything higher before building new. Thanks

 

[TheStu]

Leadtek 6800 A400... under 200 bucks... it is agp, with a 256-bit bus so that is nice... if you then install rivatuner you can probably unlock the additional pipes and shaders on the card with little to no fuss... if you do choose to get an nvidia card you will have to get a registry cleaner to remove your ati drivers so your system doesnt then give you the finger

 

[Mamoo]

You wouldnt have a link to one would you?

 

[tweekah]

Welcome to the forums.
This might be useful
x800>6800>6600gt of course all AGP

 

[Cygnus X1]

I suggest you go gor the 6600GT. It's serves me well in BF2 and Source. Stay away from ATI at all costs.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1
I suggest you go gor the 6600GT. It's serves me well in BF2 and Source. Stay away from ATI at all costs.

and why would that be? ati makes great values too.
if you can, get this
http://labs.anandtech.com/alllinks.php?pfilter=3671
it is 12pipe, and decently fast stock, but with a minimum of work, it will turn into a x800xt or x800xtpe(it uses the same r423 core used in x800xt or x800xtpes.) which is 6800ultra speed for under $200 dollars. there seems to ba a 1 in 30 chance not to unlock, but overall, it's a great card and even stock, i's plenty fast.

if you need to go nvidia, go 6800 agp. it can unlock to 16pipe too just like a 6800gt or 6800ultra but the memory is not neaarly as fast and there's only 128mb of it instead fo 256mb on a 6800gt or 6800ultra.

just as a comparison, if done right, a x800gto from connect 3d will be around 180% as fast as a 6600gt.

 

[Mamoo]

Looks SWEET but its pci-e I need agp. I will admit I was starting to look at the 6600gt, but it is only 128mb, so that is why I was wondering if the x700 was comparable. Since it has 256mb.

 

[tweekah]

x800>6800>6600gt>x700 of course all AGP

I own 6600gt agp and am very satisfied with it.

 

[Varun]

Originally posted by: tweekah
x800>6800>6600gt>>>>>>>>>>x700 of course all AGP

I own 6600gt agp and am very satisfied with it.

fixed!

I also own a 6600GT. The amount of RAM on the card doesn't matter as much as the design of the core, and midrange cards like the 6600GT aren't aimed at the 1600x1200 +AA +AF market, so they don't require as much memory bandwitdth or size.

The 6600GT is worlds ahead of the X700pro

look no further than this review from Anandtech which shows the 6600GT having up to a 70% performance advantage over the x700 pro.

I think a 6600GT or low end 6800 AGP would be the perfect combination with your CPU, as you won't be able to carry the video card over to a new system, so you don't want to spend too much on it.

 

[mwmorph]

x700 is a slow card, sells for around $120-$130 nowadays. 6600gt is slightly faster, but still retails for around $130-$140.

http://labs.anandtech.com/alllinks.php?pfilter=824
these are nice and can mod to x800xt with some work,(you need to dot 1 little laser cut with a conductive pen, then bios flash to get a x800xt) it also has a good chance of modding.

if you want to play it safe, get this. dosent mod, already has 16pipes, but runs at only 400mhz, 1 ghz. dosent overclock well ,but is a nice card if you dont want the hassle.

if you cant afford those, this si a good choice.
http://labs.anandtech.com/alllinks.php?pfilter=941
will 50% mod to 16pipe, and oc well, but even modded, wont be faster than x800pro stock.

 

[Mamoo]

Found this http://labs.anandtech.com/alllinks.php?pfilter=3803
Doesn't look to bad. About what i want to spend.
Anyone know if it will outperform the 6600gt for the bucks?
Found one for it too http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122206

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Mamoo
Found this http://labs.anandtech.com/alllinks.php?pfilter=3803
Doesn't look to bad. About what i want to spend.
Anyone know if it will outperform the 6600gt for the bucks?
Found one for it too http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122206

at that price, definitely go for the 6800. it's $8 more, but a lot faster. the 6800 handles shaders and hih resolutiopns(10x7 and above) as well as aa a lot better. it ocs well and can unlock making it even faster.

 

[Mamoo]

Not sure what you looked at, the links are for a 6600gt and x800 gto and $8, the prices I see are $199 gto, and $151 for 6600gt.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

6800gt is the sweet spot right now. I've had one since last year, great card.

 

[Mamoo]

Just can't get one for $200

 

[CalamitySymphony]

I would suggest you upgrade your whole rig. Its really quite silly, when you consider that a 7800GT is only about $300 dollars... and you want to pay 150 for a 6600GT.. which is means your like paying $600 equivelent frame/dollar. Its not worth it.

If you REALLY can't take the 9500 Pro, get a 9800 Pro for 100 bucks (or less). The 6600GT is = 9800 Pro. Barely faster, and not nearly worth the premium. This is especially true if your AGP.

You can keep saving and get a 9700 Pro instead (much less than 100 nowadays), which is about 10% slower than the 9800 Pro. It will do alot better than your 9500 Pro though (4 pipes add a lot of perforamnce)