what is the best AGP video card out today

[cgilmore]

What is the best AGP video card out today? I don?t want to go PCIX just yet, because I don?t want to upgrade my system just yet. So I'm looking for some input.

 

[Maximilian]

The absolute best would be between the radeon X850XTPE and the geforce 7800 GS. I think the GS is slightly better, not sure, but either of these cards represents the best you can get from AGP.

 

[Quinton McLeod]

Hmm... I believe the 7800GTX is the best AGP card that's out right now.

EDIT: Nope. Looks like I'm wrong.
http://3dgpu.com/archives/2005/06/24/nvidia-no-agp-7800-gtx/

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: Quinton McLeod
Hmm... I believe the 7800GTX is the best AGP card that's out right now.

Its PCIE only.

 

[Quinton McLeod]

Why not just buy a new motherboard? Is the Graphics Card going into your Opteron 170 setup?

 

[pclstyle]

i was in the same boat with you for awhile, but then i figured there's no way in hell i'm paying $300 for an x850pe agp when the pci-e version of the same card is $150 oem. I mean, I might understand holding back on an upgrade if you're paying the same price for the same performance with both, but to pay double for equal/less? ?? No thanks.

 

[Maximilian]

I think the perfect solution for you is to buy the best bang for buck AGP card now, and upgrade your system when conroe comes out. But the best bang for buck would depend on what card you have now.

 

[Quinton McLeod]

Don't do what Soviet is suggesting. The processor won't be out for another 4 months. And in that time, there's no telling what will be available. Never hold your breath on computer technology.

 

[dguy6789]

The Radeon X850XTPE edges out the 7800GS just slightly. However, there was a thread on hear about some company releasing a select few Geforce 7800GTXs in AGP disguised as 7800GS cards.

 

[Maxspeed996]

Ya , that does totally suck , I was going to upgrade my Graphics card , but for the money , I'm waiting as well , the HIS X850xt pe is still like $400-$500. It IS a nice card , but it kills me when I just built a PC for my friend and his X1800 card in PCI-express was $150......That'll make ya wanna upgrade!
I'm waiting to see more LGA775 boards come out to maybe see compatability with "Conroe" as well.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: Quinton McLeod
Don't do what Soviet is suggesting. The processor won't be out for another 4 months. And in that time, there's no telling what will be available. Never hold your breath on computer technology.

The OP dosent want to upgrade his system now, a new AGP card to tick him over would be ideal. Why build a new system now when AM2/Conroe is just around the corner?

Future proofing is not entirely pointless. Buying a new system just before a new architecture release isnt a particularly good move, conroe will most likely outperform the AMD offerings, AND the AMD offerings will be significantly cheaper 4 months down the line than now, since socket 939 will no longer be the flagship socket for AMD. So either way, waiting for the new releases is the best idea.

 

[cgilmore]

Ok Come on if I wanted to up grade my pc I have to get a new motherboard costing any were form what 100-200 depending on what I get and I have to get a new CPU because I have an AMD 3200 sockets 754 I believe and most good motherboards are 939 so what the take up about what 200-300 for a good AMD chip. Now I'm at $500 give or take and I still don?t have a Video card. So throw in that $150 PCI-E card and up around $650 + with no problems. Id rather get a good AGP card now have it for about a year or so then move on. Call me crazy!

 

[alimoalem]

i don't know if i would say you're crazy... jk jk

1. what video card do you currently have?
2. what resolutions do you play at?
3. why do you feel the need to upgrade? are the framerates too low or you want higher quality?

oh and btw, it wouldn't cost you $650 for the upgrade. $100 for a good motherboard, $290 for a dual core, and $160 for a good pci-e card. that comes out to $550...still over though

 

[svsnow]

if u did a complete upgrade with just another 160$ video card.. it wouldnt even be worth it.
u wouldnt get much performance over a 7800gs agp

i say just grab a 7800gs . or rebuild with a decent card . like a 1900xt

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: svsnow
if u did a complete upgrade with just another 160$ video card.. it wouldnt even be worth it.
u wouldnt get much performance over a 7800gs agp

i say just grab a 7800gs . or rebuild with a decent card . like a 1900xt

that still implies that it's better

 

[cgilmore]

Lets see I have a radeon 9800pro 128Mb but is on its way out, it?s having over heating problems and GPU errors. Most game I play at 1153 by 864 and that?s with all new good games.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I also decided to stick with AGP for now and I run the X850 XT PE awesome card you wont be unhappy. Running 1680 res on a 21" WS and every game I play runs fine, I dont have Oblivion tho so cant say if it would have issues running that.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: cgilmore
Ok Come on if I wanted to up grade my pc I have to get a new motherboard costing any were form what 100-200 depending on what I get and I have to get a new CPU because I have an AMD 3200 sockets 754 I believe and most good motherboards are 939 so what the take up about what 200-300 for a good AMD chip. Now I'm at $500 give or take and I still don?t have a Video card. So throw in that $150 PCI-E card and up around $650 + with no problems. Id rather get a good AGP card now have it for about a year or so then move on. Call me crazy!

.....Because you can get any one of these motherboards for $60+ and then 7600GT, 7900GT, etc. Since you plan on prolonging the life of your PC, and then rebuilding it, it doesnt matter if you get another S754 motherboard. The point is to maximize your current investment. It's much better to get $60 S754 motherboard and say X1800XT for $290 then 7800GS for $300.

My personal recommendation would be to get Sapphire X800GTO with 12 pipelines at around $170 on Newegg => LINK It'll probably overclock 500mhz on the core making it a good card to hold you over for the next 6 months. If you plan on keeping your system for longer, I suggest S754 motherboard and PCIe graphics card.

 

[meatfestival]

there is a Gainward AGP 7800GS which has 20 pipes enabled, like the PCI Express 7800GT. It also has 512MB which is overkill IMO. Still, that's by far the best one you can get at the moment.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: cgilmore
Ok Come on if I wanted to up grade my pc I have to get a new motherboard costing any were form what 100-200 depending on what I get and I have to get a new CPU because I have an AMD 3200 sockets 754 I believe and most good motherboards are 939 so what the take up about what 200-300 for a good AMD chip. Now I'm at $500 give or take and I still don?t have a Video card. So throw in that $150 PCI-E card and up around $650 + with no problems. Id rather get a good AGP card now have it for about a year or so then move on. Call me crazy!

Not crazy, but going overboard with this. You could think of the MB as just a replaceable component, and one of the cheapest components to replace. You don't have to go overboard and replace everything. Now I'm assuming that the OS will patch/reactivate/reinstall. If you have to buy another OS just to replace the MB, unless you can get a deal, this plan fails.

Most games are strongly GPU limited, and will continue to be; your CPU is fine for them; no need to upgrade. A PCIe MB will let you "invest" in a good video card, and you'll save an additional cost when it comes time to replace your MB -- you should be able to re-use your new video card. The PCIe transition must be made with the video card, and you're setting yourself up for yet another video card purchase down the road if you don't do it now.

For $400, you could probably get a 7900GT and a new MB. Considering longevity, price and performance of a 7800GS, it's a good option IMO.