Where to go from GeForce FX5600?

[dapellegrini]

I am considering upgrading my GeForce 5600 to a 6600GT, but am wondering if I should hold out for the 6800 AGP's to drop below the $200 mark or perhaps look at ATI.

My 5600 has been great for the past year, with Call of Duty, Splinter Cell 1 & 2 and GTA Vice City. Unfortunately it is becoming frustrating with Half Life 2, Far Cry and the new Splinter Cell 3 demo... I would like to get the best bang for my buck to be able to play the next year's worth of games at an acceptable level (not looking for over the top, but would like them to run nice and smooth with a fair level of detail). I am wondering if an upgrade to a 6600GT will be enough for what I am looking for. (I have been looking at MSI's card)

I have a Dell 9200 laptop with an ATI 9700 (for work) that runs quite a bit better than my 5600. I can actually play Far Cry on it, where it is unplayable on my 5600 (have to set things to ugly for good fps).

Here are my system specs:

ASUS A7N8X-E Motherboard
Athlon 2800+ Barton (333mhz)
1 GB Crucial 3200 RAM in dual channel
3x Maxtor 7200 RPM IDE drives (no raid)
and my GeForce FX5600 (Palit Daytona) overclocked to 337/527

Thanks in advance.

 

[SrGuapo]

The 6600gt is a great buy for $200. the only decent ATI in that sprice range is the 9800Pro, which will be much worse than a 6600gt. If you have the money and are willing to spend it, go ahead. the ionly step up is a 6800NU, which will probably run you over $260.

My 6600gt will run HL2 at 1024x768 4x16x very smoothly and uit is still playable at 1600x1200. Doom3 I can run at 1024x768, 2x8x, high setting very well also. It is going to be a pretty big step up from a 5600, so you won't be wasting your money.

 

[DaveSimmons]

What resolution?

6600GT is excellent at 1024x768, and good for most games at 1280x1024.

If 1024 (and often 1280) is fine, buy the 6600GT now, either in AGP or in PCI-E as part of a full A64, PCI-E upgrade. Then next year get an nV 7600GT or ATI XZQ700VW.

 

[Gamingphreek]

6600GT beats all cards from last generation except sometimes at maxed out settings the 9800's show their 256bit data bus and beat it.

The 6600GT would be a huge improvement, the 5600 was one of the worst cards ever produced, hence the reason the 5700 was pushed out the door.

-Kevin

 

[Rike]

Ask yourself this question, is it worth it to have to play on "ugly" for the whole time it takes for the 6800 to drop to $200? Especially in light of the fact that the additional frame rates you get going from a 6600GT to a vanilla 6800 are generally rather small.

I think the answer is clear . . .

 

[dapellegrini]

Thank you for all the feedback. 1024 resolution would be fine. I think I am going to order MSI's 6600GT this weekend. Next year I will consider a full PCI-E upgrade...

Thanks again!

Dan