Which AGP card?

iontrap

Junior Member
Jan 2, 2006
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I want to make a cheap upgrade to my Ti4200. How does the 6800XT compare to the X1550 or x1650?
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
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We need to know what games you play and in what resolution?
What kind of power supply do you have?
What price range are you looking for?
What cpu and how much ram do you have?
 

iontrap

Junior Member
Jan 2, 2006
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I just got BF2 which is why I'm looking for a new video card. My max price is $80.
My system:
Athlon XP 3200
Shuttle AN35N
Ti4200 64MB
512 MB pc2700

Power supply is a Raid Max.
+3.3V=26.0A
+5V=32.0A
+12V=13.0A
 
May 30, 2007
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Without a new PSU your max GPU is going to be something like a Radeon 9800 Pro or maybe a 6600 vanilla. I'd head over to the trade forum and look for a radeon 9700 Pro thru 6600 vanilla AGP card which will be in the $35 - $50 shipped range.

The 6800XT might actually work off of your power supply as it's very similar to a 6600NU but you can forget about unlocking it as the power draw would certainly cause a system crash.
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
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Or if you could find a cheaper Radeon X850XT or Pro to play BF2
 
May 30, 2007
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And once again unless you want to buy a new power supply too don't listen to the post about the X850's as they consume more amperage than your current power supply puts out.
 

iontrap

Junior Member
Jan 2, 2006
21
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I can stretch it to $100 - $120. I just won't tell the wife about the power supply. :)
 

Summitdrinker

Golden Member
May 10, 2004
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yep you need a new power supply for a real card

as for the old ati 9700 and 9800, they were great cards in there day but there old now, and with that age when used and having many hours of use on them they die, memory get's tired and fried. dones that been there
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
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Originally posted by: Dazed and Confused
And once again unless you want to buy a new power supply too don't listen to the post about the X850's as they consume more amperage than your current power supply puts out.

I don't understand....I had an Antec Smartpower 350 watts when I had ATI Radeon X850 Pro
 

Modular

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2005
5,027
67
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You should get the 7600gt AGP.

This review shows that it consumes only 3 more watts than a 6600gt and therefore will be less than any 6800/X800 card you are also looking at. Stay away from the 9800pro for the aforementioned reasons as well as the fact that it's slower than a 6600gt, which is the lowest card I'd recommend for BF2.

The 7600gt is about as fast as (if not faster than) an X850XT for a fraction of the cost/power consumption.

Here is a 7600gt for $115.00 shipped AR This is the same amount you would have to spend on a new PSU/card combo for a sub-par card. Just get the 7600 and be done with it.

 
May 30, 2007
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How is it noone else can see the ultra limited 13 amps he has on the +12v rail of his PSU ? You guys are recommending cards that draw more power than his PSU can put out, real smoothe guys.

The reccomended amperage on the +12v line is 18 for the 7600GT and in a worst case scenario it has been known to draw almost 40 watts but average is closer to 30 watts. Now considering that you can often go a little below the reccomended requirements for a video card and still run stable going 5 amps below the reccomended is not a good idea and could lead to system failure. A few people have run 7600GT's with PSU that only put out 16 amps on the +12v rail but this is not a reccomended practice, minimum system requirements exist for a reason.
 

iontrap

Junior Member
Jan 2, 2006
21
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This power supply looks like it may work.
Text

What about an ATI X800XL? There is one for sale here for a good price.
 

Modular

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2005
5,027
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Originally posted by: Dazed and Confused
How is it noone else can see the ultra limited 13 amps he has on the +12v rail of his PSU ? You guys are recommending cards that draw more power than his PSU can put out, real smoothe guys.

The reccomended amperage on the +12v line is 18 for the 7600GT and in a worst case scenario it has been known to draw almost 40 watts but average is closer to 30 watts. Now considering that you can often go a little below the reccomended requirements for a video card and still run stable going 5 amps below the reccomended is not a good idea and could lead to system failure. A few people have run 7600GT's with PSU that only put out 16 amps on the +12v rail but this is not a reccomended practice, minimum system requirements exist for a reason.

Uh...the 7600gt requires a 300 watt PSU. I'm sure his has enough juice. Besides you are the one recommending a 9800pro. Which has the same power requirements as a 7600gt which only has half the power of the 7600gt. Let's be reasonable here. Go with the 7600gt. It will be fine.

/thread
 

Rockinacoustic

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2006
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I'd also buy another 512MB stick of RAM. That and any >= 6600gt level card will give you smooth play at medium details.
 

iontrap

Junior Member
Jan 2, 2006
21
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Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
I'd also buy another 512MB stick of RAM. That and any >= 6600gt level card will give you smooth play at medium details.

Just bought a 1GB stick from Circuit City for $60!
 

Laminator

Senior member
Jan 31, 2007
852
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I actually would be worried about 13A on the 12V rail, too, but if his PSU has a problem running a 7600GT then I think he'd have to upgrade it, anyway.
 

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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After upgrading your power supply, I'd go with the 7600gt. However, that card or a x850xt would be somewhat limited by your cpu, so no point in getting anything faster. Even a 7600gs would be a huge upgrade over a ti4200, and it consumes less power than either a 9800pro or a 6600gt, while being faster than either one.