Which GFX card?

[davidkay]

Hi,

Buying a new GFX card this week. I'm way way behind on the GFX front at the moment. Basically i want something that is going to run all decent games for months to come. Games such as Half Life 2.

I don't want the top spec card that costs loads but something that is more top range than mid range.

 

[modedepe]

Budget?

 

[Insomniak]

Try for a 9700 pro. Right now, I think they're by far the best bang for the buck. Also, if you really want to be frugal, grab a 9500 and soft hack it to 9700 status.

If you're willing to spend a little more cash, I'd go with a 9800 Non pro if you can afford it.

 

[Czar]

mid range winner is Radeon 9600 pro
top range winner is Radeon 9800 pro

 

[nemesismk2]

Originally posted by: Czar
mid range winner is Radeon 9600 pro
top range winner is Radeon 9800 pro

 

[davidkay]

I take it Radeon cards don't suffer from that crappy 2D text blur problem I have on my Geforce 3?

My budget is $200. I can get a Hercules Radeon 9600 PRO for that, is that a good price?

Are Hercules cards the best for the Radeons?

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: davidkay
I take it Radeon cards don't suffer from that crappy 2D text blur problem I have on my Geforce 3?

My budget is $200. I can get a Hercules Radeon 9600 PRO for that, is that a good price?

Are Hercules cards the best for the Radeons?

GPUs these days tend to be pretty much the same between vendors - theyre all reference designs put out by partners.

 

[Emultra]

You can get a Sapphire 9600 Pro for a bit more than $150.

 

[spam]

I hear the new 9800xt is coming out Sept. 30 (according to Anandtech some are already in the stores) That being the case, it might be worth waiting a week for the anticipated price drop on the Ati card lineup

 

[modedepe]

I doubt we'll see many drops in prices, except maybe on the 256mb 9800 pro. The ones below have pretty much already dropped in price.

$200 for a 9600 pro isn't really much of a deal. You can get an oem one for $150, or even a retail ati card for $175. For $200 you're better off getting a 9700np.

 

[xSauronx]

if it was me (and by christmas it will be...) id get the 9600 pro

under 160 shipped at newegg

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: spam
I hear the new 9800xt is coming out Sept. 30 (according to Anandtech some are already in the stores) That being the case, it might be worth waiting a week for the anticipated price drop on the Ati card lineup

9800 pro XT is out right now in the form of a 9800 pro, just overclock to a 9800 pro "XT"

 

[VIAN]

9700 nonPro

 

[AMDgetGoin]

How about a 9600 Pro for $135 shipped

http://buyaib.com/fcoinstatira.html

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: AMDgetGoin
How about a 9600 Pro for $135 shipped

http://buyaib.com/fcoinstatira.html

Nice price

 

[xenos500]

Gainwards FX 5600 Ultra is pretty sweet, its $200 even and I bought one last month. Its flipchip and IMHO gainward is the best for vidcards.

"Oh, they dont make ATI cards? <sarcasim>Thats a shame</sarcasim>"

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: spam
I hear the new 9800xt is coming out Sept. 30 (according to Anandtech some are already in the stores) That being the case, it might be worth waiting a week for the anticipated price drop on the Ati card lineup

The XT won't compete with any of ATI's other cards so I wouldn't expect much of a price drop (if any).

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: spam
I hear the new 9800xt is coming out Sept. 30 (according to Anandtech some are already in the stores) That being the case, it might be worth waiting a week for the anticipated price drop on the Ati card lineup

The XT won't compete with any of ATI's other cards so I wouldn't expect much of a price drop (if any).

what about the 9800 pro? they are almost identical cards

 

[Jeff7181]

Nothing you buy right now is going to play games at maximum details for "months to come." The 9800 Pro does ok in HL2... the FX5900 Ulra does ok in D3... but neither are capable of what I would consider acceptable frame rates. If you have an average of 60, that's great... if it stays at 60... but it won't... it probably goes up to 100 sometimes, and dips down in the 30's other times. Now is NOT the time to buy for the future. Maybe when the next generation of GPU's come out... but not now.