Which video card?

[ssmithBH]

I am upgrading from a P2-450 Dell system with a 16MB Nvidea TNT card (10/98) to a P4 i850E system home-built system (probably 2.53 P4 cpu, Gigabyte 8IHXP, 512-768 MB 1066 RDRAM). I have been using the system only for HO use, but plan to use the new system for HO plus gaming (haven't even tried recent games with the old system), home theater, and graphics (photoshop, illustrator) over the next 12 to 18 months. My monitor is a 21" Dell branded trinitron (10/98), which I will continue to use for at least the next 12 months. My wife and I are in a one bedroom apartment and the PC shares the same space as the home theater. Since one of us occassionally uses the PC while the other is watching TV, the PC (including graphics card) must be quiet.

My upgrade budget can absorb a GF4 4200 or 4600 or even the ATI 9700 Pro (perhaps even the AIW 9700?). I'm also aware that NV30 is just around the corner. On the other hand, there is always something just around the corner, and for a number of reasons, I need to upgrade now.

Several questions: Since I don't need to be on the bleading edge now (whatever I get will seem to scream next to what I have now!), am I better off getting a less expensive card now, and waiting to see what NV30 brings? Or get a high flying card now, and use it in health for 18 to 36 months (until $ burns a hole in my pocket again)?

Based on your thoughts about graphic card strategy, what specific card would you recommend?

 

[ssmithBH]

BUMP?

 

[eaadams]

4200 now & then sell it and get a 9700pro or nv30 easter time. OR get the 9700pro now and take the chance. No one knows performance of the nv30 at all. Not even a idea of anything. it is IMHO vaporware untill we see something.

 

[Wolfsraider]

anytime i have the money now i get the best i can afford.this has always worked best for me and the upgrades usually last 2.5 to 3 years so i'm not constantly upgrading.

i just bought the 9700 pro retail and i'm loving it lol i had a gforce 2mx 200 and i love the wow factor.

i tried the upgrade to the middle of the market thing but i was spending more and getting less imho

the radeon card is a good investment as well as a 4600.and seeing as you like speed (2.53/1066/512-768 overclocking etc) i'd definately recommend the 9700 to compliment that setup

hope this helps
mike

ps as usual this is my humble opinion

 

[AnAndAustin]

Yup, the 2 most popular ways to upgrade is either to spend a little frequently (eg new mid-range gfx card every 12 months) or to go all out every 3 years or so. Either way you're probably spending the same amount, the 'little frequently' is what I prefer to do as although I'm never at the top of the food chain I never get stung badly by new technology. Not only thatbut just as an example, you could:

1. Spend $350 on Rad9700 now and keep it for 3 years or so.
2. Spend $100-150 on Rad8500-GF4TI4200 now, replacing it in 6-12 months time with a Rad9700, NV30 or the 'budget' versions which will surely be out.

The advantage of method 2 is that you've spent less money, significantly less money when you consider you'll still get a good price for a GF4TI4200 in 6-12 months time ... in 2-3 years the Rad9700 will be looking decidedly old and inferior, at least compared to the new cards and prob the mid-range cards too. With method 1 you'll get great technology at the time and be king for 3-6 months but will gradually fade in to the mid-range and will then be looking at getting nothing for your 'great technology' of yester-year by the time you can afford to shell out the cash again.

So my advice would be to get the Rad9700 now as it is truly awesome and DX9 will keep you playing the top games for a couple of years at least, as said you are getting top kit (although PC1066 is a bit wasteful and DDR would be a better choice) and you really want a card to match. OR and my personal pref, get a Rad8500/9000PRO or pref GF4TI4200 now and watch how the market develops over the next 3-12 months ... we should see how NV30 perfs as well as seeing sub-$200 versions (eg Rad9500) and gradual price drops for GF4TI.

 

[Mockmaw]

If you'd like a quiet card, the Radeon 9000 128mb version has just a heatsink. The speed isn't nearly up to that of the Gf4 Ti's and Radeon 9700, but it's enough to play all the games out right now at the least.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Yeah of the quietest gfx cards (ie the ones which can run without a fan) the Rad9000 is tops. It's a good 20% slower than Rad9000PRO, which is generally a fair bit slower than Rad8500 which in turn is a fair bit slower than GF4TI. But it does have full DX8 hw (like the other cards just mentioned) and although it won't get the most from your CPU if you need the best of the absolute quietest solutions Rad9000 it is. Still, the noisiest gfx card fan I've ever heard is still quiet when compared to PSUs let alone case fans in combination, so it may be wise to choose any of the modern gfx cards, 4200 in particular shouldn't need much cooling at all so you could consider modding the card withan ultra quiet fan IF it turns out to unsatisfactory.

 

[Budmantom]

Buy a GF4Ti4200 for about $100 it will be a drastic improvement over what you have now, then in a year if you need/want a better card you can sell the 4200 for $50 and buy a great card for under $200 (that will be faster then 9700/4600).

my .02

 

[Alptraum]

I would say go for the 9700 or TI4600. I am the type that usually goes for the fastest out at any one time so I dont have to bother with replacing it anytime soon. I was in the same position you are now a week or two ago trying to figure out what I wanted to replace my old card with and while I almost went with a Ti4600 I decided on the 9700 since the price difference was only about $50. Should serve well for a year or three.