Half-Life 2 GFX Question...

[Xenogias]

I wanna know... If there are any other video cards out there with DX9.0 properties that can run HL2 nicely, besides the GeForce 6800 GT/Ultra & the Radeon x800.

Those two cards are still too damn expensive for me (The fact I dont have a job, and im a 20yr old man so dont expect me to go up to my mother/father and tell um to lend me $300-$400 cause I already know the answer). Damn I need a job... but anyway... I really want to play HL2... I got this big ass ego about the Half-Life Community and I wanna be there...

I currently have a:

GeForce 4 MX420 (I think with DX8.1 Properties, its a PCI though)
Pentium 4 2.53ghz
512mb SDRAM

Im not so worried about Ram right now, most of the people I know have like a gig and still have trouble with HL2 for some odd reason. Every site I have checked only reviews x800 & 6800 GT/Ultra... Theres gotta be atleast 1 card besides those two that is cheaper and has DX9.0 properties... But I haven't found one. I donno that much about Video Cards... But can someone help me out here? Im trying to get a video card that runs HL2 with standard DX9.0 setting, but doesn't cost so fricken much...

Im not asking @ steampowered either... I hate Steam + I hate the community there... The losers in that forum are nothin' but CS junkies who rather flame than give a descent reply.

 

[Hsu]

I am using the 9800 pro and it runs hl2 at around 60 fps. I would say get the 9800 xt. It is DX9 and should be pretty cheap.

 

[Sicron]

yeah i got 9800 xt, at highest graphics its about 50-60 fps, it supports dx9b if im right and isnt that expensive anymore

 

[Ravendust]

Thirded, I have one too. A 9800XT will get you through HL2 fine, and it's fairly cheap since the release of the X800XT.

 

[Xenogias]

Well, I checked the price on a web-site for the 9800 XT and its priced at 499 (Which is realy, probably like 550 incluting tax and all... The cheapest one I found is the 9600 XT, and its priced at about 150. I donno if it can run HL2 at highest settings but if it can run it with atleast 40-100 (or plus) FPS then thats good enough for me...

Well I found 9800 Pro at Circuit City for 299.99... Bleh, I guess I will go with that one :\ Arg, gotta start saving money :\

 

[Sicron]

9800xt for 499? thats wrong, the x800xt cost like 550, they wouldnt sell an older card for 499 then

 

[Ravendust]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-121-520&depa=0

$360, but I got mine a good few months ago for less than that on eBay, bit of a risk but it payed out, i've had no problems with it.

 

[Tassadar]

Yuck, definatly don't pay 360 for a 9800 XT, the 98XTs performance leap over the 98 Pro's aren't even close to being worth the 180 dollar price gap.
If I were you, I'd grab a 6800 non-ultra, non-gt, unlock the pipelines to 16, and you have yourself a 400 dollar card you paid 275 (at newegg) for. I do 90+ FPS on CSS with my 6800, with AA and AF at 2x/2x, without the extra pipelines unlocked.

 

[DiebytheSword]

The 9800 pro can also be upgraded to the 9800 xt spec with some bios patching

But as Hsu said, an 9800 pro got me through HL2 without a dip below 40 fps with the bells and whistles on high.

 

[SaiyanPrideXIX]

Well everyone and their mother knows my history with HL2. I'll say this: most of the game hit the refresh cap of 99fps for me, it was just whatever odd random skipping problems were occuring.

So graphically speaking, a 9700 Pro is enough to get it running smooth. As long as you are lucky enough not to have the problems I had.

 

[Hash]

If your not gonna go for the top of the line 6800/x800 stuff. Then I highly suggest the 6600 GT. It is an awesome card for the money. It has all the new tehcnology it's 6800 brother has (like sm 3.0, newer HDR and such), but obviously it does it slower. Still, it's not a slowpoke by any means, it beats the 9800 XT in almost everything out there, and it's got more features than the 9800 XT as well. Too top it all off, it's extremely affordable, around $300 (canadian), so thats like, about $250 american.

It's an all around great card. And I highly, highly suggest that if your not gonna get a card in the 6800/x800 price range, then get the 6600 GT. It blows the rest of the competition out of the water.