Know a lot about video cards?

[Phatslugga]

I need some help in choosing video cards. Right now, I have a little over $200 saved up for a video card. I went to bestbuy and saw the Radeon 9600 for $200, then I looked and saw the 9800 for $300. I really need to update soon (I want it before the 8th), but I'm not sure which one I shoulg get. The 9800 will probably last longer, but then I need to spend another $100. So my question is, should I just get the 9600, or is the 9800 worth the extra $100?

My computer is kind of crappy, but here are the specs:
AMD Athlon XP 1700+ ~1.5gh
512mb RAM
SB Live! Audio
(current video card) Nvidia GeForce3 64 mb

 

[DPredator]

I suggest buying the 9600 and save money again for like 2-3 months and then buy the latest card that is out then

 

[The Cheese]

Try www.newegg.com, they're great I have ordered at least 5 systems off of there for myself and friends and have never had a problem with them. They usually will have your item to you in 2-3 days.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&depa=1

SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9800 PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -BULK $209.00

- Specifications -

Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9800 PRO/380MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/680MHz
BUS: AGP 8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video Out)+DVI Connector
Support 3D API: DirectX®9, OpenGL®2.0
Cable/Accessories: 4 Cables, VGA via DVI Adapter, PowerDVD, Driver CD
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz

Model#: RADEON 9800PRO 128M
Item#: N82E16814102268

Rating: Vote(s): 335 Review(s): 218
Free FedEx Saver Shipping

 

[Alteh]

I would suggest going to a computer fair/show. Im not sure if they have them everywhere but you can get all kinds of stuff for you computer for very cheap.

 

[Phatslugga]

Ugh, well I need to go to Best Buy, becuase somoene have me a $100 gift card there -_-. Sucks, becuase Krillen just pointed out that the 9800 is out for $209 on newegg. Maybe I'll just use teh card for something else and save up another 100 for the card on newegg.

*edit* I also just noticed a card on the Best Buy Website called the e-GeForce FX 5700 LE, anyone know if it's Directx 9 compatible or any good at all?

 

[KyoKusanagi]

Don't bother wasting your money on a standard 9600. They're just not worth the money. if it was a 9600 pro then i would consider it but if you can make the stretch i'd get the 9800.

 

[Chrono5788]

5700 is DirectX 9 compatible. The ATi cards have better DirectX performance, though, and nVidia's been plauged with driver problems.

 

[Smith|]

5700SE performs at about 5600 Non Ultra speed.

9600 Non Pro is not worth it as it's just pathetic in dx9 due to lower clocks (325/400) compared to 9600Pro's (500/600).

The 9800 Pro is still a good card that can peform well in any of today's games but might be held back a little in tommorrows. It beats the 9600Pro and the 5700Ultra in every test due to having twice the pixel pipelines and a 256bit memory bus.

I say wait for a little while for some of the next generation cards as the X800 SE is supposed to be faster than the 9800Pro ;D.

On a performance value, I'll put these cards in order from least to best.

5700 SE
9600 Non Ultra
5700
9600 Pro
5700 Ultra
9600 XT
5900 XT
5900
9800
5900 Ultra
9800 Pro
5950 Ultra
9800 XT
6800 - Not released
6800 Ultra - Not released

=0. I'd suggest either the 9600 XT or the 5700 Ultra. The 5700 Ultra performs better in quake 3 based games and older games, but the 9600XT performs worlds better in dx 9 games.

 

[Chrono5788]

By Quake III games, he means OpenGL games.

 

[Smith|]

Not all open gl games, but the majority of the quake 3 based games =\.

nVidia has been known at being good at opengl though.

 

[Phatslugga]

It is the pro.. sorry for not specifying. Allright then... I guess I'll just save for now and see what comes out. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Prozac]

5700 SE
9600 Non Ultra
5700
9600 Pro
5700 Ultra
9600 XT
5900 XT
5900
9800
5900 Ultra
9800 Pro
5950 Ultra
9800 XT
6800 - Not released
6800 Ultra - Not released

Where is the 9800 XT
and why is the 9800 below 9600
seeing how the 9800 "owns" the 9600 in every benchmark test

The 9800 Pro is still a good card that can peform well in any of today's games but might be held back a little in tommorrows.

huh, why?

 

[Tassadar]

I recently purchased a 5700 Ultra that was around 170, clocks at 450/1,000 MHz. GDDR3 RAM. It's nice, I would recommend it.

 

[Ultima2_freeze]

Have you checked out the 9600XT yet?

 

[Chrono5788]

9800 will be slower with tomorrows games because...

Eh, have you SEEN the Unreal 3.0 tech in action?

 

[DiebytheSword]

Honestly, any GFX card you get will be useless in less than 5 years, especially now on the horizon of programmable shader acceleration. Even if you buy the bleeding edge ones. It's a vicious cycle, and it will never end.

 

[Jaredster]

Honestly, any GFX card you get will be useless in less than 5 years, especially now on the horizon of programmable shader acceleration. Even if you buy the bleeding edge ones. It's a vicious cycle, and it will never end.

welcome to the world of technology.

This is the same with pretty much everything, CPUs clock speeds doubling every 18 months, and all kinds of stuff.

 

[SailorAlea]

Well, we will eventually reach an unsurpassable limit, at least with current transistor technology.

Perhaps, we'll find another technology to get around this limitation, like we did when we replaced vacuum tubes.

But, like then, I can't imagine what it'll be.

 

[Phatslugga]

If it lasts me a year I'm happy. It probably will becuase I don't upgrade video cards unless the games I really want to play are down to 20 fps. Heh, I remember when I got my first monster card... wasn't even a card.. it pluged into your current card, I was so happy... but now.. it's worthless -_-.

 

[Smith|]

Where is the 9800 XT
and why is the 9800 below 9600
seeing how the 9800 "owns" the 9600 in every benchmark test



huh, why?

It was going from worst (top) to best (bottom )

The 9800XT is in there, just look.

I know the 9800 "owns" the 9600 in every benchmark due to twice the pixel pipelines (Raw pixel pushing power) and over twice the bandwidth .

Try reading better next time, gg owned .

/me huggles Prozzy