Author Topic: Which Video card? (Read 473 times)

JB42 · « **on:** August 06, 2004, 09:16:56 AM »

I have a choice between ATI 9600 SE and an ATI 9200 DDR. Which one will run AH2 the best?

ChasR · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2004, 12:31:10 PM »

Neither is going to be very good running AH2. Overall their performance level is about the same but with sometimes large differences in certain games. The 9600 SE has a faster GPU but is hamstrung with a 64bit memory interface. The 9200 addresses memory @ 128 bit but has a slower clock. So which card performs best in a given game depends on how much data is transfered in and out of memory. Lots of data and the 9200 wins. My guess is in AH2 both these cards will have to be run in maximum performance mode as opposed to quality, reducing memory dependency and thus making the 9600SE the better choice.
If I'm not mistaken the Omega drivers contain a soft mod that converts the 9600SE to a 9600. That makes it the better choice.

SlapShot · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2004, 01:05:27 PM »

If I'm not mistaken the Omega drivers contain a soft mod that converts the 9600SE to a 9600. That makes it the better choice.

Be carefull of this ... Not all 9600 SE can utilize this mod, as a matter of fact ... very few could, and those that could most probably are already sold.

I have a 9600 SE (that now collects dust) that would not take the mod. When the mod was applied, the artifacts (checker-board effect) were off the hook.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2004, 01:11:09 PM »

The 9200 is also a 4 pipe card versus the 8 pipes of the 9600SE.

I would not use either one of them.

ChasR · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2004, 03:09:48 PM »

Skuzzy,
My info says the 9600 cards are 4 pipe. The 9800s are 8 pipe except the 9800 SE which is a 4 pipe card.
The 9200 is a DirectX 8 card while the 9600SE is DX 9.
Based on Slapshot's comments relative to the softmod, I have to agree with Skuzzy, neither of them are a good choice.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2004, 03:27:32 PM »

DOH! You are correct Chasr. Sorry about that. I knew when I was typing it something was not right. Got cross-eyed.

The 9200 is actually the R200 (originally the 8500 Radeon) core, while the 9600SE is the RV360 core (same as the 9600XT, but clocked significantly slower).

JB42 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2004, 03:39:15 PM »

Well i'm working with a GeForce 440MX 64 right now. I gotta believe one of these is better.

ChasR · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2004, 04:02:24 PM »

The GeForce 440MX 64 is very close in performance to both the 9200 and 9600SE. It's faster than the 9600SE in some games (Nascar Thunder, Call of Duty). I wouldn't call changing from a GeForce 440MX to a 9200 or 9600SE an upgrade. It would be more a lateral move. The gain wouldn't be worth the bother of uninstalling the nVidia drivers, wiping the traces from the registry, and reinstalling the ATi stuff.

SpiveyCH · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2004, 03:41:46 PM »

Running the same card as you 42. Do you have the Omega drivers installed?? My FR was alot higher after installing this driver.