Author Topic: Ati 9800 Pro vs. 9000 Pro (Read 659 times)

Ohio43 · « **on:** January 06, 2005, 02:29:34 PM »

Greatings all, noob here. Been playing for a few weeks, so some of you may recognize me in flames heading for the ground.

I have one question. I presently use an ATI 9000 Pro, and the game runs "ok", but frame rates take a huge hit on Ground View, making Jabo runs extremely rough (FPS in teens and single digits). Gunnery on ships avg. about 23 FPS. Air about 30-60 FPS (In short view)

I am using a mutt computer;
Athlon 1800XP/1.5 gig pc133 Memory/I-will KD7 mobo/ATA 133 HD
4X AGP. 17"/.25 CRT
I am a single father and can't afford much, but one day soon I will be able to plunk down $250.00 for the 9800 Pro. I really want to be able to run the game a lot better than I am now. I want a new video card but I certainly cannot afford $400.00 for the top of the line cards. I also do not want to spend $250.00 on the 9800 Pro if I do not see a drastic increase in performance. So basically Im asking if you think I would be wasting my time with the 9800 Pro. Thanks, and see you in the MA.

FOGOLD · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2005, 03:19:11 PM »

There are a few 9600XT cards knocking around just now which are cheaper than 9800 pro and would match your processor quite well.

I don't know if your board would accept DDR RAM instead of PC 133, but the saving in buying a 9600 should be spent on that.

It would make a good difference.

A better graphics card will make a big difference, no need to even go to a 9800 Pro, in fact it would be almost too fast for your processor.

MOSQ · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2005, 03:35:14 PM »

Agreed. A 9600XT or Nvidia 5700 should fill the bill. Don't spend more than $150.

Don't get a 9800 SE.

Ohio43 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2005, 04:35:40 PM »

Great, thanks for the advise. Heh, I had wasted my money on the 9600 SE a few months back..not a bad card..got same frame rates with it as i did the 9000 Pro, but not good enough for good AH2 playing. Thats why I thought I'd ask this time before blowing more money. Well, this is great..I have enough at this point to get the 9600XT.. but again, do you think the performance difference between the 9000 Pro and 9600XT would be greatly noticable?
And no, my mobo wont accomidate DDR memory.

humble · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2005, 04:46:22 PM »

I'm guessing you have the KD266 board....your a 266/200 FSB PC133 board. It's a AGP 2/4 board so you need a AGP 4/8 card. I think all the 8x will work at 4 but check to be sure....since AH is so CPU dependent the memory/FSB is also going to hurt you. Iw we assume you have $250 I'd consider a MB/CPU combo with a stick of PC2700 DDR and a "low end" Video card....

Memory 512 PC3200 $65
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3655355

MB/CPU Combo $75
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4291744

MB only...$53
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3890877

9600 XT $170
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3840127

FX5500 $80
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3840127

The memory/MB combo is $140 so the 6800 puts you over budget. I dont like the FX5500 but it "fits"....

Certainly would give you a step up and some room for growth....

Just an idea....

eagl · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2005, 05:02:40 PM »

I think putting more money into that mobo/cpu combo is a waste. The cpu is holding back AH just as much or more than the vid card.

Personally with that system I'd wait until I could afford a low end athlon 64 combo. Maybe a socket 754 would be cheap enough to fit your budget. Get 512 meg of memory with whatever cpu/mobo you can afford. Then after you have that sorted out, buy a vid card whenever you can afford it.

If your mobo won't take DDR memory, upgrading it is IMHO a waste of money. Save up a bit more and get the cpu/mobo/ddr memory upgrade first, otherwise I just don't think you'll be too happy with a vid card upgrade no matter what you buy.

humble · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2005, 05:19:09 PM »

I'd guess he'll need a new power supply for a 64. Do you think going to a sempron would be worth it eagl....guessing he could get into the 40-65 range at default settings with what I posted. It sounds like he's playing slideshow as of now....

Ghosth · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2005, 06:05:31 PM »

I put a new 2200 sempron on a Abit KV7 into an old system for my daughter.

Its nothing fancy, but that little system screams.

Only real problem I had was it wouldn't take my old Voodoo 5500 agp card. Had to settle for a Gforce 2 pci that was laying around. Not that she'd ever notice for what she does.

Ohio43 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2005, 08:26:32 PM »

I have a 300 watt power supply. So that sempron/mobo (and ddr) and the 9000 pro should be good to go?

Ohio43 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2005, 08:28:20 PM »

uh..ya,, want into a very good furball at 10FPS with what I have..at minimum settings and view. Managed to get a kill with that

but still sucked

humble · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2005, 08:42:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ohio43
I have a 300 watt power supply. So that sempron/mobo (and ddr) and the 9000 pro should be good to go?

The higher end cards use alot of juice...the 9000 pro should be fine but your right on the edge at 300....I recently got a 580W PS at Frys for $29 after rebate on a 1 day sale ($79 retail, $50 rebate). I'd keep your eyes open for a deal....Wed's frys ad (phoenix) has a sempron 2600+ CPU/MB combo (with fan) $90 and 512 of PC3200 meme for $54...also has a PNY FX 5500 128mg card for $70....so total would be $215....for ~$35 you could get a 400 W PS no problem (always something on special)...now you may not have a frys but usually you have something similiar....

Roscoroo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2005, 10:04:56 PM »

my old gamer ..

1.3ghz Amd Morgan cpu .
512 133 sdram
I swaped out the old gf 2 mx 400
for a powercolour ati 9550 256mb card (95-100.00 us )

this combo works really nice in ah 2 sliders are at 1/2 and distance is set at 3 miles fps hardly ever dip below 30 , and they avg 55-80 most of the time .

Ohio43 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2005, 07:14:41 AM »

Sweet thanks. Ya, I would be happy if I was able to keep framerates above 30 in any situation or settings.

humble · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2005, 07:59:27 AM »

All the 9550's I see currently are 128 mg ones...Ohio...based on roscos post I'd upgrade to a 256 mg 9550 first then upgrade the CPU/MB/RAM if you dont get enough additional "pop" to meet your needs...

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-243&depa=0

$80 at new egg

Ohio43 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2005, 09:11:08 AM »

I just did some checking on the ATI line of cards.
9000 Pro- 275Mhz core speed
9550- 250 Mhz
9600XT- 500 Mhz
9800 Pro- 380 Mhz

Im not sure if the Mhz is the key to a faster card or not, but if it is, you sure 9550 is the way to go? Seems like the 9600XT is the best bang for the buck, and I can afford that one.