Author Topic: New Video Cards - suggestions (Read 2923 times)

Enduro · « **on:** June 02, 2006, 10:01:10 AM »

Folks,

I have an extra pay period this month; so, I'm thinking about buying a new video card for my system. I haven't taken the chance to read reviews on the hardware that's available right now. I know this community is up on the latest wonder cards, though.

Would appreciate your input. Looking to spend -$300 if possible.

My box is a Dell yea, Dell Dimension 8250 P4 2.4GHz / 768 MB RAMBUS.
I don't know the motherboard, but it's a Dell.

Currently am using a RADEON 9500 Pro / 9700 with Omega drivers and have been pretty happy with it the last several years.

Much appreciated,

Enduro

38ruk · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2006, 10:56:41 AM »

The 7800GS (280-$300) is the best AGP video card availiable on the market, and will probably be that best AGP card you will ever be able to get . Unfortuantley with a 2.4 ghz cpu you wont be able to push a 7800 series card . This is just my opinion , but i would say that you are cpu limited . You could put a 7800 in and not see much of difference . You could try a 9800pro , but its not a big difference from a 9700 . Maybe someone else has done the same upgrade in here and will have more info . 38

Birddogg · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2006, 11:27:06 AM »

9800s too weak, pretty much same as 9700pro.

If i was you'd I'd invest in more RAM 512MB or 1GB ($85) and rest spend on a card, considerin your CPU i'd get something along the lines of 6800 ultra or ATI X800, x850.

Krusty · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2006, 11:50:35 AM »

Don't forget the option of upgrading the CPU at a later time, as well!

If you get (for example) a Ge7800 now, you might not get all the performance out of it, but it will run better than what you have. Then later, if you upgrade your CPU to a higher level, you *will* get more performance out of the Ge7800.

It just depends on the cpu socket type, I guess.

Wilbus · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2006, 04:54:38 PM »

Have the exact same system and thinking about doing the same thing. (I've got 512mb ram though). I am not sure it is worth it though. CPU and RAM will most likely be the things that slows it down.

Birddogg, upgrading the RAM isn't really an option as it is RAMBUS RDRAM. Not sure of the price in the US but in sweden it is about 3 times as expensive as normal DDR2.

For 512mb more I'd have to couch up 300 dollars.

Birddogg · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2006, 05:10:25 PM »

you're right wilbus, i missed the RAMBUS part.

mentalguy · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2006, 10:31:10 PM »

You still got better than my 9200 Xtasy.
Grr... the drivers suck.

Enduro · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2006, 02:57:00 AM »

alright, thanks for the feedback guys. i'll just keep the money in the bank and consider building a new box later on down the road.

cheers!

Wilbus · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2006, 03:29:53 AM »

Believe I will do the same Enduro.

Rgr Birddogg, easy to miss.

I now regret that I chose a computer with RAMBUS, didn't know it would stay expensive as hell for ever

Silat · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2006, 07:56:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 38ruk
The 7800GS (280-$300) is the best AGP video card availiable on the market, and will probably be that best AGP card you will ever be able to get . Unfortuantley with a 2.4 ghz cpu you wont be able to push a 7800 series card . This is just my opinion , but i would say that you are cpu limited . You could put a 7800 in and not see much of difference . You could try a 9800pro , but its not a big difference from a 9700 . Maybe someone else has done the same upgrade in here and will have more info . 38

800xt ati is best bet for the system you have. No need spending more money for a card since you will have to upgrade in a year or so and your new MB wont be able to use the card you just bought.
And I have a 2.8 with a 470 watt ps. This is the card I bought to replace my 9800pro.
It is definately a move up.

Mayhem · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2006, 08:24:10 PM »

x850xt or 7800gs based cards.
the x850xt is very overcloackable has VIVO and is a little faster then the 7800 but it lacks Pixel shader 3.0 support (has 2.0)

the 7800gs is cheaper yet darn near as fast as a x850xt and has pixel shader 3.0 support but it lack vivo (only has video out no in)

ATI has been release new cards in AGP up to and including the 1800 however they can be hard to find and I do not know how they stack up against the x850xt and the 7800gs

Me I chose the x850xt becuase I need VIVO. If I did not need VIVO I probably would have gone with the 7800 simply becuase it is alot cheaper.

I was in a simular situation. I was running ...

p4 2.8ghz ht
1gb cas2 ddr
gigabyte ga-8knxp rev 2 478 875p mb
ati radeon aiw 9800 pro
creative SB audioligy 2 az plat.

I upgraded the Video card to a x850xt the cpu to a 3.4ghz HT added 1gb cas2 ddr mem and threw in a water cooling system due to the p4 478 prescots run hot, I think intel even stoped making them due to heat issues.

38ruk · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2006, 10:48:18 PM »

Quote

the x850xt is very overcloackable has VIVO and is a little faster then the 7800 but it lacks Pixel shader 3.0 support (has 2.0)

Every bennchmark ive seen puts the 7800GS above the X850, XT, PE, PRO, it doesnt matter . It makes sense since its a next generation card when compared to the 850 series . Do you have any links to show the 850 beating a 7800? Dont get me wrong , im not trying to be a smart bellybutton , i just like to have my facts straight . I read a statement from ATI that said the X850 series would be the last of their high-end AGP cards, Diamond MM had a typo on their website that said there was going to be a X1800 in AGP . They have since released a statement that said they were sorry for the typo . Have you seen a X1800 on the net somewhere ?

eagl · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2006, 10:54:31 PM »

I'm pretty sure the 7800GS would be faster than any ATI 850, like 38ruk said. The mid level current gen cards beat the high end last gen cards even though they're priced about the same.

I wouldn't buy any ATI 8xx series or nvidia 8xxx series card at this point. The same priced ati 1xxx and nvidia 7xxx cards are simply faster and have more features than the last gen cards.

38ruk · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2006, 11:05:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Silat
800xt ati is best bet for the system you have. No need spending more money for a card since you will have to upgrade in a year or so and your new MB wont be able to use the card you just bought.
And I have a 2.8 with a 470 watt ps. This is the card I bought to replace my 9800pro.
It is definately a move up.

This is what i would buy in your case , Its cheap , and will be a step up . I read a bunch of review on different sites ,and people in the same situation have seen a noticable in crease in video performance . At 139 , it makes it easier to buy even thou you wont be able to carry over to your next system .
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102609

Quote

I wouldn't buy any ATI 8xx series or nvidia 8xxx series card at this point. The same priced ati 1xxx and nvidia 7xxx cards are simply faster and have more features than the last gen cards.

If it was PCIe id agree Eagl, Unfortunately the AGP market is really poor

Roscoroo · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2006, 12:01:59 AM »

ati makes a x1600 512mb agp thats the cats meow for agp ... 1200mhz vpu

(hell its faster then some of your guys pc's)

http://www.crucial.com/store/listmodule.asp?family=VIDEO%20CARD&tabid=AGP%20Graphics%20Card

I have 2 crucial cards and ive been very happy with them ...