Author Topic: Video card "Bang" for $200? (Read 793 times)

Toad · « **on:** December 07, 2002, 03:36:42 PM »

OK then. Right now I'm running a GeForce2GTS 64MB. It handles the game adequately. I get frames in the high 80's at pretty high res when I'm not in the furballs.

Now the wife wants me to pick something the boys can give me for Christmas; yeah, the money is actually siphoned from my pocket, but you know the drill.

If one is going to use a lower price point, say $200 because I just can't seeing going over that for a video card when the cards are so far ahead of the game demands already....

Pricewatch shows:

ATI RADEON 9500 PRO 128MB DDR AGP 8X TVO/DVI (Retal Box) PN#100-434102 $197 delivered.

or

Winfast Leadtek A250 TD GF4 Ti 4400 128MB DDR w/TV OUT RETAIL BOX $197 delivered.

Which is the better way to go? Or are there better choices?

paulieb · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2002, 03:52:11 PM »

I own an ASUS GeForce 4Ti 4200 128 meg card, and I have been VERY pleased with it. I can only imagine that the 4400 would be better still.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2002, 06:52:36 PM »

The 9500Pro. No brainer. It's faster than the Ti4600 cards, supports DX9, so should live a good while in your system.

Toad · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2002, 08:06:57 PM »

OK, Skuzzy.

Thanks.

Never been an ATI guy.. time to jump off the high board I guess.

They've got their drivers up to snuff finally?

eagl · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2002, 11:59:59 PM »

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1756&p=1

ATI 9500 Pro appears to be neck and neck with GF4 4600, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. It has DX9 compatibility and really leaps ahead when you turn on anti-aliasing and ansiotropic filtering.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2002, 07:38:49 AM »

Seem to Toad. As the 9500Pro is an offshoot of the 9700Pro architecture, they have had a few months to iron out things.

Between NVidia and ATI, they both seem about the same right now in the driver department. Both companies releasing drivers at about the same clip, and both companies screwin up at about the same clip too.

Look at it this way. If you don't like it, then return it.

Eagler · « **Reply #6 on:** December 08, 2002, 08:28:27 AM »

Check out your 2d desktop quality on the ATI.
I think it'll be a big suprise, in a good way, if you havent been an ATI guy before

Creamo · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2002, 06:49:43 PM »

The 9500Pro. No brainer. It's faster than the Ti4600 cards, supports DX9, so should live a good while in your system.

Im in. FEB 2003.

Thanks.

Wlfgng · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2002, 10:03:29 AM »

went with the 9700 pro, thanks for the info skuzzy

SunKing · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2002, 09:10:04 AM »

Is this the 9700 model "to get" ?

http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/doc2/369550.html

It's the retail version.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2002, 09:31:20 AM »

That's the one SunKing.

Creamo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2002, 04:29:51 AM »

ATI 9700 PRO looks to be pretty damn mean. I don't think I'll try and save a few bucks on the 9500 but it's really not a bad option either it sounds like.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2002, 08:25:42 AM »

The 9700Pro is incredibly fast, but only when you really load it up (i.e. 1600x1200x332 bit color and full FSAA). It just does not bog down.
Downside is you really cannot buy a CPU today that can keep the thing busy enough.

I know a lot of people are waiting on the GF-FX card, figuring ATI will drop the 9700Pro price, but I do not see that happening for a couple of reasons.

1) NVidia has announced a retail of just under $500.00 for the FX card.
2) ATI sold over 1 million 9700Pro's in the first month of retail production.

Combine those two things, and only an incompentent accountant would suggest lowering the price of the 9700Pro.

So if you are thinking of getting one, might as bite the bullet now. There just is no reason for ATI to lower the price for quite some time.
Probably in March, when the ATI R350 is slated to hit the streets is when the 9700Pro may see a price drop.

Fuzzy · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2002, 12:46:15 PM »

Just got my Radeon 9700PRO yesterday.
With:
Athlon 1.2gHz,512 pc-133, etc
I get FR in SOLID 50's @1600x1200 with AA at 6X ant AF at 16x, though the text buffer looks odd with the filtering up that high. NO slow down in the normal areas, ie over base being vulched through smoke with an La 7 and Niki in tow shooting so much it looks like Baghdad at night... Anyway I too upgraded from a GF2 GTS and found this card for $269 at newegg.com.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2002, 02:07:52 PM »

Wait until you upgrade your CPU and memory bus speed. You are very CPU limited right now with that card.