Skuzzy, Bloom, anyone...Which Video Card?

[bloom25]

SOB, this is an excellent example of why it's not worth switching from your current GeForce 3:

http://www.aceshardware.com/read.jsp?id=50000356

This is one of those "do I upgrade the CPU or video card?" articles that uses an Athlon 1400 on a KT266a board as a reference.  (Which is not as CPU limited as you currently are.)

[Mogi]

I just built a new system, Athlon xp2000+, 512m  333mhz ram and used my old Geforce 2 mx400e.  The old system was an Athlon 750 with 512m 133mhz ram.

I have gone from frame rates of 40 - 50, with severe downward degradation when in busy areas, to 70 to 80 with no real degradation on the new system.  I'm waiting for prices to drop before  I buy a new card, as while I'm sure I'll see a difference, the game has become so much more playable and enjoyable on the new system.

[Octavius]

I went from a Geforce 3 Ti200 to a Radeon 9500 pro (128 bit).  Like bloom said, there wasn't a HUGE performance boost, but enough to keep me happy.

I currently have an AMD 1.2ghz CPU with a K7S5A mobo and 384mb PC2100 ddram.  I bought the CPU/mobo combo two years ago and its beginning to show its age.  I'm assuming the CPU is holding back the vid card's performance.

Aces High average framerates are in the 50s.  90 by myself and anywhere between 40-60 in action.  

I think Pfunk had posted something about a Radeon 9500 non-pro cards that can easily be 'upgraded' to 9700 status through a software tweak.  Some have reported a checkerboard effect in some games with this tweak.  A hardware review mentioned that ATI simply takes defective 9700s and calls them 9000/9500s without all the fancy doodads.  (?)  Eh, I guess if you're willing to take the risk, a 9500 non pro card goes for about $140 (?)

I bought my 9500 pro for $200 a few weeks ago at CompUSA including a warranty.  In April when the "9900s" come out (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=7589), I assume the 9700 price will drop.  I think (if it works out) I'll just exchange the current card for a 9700 pro.

[Manedew]

I've been shoping 9500's myself ... are the OEM Sahppires ok?..... Was really looking at ati made 9500 pro for extra clock speed etc ... but maybe it won't help  beyond my 1.2Ghz T-bird?


Any advice?.. sitting on radeon 7200 now kinda want something that will work with DX9.0 until I'm forced into a processor upgrade(hopeing another year +), otherwise might have gone with 9000 pro.  

Anyway   if i got the ATI 9500 pro  would it be worth it over the 9500 OEM, or would it just get bottle necked at my proccessor anyway?

[Vermillion]

Manedew, yes the OEM Saphire 9500's are great for the price.  I bought one, and it max'd out my old Athlong 1.3Ghz Tbird.  I was able successfully to overclock mine somewhat and my 3DMark2001 scores did not improve significantly.  Definitely processor limited with that card.

The non-pro 9500's are also nice because many of them are quite capable of being overclocked up to almost 9700 Pro speeds.  Mine didn't end up working out at that level, but a friend of mine in my Office ordered one, and his is working just fine after Soft9700 and overclocking to 325/310.

[Pfunk]

The Red PCD boards are very hard to find now, seems that ATI is no longer producing the moddable boards.  The memory has to be in a a 2x2 configuration above and to the right of the processor.  All the new ones that I have seen are on a black PCB and have the memory straight in a row over the processor.  These will not be able to be modded.

[Manedew]

hehe i might buy one this week now..... was going to buy decent card after newyears... but seeing the current top of the line 9500's thought i'd wait until 9900( to shove down price of 9500 pros).... if these OEM's are outrunningthe 1.5 GHz range maybe i shouldn't wait ... tnx for the info fellas .. would have bought too good of a card lol  
But still useing 7200, I need somethign new-if just for fun