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General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Stratocaster on June 03, 2004, 08:58:36 PM

Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 03, 2004, 08:58:36 PM
GeForce FX 5200 Video Card, AGP, 128MB DDR
 Price:   $99.99


I curently have a geforce 2......... would this be compatible? 1.69 Ghz
P4 CPU 1.70 GHz
256 MB of ram
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Makarov9 on June 03, 2004, 09:21:29 PM
5200 FX is a waste of money. It's at the bottom of the heap on Tom's Hardware video card comparison. I have one in my spare system and it is not worth $99.

The best card for that price range is the ATI 9600 (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-305&depa=0) . However the best cost/perfomance is probably the ATi 9600 Pro or XT. (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-291&depa=0)
Title: How about this card?
Post by: dracon on June 03, 2004, 10:43:06 PM
Agree!!

I am totally impressed with my ATI 9600XT.  I've had it since Christmas.  Running Omega 5.2.44 (CAT 4.5's)

Title: How about this card?
Post by: Gixer on June 04, 2004, 01:11:56 AM
GeForce FX isn't very good. Best bang for your back by far is the ATI 9600XT have one in my system after ditching a GeForce 4200ti and it's much better get 75fps constant in AH2.

However one point to remember like AH1 AH2 is (unfortunetly) more dependent on CPU then graphics card. Which maybe dosn't say much for the graphics engine.



...-Gixer
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 04, 2004, 09:48:40 AM
THanks for the help guys at 26 bucks more I think I will get one...... but hold that thought..... with my given specs would the new card improve my FR?
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 04, 2004, 10:03:15 AM
Hold the phone.............. I could get a new comp altogether.... somone check this out... http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

its the dimension 2400

tell me about it
Title: How about this card?
Post by: snapperhead on June 04, 2004, 10:16:00 AM
128MB of SHARED system memory, hell I am suprised it will even run XP with that.  If you plan on buying that you might as well take $500 and literally flush it down the toilet.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: snapperhead on June 04, 2004, 10:21:31 AM
Do you live anywhere near Dallas or in California?  $64.99 XP2500+ and motherboard at Fry's.  Add $150 for 512MB memory, add $150 for vid card and that computer would smoke the Dell you were looking at and end up beaing cheaper


http://newspaperads.dfw.com/p2_images/17/ROP/ROPAdSubregions/3956227.gif.gif
Title: How about this card?
Post by: gofaster on June 04, 2004, 10:33:29 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Stratocaster
THanks for the help guys at 26 bucks more I think I will get one...... but hold that thought..... with my given specs would the new card improve my FR?


ATI 9600XT is the way to go.  I dropped one into my Dell Dimension P4 1.2 (or 1.3Ghz, I can't remember exactly) Ghz machine and I'm getting frames between 30-70 in AH2.  I had added system memory a year or so ago, and I would suggest you do, too.  You don't need a new system.  Yours is good for another year or two, if you add the ATI 9600XT and maybe some memory.

Check out http://www.provantage.com for price and speed of delivery.  I ordered my ATI 9600XT on Tuesday, got it on Thursday via FedEx (FedEx rocks!).

(http://www.provantage.com/FullSize/HW_83843.JPG)

edit: Here's the one I bought:  $173.63. (http://www.provantage.com/pr_83843.htm)

If you do a search on ProVantage's site, it'll generate some other makes of the ATI Radeon 9600XT (Asus, for example).
Title: How about this card?
Post by: ergRTC on June 04, 2004, 11:41:08 AM
careful stratocaster, your prices look a little high.  5200s have been under 70 dollars for ages...
http://accessmicro.com/content/products/productinfo.cfm?partnumber=VGACHFX20&product_id=49615

I would suggest the 9600xt too though.  I have never used ati myself, but I did try a 5200 for a couple of hours, and was not all that impressed.  It will work though.

That 9600xt will be about 100 dollars more than the 5200, and with your system, hmmm..


That dell is a joke, dont even think about it.  You will still want a decent vid card, and your system should do fine the way it is.  If you get a good vid card now, you can always move it to a new system later.  If you get that pos dell now, you have only a harddrive and some memory to move to a decent system later.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: streakeagle on June 04, 2004, 01:30:14 PM
Why get a 9600XT for $150 when you can get a 9800 Pro for $170? Gotta love Pricewatch :)

But for older slower computers, a Radeon 8500/9100 128MB is still a great choice at a great price.

Of course even in slower computers that bottleneck cards like the 9800 Pro, you can run AF and FSAA full tilt without any effects on frame rates. I should know. The 9800 Pro only marginally increased my frame rates, but now I play with AFx16 and FSAAx4 at 1600x1200x32 with every game :)

I still use the 8500 and 9100 with all of my other computers. I just have to vary the quality settings with every game to support 1600x1200x32 or stick with 1024x768x32 with max quality.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: soda72 on June 04, 2004, 02:07:56 PM
What about the new cards coming out?

Radeon x800 XT P.E. or the Geforce 6800 Ultra..
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 04, 2004, 02:13:53 PM
hehe a 9600 pro seems the way to go eh? but I want to get away with this for under 150..

how about this? http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=308486&pfp=BROWSE
Title: How about this card?
Post by: snapperhead on June 04, 2004, 05:17:02 PM
Quote
Originally posted by streakeagle
Why get a 9600XT for $150 when you can get a 9800 Pro for $170? Gotta love Pricewatch :)

But for older slower computers, a Radeon 8500/9100 128MB is still a great choice at a great price.

Of course even in slower computers that bottleneck cards like the 9800 Pro, you can run AF and FSAA full tilt without any effects on frame rates. I should know. The 9800 Pro only marginally increased my frame rates, but now I play with AFx16 and FSAAx4 at 1600x1200x32 with every game :)

I still use the 8500 and 9100 with all of my other computers. I just have to vary the quality settings with every game to support 1600x1200x32 or stick with 1024x768x32 with max quality.



Better beware of Pricewatch many of those cheap 9800Pro's are throttled down and run at 128bit bus which is essentially a 9800SE as opposed to the 256bit bus true 9800 pros run at.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: MOSQ on June 04, 2004, 06:09:59 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Stratocaster
hehe a 9600 pro seems the way to go eh? but I want to get away with this for under 150..

how about this? http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=308486&pfp=BROWSE


Strato, Here's my two cents, and that's about all it's worth!
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=118835 (http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=118835)
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 04, 2004, 07:50:10 PM
OK...... from your post it seems this is the way to go? http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=312997&pfp=SEARCH

thanks
Title: How about this card?
Post by: DREDIOCK on June 04, 2004, 08:09:30 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Gixer
GeForce FX isn't very good. Best bang for your back by far is the ATI 9600XT have one in my system after ditching a GeForce 4200ti and it's much better get 75fps constant in AH2.

However one point to remember like AH1 AH2 is (unfortunetly) more dependent on CPU then graphics card. Which maybe dosn't say much for the graphics engine.



...-Gixer


I have the GeForce and contrary to what everyone is writing on this thread. it Works just fine. and I have Zero complaints
and works fine on any Game I've installed. Unlike the things I hear about The ATI cards.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: eilif on June 04, 2004, 09:11:13 PM
im thinking of gettin 9800xt, got 9600se right now, i might get some bottle neck effects tho because i only got a 1.6 ghz processor, got 1 gig of ram tho.

 anyone know of some good amd chips? been thinking of going way out and getting 3ghz , will need a good mother board too. :confused:
Title: How about this card?
Post by: MOSQ on June 04, 2004, 09:31:35 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Stratocaster
OK...... from your post it seems this is the way to go? http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=312997&pfp=SEARCH

thanks


Newegg has better prices.  Go to Newegg, click on Computer Hardware Tab, then click on Shop by Category, then scroll down to Video Cards. Use the tool on the left to bring up any kind of chipset you want to compare. Newegg has 10x the selection of Compusa.

Asylum is an excellent brand, that's what I got at Frys.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: ergRTC on June 04, 2004, 11:57:53 PM
you can get a motherboard and 64bit amd3200+ for about 350 dollars these days.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 05, 2004, 08:12:37 AM
Only reason I like CompUSA is that its 10 mins away by car :)
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 05, 2004, 08:12:41 AM
Only reason I like CompUSA is that its 10 mins away by car :)
Title: How about this card?
Post by: AWCHKRS on June 05, 2004, 01:11:36 PM
While you at CompUSA , compare the specs on the ATI 9600 XX what ever and the specs on The BFG Tech Asylem FX 5700 Ultra DDR2  128

ASYLUM GeForce FX 5700 Ultra   $129.00

from BFG Technologies

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At last – an affordable 3D graphics card that really, seriously tears it up!

Features

AGP 8X (compatible with 4X and 2X AGP 2.0 compliant slots)
Up to 4 pixels per clock rendering engine
Up to 16 textures per pass
NVIDIA® CineFX™ 2.0 engine, NVIDIA® nView™ multi- display technology and NVIDIA® Forceware™ unified software environment (USE)  
NVIDIA® UltraShadow™ technology enhances performance of bleeding-edge games that use
complex shadows
Included in Box

Full retail content, ships in white box.
Asylum™ GeForce™ FX 5700 Ultra graphics card
Quick install manual
DVI to VGA connector  
Driver CD, which includes
NVIDIA® Forceware™ graphics driver
Full installation manual .pdf  
NVIDIA® NVDVD™ 2.0 multimedia software
Windowblinds™ BFG / Asylum Windows XP skins


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Specifications

GPU NVIDIA® GeForce™ FX 5700 Ultra
Bus Type AGP
Memory 128MB DDR
Core Clock 475MHz
Memory Clock 900MHz (effective)
RAMDAC Dual 400MHz
API Support Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0, OpenGL for Microsoft® Windows®
Connectors VGA, DVI, S-Video out
356 million vertices/sec.
14.4GB/sec. memory bandwidth
 
Minimum System Requirements

Intel Pentium®III, AMD® Duron™ or Athlon™ class processor or higher
128MB of RAM
A minimum 250W system power supply
An available hard disk drive power dongle (smaller floppy disk drive connector is not sufficient)
CD or DVD-ROM Drive
10MB available hard disk space (50MB for full installation)
Microsoft® Windows® 95 OSR2, 98 or higher, ME, 2000, XP, NT4.0 with service pack 5 or 6
Refresh Rates
 
Resolution
 8-bit color
 16-bit color
 32-bit color
 
 
640 x 480
 240Hz
 240Hz
 240Hz
 
800 x 600
 240Hz
 240Hz
 240Hz
 
848 x 480
 240Hz
 240Hz
 240Hz
 
1024 x 768
 240Hz
 240Hz
 200Hz
 
1152 x 864
 200Hz
 200Hz
 170Hz
 
1280 x 960
 170Hz
 170Hz
 150Hz
 
1280 x 1024
 170Hz
 170Hz
 150Hz
 
1360 x 768
 170Hz
 170Hz
 150Hz
 
1600 x 1024
 120Hz
 120Hz
 100Hz
 
1600 x 1200
 120Hz
 120Hz
 100Hz
 
1920 x 1080
 100Hz
 100Hz
 100Hz
 
1920 x 1200
 100Hz
 100Hz
 100Hz
 
1920 x 1440
 85Hz
 85Hz
 85Hz
 
2048 x 1536
 85Hz
 85Hz
 85Hz
 
*Not all monitors will support all resolutions and refresh rates. Please check your monitor's documentation. Refresh rates and resolutions may vary by operating system and application.  
 
I hae one and ingame frame rates are at 120 in AH 2
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 05, 2004, 05:11:15 PM
I just got the radeon 9800 pro and installed it
Title: How about this card?
Post by: ergRTC on June 05, 2004, 05:13:25 PM
oh the big wallet!
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 05, 2004, 05:21:23 PM
Im 15 Years old and my B-day was 2 weeks ago.. spent all 250 of it :)
Title: How about this card?
Post by: ergRTC on June 05, 2004, 05:46:43 PM
Well, I think it was a good choice, you should be able to get 3-4 years of video gaming out of it.  My geforce3 ti4200 is finally starting to creak a little, but I still get 30-75 fps in ah2 with everything at the highest quality.  Course I have a 2.8ghz p4.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 05, 2004, 06:15:43 PM
OMG OMG MY FR IS WORSE THAN BEFORE AND NOW the comp freezes when I press ok at the login screen!
Title: How about this card?
Post by: acetnt367th on June 05, 2004, 07:28:35 PM
remember - use a driver cleaner to remove the previous drivers then install the new drivers - download either the recent cat4.5 from ati website or use the recent omega driver.

You will not have problems after


Acetnt
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 05, 2004, 07:32:59 PM
did it before as requested in manuel :(
Title: How about this card?
Post by: snapperhead on June 05, 2004, 08:08:33 PM
How good is your power supply?, how many things are running off it?, did you install DX9?
Title: How about this card?
Post by: ergRTC on June 05, 2004, 09:30:07 PM
It is definitely driver issues.  Never ever install drivers that come with the card.  Uninstall all of the previous drivers and go to ati for the newest version.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 05, 2004, 09:40:33 PM
I did install the drivers with the card but I installed the new ones too
Title: How about this card?
Post by: ergRTC on June 05, 2004, 11:26:33 PM
xp or 98?  Often it is a good idea to go into safe mode and uninstall any video drivers there, then reboot and let the system find the card/install the newest drivers.

windows...  crap.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: kevykev56 on June 06, 2004, 01:11:45 AM
Another aproach, would be alot more time consuming. Reinstall a fresh load of your OS and install only AH2 and current drivers. This will be the way I go when AH2 comes online. I am running 30-45 frames now and want to see a comparison with the fresh install.

Kev
Title: How about this card?
Post by: streakeagle on June 06, 2004, 02:57:05 AM
Stratocaster,

Sorry you are having a hard time with your 9800 Pro. The advantage to spending the extra $80 at CompUSA is that you can take it back if you can't get it to work with your computer. I hope you figure out your problem. The 9800 Pro is a solid card.

Quote
Originally posted by snapperhead
Better beware of Pricewatch many of those cheap 9800Pro's are throttled down and run at 128bit bus which is essentially a 9800SE as opposed to the 256bit bus true 9800 pros run at.


A 9800SE is not a 9800 Pro. Most of the 9800 Pros on Pricewatch are Sapphire, who manufactured the ATI retail 9800 Pros as well. My 9800 Pro is a Sapphire and is not throttled down in any way. Works great.

You can get exactly the same card I got on Pricewatch from the same source I used (Allstar Shop) for $169. I don't think ATI's retail label is worth $80 when I got the same quality and performance from the same manufacturer.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 06, 2004, 08:04:11 AM
THanks again guys... As to reinstalling the OS NO! lol... I have had to do that 3 times the last month before I finnaly got virus protection.. as to the card I got AH 1to run
Title: How about this card?
Post by: snapperhead on June 06, 2004, 10:57:07 AM
Quote
Originally posted by streakeagle
Stratocaster,

Sorry you are having a hard time with your 9800 Pro. The advantage to spending the extra $80 at CompUSA is that you can take it back if you can't get it to work with your computer. I hope you figure out your problem. The 9800 Pro is a solid card.



A 9800SE is not a 9800 Pro. Most of the 9800 Pros on Pricewatch are Sapphire, who manufactured the ATI retail 9800 Pros as well. My 9800 Pro is a Sapphire and is not throttled down in any way. Works great.

You can get exactly the same card I got on Pricewatch from the same source I used (Allstar Shop) for $169. I don't think ATI's retail label is worth $80 when I got the same quality and performance from the same manufacturer.



You might wanna check the card again, virtually every "9800 Pro" that is under the $200 mark no matter if it is made by sapphire, gigabyte or whoever has a 128Bit memory interface,It clocks at 325/580 instead of 380/680 which the 9800 Pro 256bit version runs at. It also only uses a 128 bit memory interface, instead of 256 bit, so it is MUCH slower, ie half the pipeline.  According to Skuzzy these cards should be labeled 9800LE
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 06, 2004, 10:58:10 AM
its the 128 MB card.. I spent 250 on it
Title: How about this card?
Post by: snapperhead on June 06, 2004, 11:06:03 AM
Sorry Streak but your card isnt a 9800 PRO even thought it is labled as such. Notice the 128-BIT thats why it only cost $164, it doesnt have anything to do with it being a non retail non ATI built card.  The reason that particular card and pretty much any 9800 "Pro" cost less than $200 is b/c they are throttled down with 1/2 of the memory bandwidth

From Allstar Shop

Sapphire RADEON 9800 PRO ATLANTIS 128MB 128-bit DDR AGP8X TVO/DVI (OEM)  $164

Sapphire RADEON 9800 PRO ATLANTIS 128MB 256-bit DDR AGP8X TVO/DVI (Lite Retail) $207
Title: How about this card?
Post by: WhiteHawk on June 06, 2004, 11:16:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Stratocaster
Hold the phone.............. I could get a new comp altogether.... somone check this out... http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

its the dimension 2400

tell me about it

  Ya, dont waste your money on one of them package deals.  You'll either be languishing in unplayable frame rates or forever chaising the playable frame rate $$$.  Take your time, set your budget, research your subject and carefully weigh your options.
  I suffered with compaqs for 6 years before I actually took time to look past the advertised CPU speed and find out why my computer could really never keep up with the visual games.
  Finally built one, it only cost 1400 bucks, that includes the 200 dollars for the wqindows xp.  I still remember the first time I plugged in IL-2 and peed myself with glee at the fantastic graphics.   In ah the smoke filled battle royales at the airfield was now steady at 30fps 1280x1024 res.
  Anyway, you get the picture.  Visit the hardware section in this forum and ask around, some of those guys are grade A techs and always willing to help.
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 06, 2004, 04:13:38 PM
I SPENT 250 USD ON IT
Title: How about this card?
Post by: streakeagle on June 06, 2004, 09:48:46 PM
Quote
Originally posted by snapperhead
Sorry Streak but your card isnt a 9800 PRO even thought it is labled as such. Notice the 128-BIT thats why it only cost $164, it doesnt have anything to do with it being a non retail non ATI built card.  The reason that particular card and pretty much any 9800 "Pro" cost less than $200 is b/c they are throttled down with 1/2 of the memory bandwidth

From Allstar Shop

Sapphire RADEON 9800 PRO ATLANTIS 128MB 128-bit DDR AGP8X TVO/DVI (OEM)  $164

Sapphire RADEON 9800 PRO ATLANTIS 128MB 256-bit DDR AGP8X TVO/DVI (Lite Retail) $207


Well, I got mine at $211 before the $170 prices were listed... I can assure you that mine is clocked from the factory at 378/337.5x2==>380/680.

Good catch on the cheaper one's being 128-bit, never saw that on ones not listed as SE's. Anyway, I would still buy it online for $200 over buying a 9600XT for $150. Much better card for insignificant price difference. CompUSA has been taking turns with BestBuy putting retail Pros on sale for $200, but you gotta pay tax ;)
Title: How about this card?
Post by: Stratocaster on June 07, 2004, 08:57:50 AM
ahh