Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: SOB on February 05, 2003, 02:32:11 AM
-
Since I'll soon be recieving a nice fat refund from the government, I decided I could afford a new video card. I've decided to stick with my current system, with the exception of getting an IDE raid card and a second drive so I can mirror my data.
So, what do you guys think would work well with my system - assuming that when I upgrade next, I'll be buying a whole new system. Basically, what video card will perform optimally in my system and not be overkill.
I'm running a PIII 1GHz, 512MB PC133, Asus GeForce 3 Deluxe, Adaptec 2940U2W w/18gb barracuda drive, and an ASUS CUSL2 motherboard with the following specs...
------------------
Socket 370 for IntelŪ FCPGA PentiumŪ III 450MHz~933+MHz processors and IntelŪ PPGA CeleronTM 333~566+MHz.
Chipset
IntelŪ 82815 Graphics and AGP Memory Controller Hub (GMCH)
IntelŪ 82801BA Enhanced I/O Controller Hub 2 (ICH2)
IntelŪ 82802AB Firmware Hub (FWH)
Support 4x AGP, 4MB AIMM, PC133/PC100 SDRAM, UltraDMA/100 IDE Devices
Memory
3x 168-pin DIMM Sockets Support 16MB to 1.5GB 3.3V PC133/100 SDRAM
Maximum 512MB PC133/PC100 non-ECC SDRAM
Expansion Slots
1 x 32-bit AGP Pro/AGP 4X slot
6 x 32-bit PCI
2x CNR (Communication and Networking Riser)
Supports AGP Pro Slot with Universal AGP Connector and additional Power Connectors
----------------------------------------
Thanks for your insights!
SOB
-
SOB, I have a Athlon 1.3Ghz machine and just bought a Radeon 9500 128mg DDR RAM card. It max'd out my processor and took my 3Dmark2001 benchmarks from 2800 to almost 7500.
It was $158 including shipping from Googlegear.com
Anything more (ie a more expensive card) would probably not help you much without a processor upgrade.
And many people have had good experience with overclocking these up to Radeon 9700 Pro speeds.
ATI Radeon 9500 Atlantis AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI by SapphireTech (http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=320702)
-
Thanks, after reading other posts here I was leaning toward the 9500! Any difference in OEMs versus cards manufactured by ATI?
SOB
-
If you mean OEM as in Sapphire, Gainward,....
Sapphire is the only one I know much about. They use the reference PCB from ATI and appear to use the same parts for other components as ATI. As ATI builds the RAMDAC's into thier chips now, none of the OEM's can have much impact on the image quality produced.
You might want to wait until next month to decide SOB. ATI will be shipping the R350 based cards next month and it might have a downward pricing effect on the current line.
I say "might", as ATI is not under much pressure to reduce prices due to lack of competition right now in the upper end video card market.
-
I'd say wait for the new line from ati and then get a Radeon 9700
It will max out the rest of your system, but later when you upgrade your cpu/ram/motherboard the extra speed will be worth it.
-
Thanks for the sound advice, but I'm gonna buy a card as soon as the money hits my bank account. Any waiting and I'm sure to find other places to spend the money!
So, it sounds like that Sapphire board is the ticket. Thanks all!
SOB
-
IF you hurry FAST newegg has a refurb sapphire 9700 pro for $233, cant beat the price on that. Newegg refurbs have like a 90% success rate, hell I bought my ebox board there and got everything it would have had new, never had a problem with it.
-
You already have a GeForce 3? I don't think you will see much of an improvement going to a Radeon 9500, but that said you could always transfer that card to a new machine once you build it.
-
Really? It's not a Ti or anything.
SOB
-
I think bloom is referring to you being a bit CPU limited.
The 9500 justs gets started with a 1Ghz CPU and its full potential won't be exploited until you get above a 2Ghz CPU.
-
cc...but what about the performance boost from the Geforce 3 to the 9500? I figured my video card was the biggest thing holding me back at this point...am I looking at a CPU & vid card upgrade to get any real performance boost?
SOB
-
You are most definately CPU limited with a GeForce 3. (The regular GeForce 3 falls between the Ti200 and Ti500 in performance.) A Radeon 9500 would be a bit faster, but not nearly as much as it would be if you had a faster system. The one advantage it would gain is the ability to run 2x AA with a minimal performance penalty. The GeForce 3 also supports AA, but it takes a severe performance hit enabling it.
-
Thx bloom, maybe I'll just hold off a while longer.
SOB
-
Yes, I would. I have a Geforce3 Ti500 on an XP1800. I doubt very much if I would see an imporovement at the moment especially in AH. I figure on waiting for Aces High new version which will be a lot more demanding.
The only thing that attracts me about a faster card is AA. But tell me you guys is it worth it. I turned 4 x on with my Gf3 Ti500 and I noticed diddly squat difference except the crash in speed!
Beware the hype!
Remember all that stuff about how amazing the geforce 3 was and the games were not yet written to take advantage of its amazing features? Well, guess what? they're still not!
-
NVidia's AA implementation lacks a lot to be desired, even on the new FX board.
The ATI 9xxx series do a better job with AA, without much penalty in performance.
You can find screen shots showing the difference between NVidia and ATI all over the net these days. Basically, ATI's 2xAA is slightly better than NVidia's 4xAA, with much less performance degradation.
-
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.)
-
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.
-
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.
-
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?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 :D ... 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 :D