Author Topic: When is too much video card for an 1800+ (1.53Mhz) (Read 2203 times)

mason22 · « **on:** November 17, 2003, 01:16:37 PM »

I'm currently running a G2 ULTRA 64 meg.

I'm curious as to what card would begin to suffer from a 1.53 Mhz CPU?

just going through some upgrade research/options. Appreciate any help as always.

thanks.

bloom25 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2003, 02:01:47 PM »

For an AXP 1800+ (1.53 GHz), probably around a Radeon 9700 Pro or GeForce FX 5900 Ultra. An 1800+ should be fast enough for a Radeon 9600 Pro/XT or GeForce FX 5700 Ultra to get most of their potential perfomance.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2003, 10:57:34 AM »

I was going to say, typically the very high end cards are not working hard until you get past 2.4Ghz, but bloom25 is quite right.

You can put in a high end video card, but your CPU will not be able to push the card close to the limits, but you will see some benefit.

A 9600Pro or XT would be a good choice (I like the XT, cooler running/less power, faster than the 9600Pro, overclocks like a banshee, and no price premium for it).

mason22 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2003, 11:43:05 AM »

awesome...thanks guys. exactly what i needed.

Wanker · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2003, 11:14:35 AM »

Don't forget that even though his CPU may not tax the 9600 all that much, he's still going to benefit from being able to use FSAA and AF.

Mason, make sure to enable Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic filtering, and you will really see a huge difference between the GF 2 and the ATI 9600.

mason22 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2003, 11:43:56 AM »

that was on of the biggest benefits banana....i've been trying to get back "in the game" in hardware. And the FSAA was one thing i have never really used. But looking at all the tests and reviews, i'm going to have to get with the program and upgrade.

I think i'm going to go with the 9600 XT, problem is, i cant find a shipping date from ATI or anyone else. Not a real big deal now since i'm trying to squeeze the budget to gain funds for the purchase. I've got some time to spare.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2003, 12:36:19 PM »

The 9600XT is already shipping. Problem is, ATI cannot build em fast enough.

I was at Best Buy the other and they had the shelf space for the cards, and I asked them when they were going to get some in? The sales clerk said we got a shipment yesterday, but they were gone by the end of the day.
Seems it is going to be a very popular card.

bloom25 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2003, 12:41:56 PM »

That card is in allocation from the supplier (Synnex) I can look at. That means only a limited number of cards can be sold to each account.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2003, 12:44:35 PM »

Seems ATI badly underestimated the demand for the product.

Or, they are ramping up slowly. Reasonable thing to do with this card. The first low-k die card on the market. I would be a bit careful about cranking up the production to high volumes as well.

mason22 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2003, 01:18:47 PM »

found one for 160, but i'm debating waiting a few more weeks to see what happens with ATI making more or prices dropping....

decisions decisions.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2003, 01:46:16 PM »

$160 U.S. for a 9600XT? You best grab it. It is a new card and its price is not going to drop in the near term.

That's a great price for that card, by the way.

ATI is not going to have anymore big releases until early next year.

mason22 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2003, 02:41:36 PM »

LOL, they went up $5 from my last post!!

anyhow, ordered and on the way! WOOHOO!!

I also called to verify they had them in stock, 27 left!

Skuzzy · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2003, 02:47:20 PM »

You got a heck of a deal. Heck, the 9600Pro goes for more than that right now and it is a slower card.

I think someone fubared on that price. Where you getting it?

mason22 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2003, 02:55:00 PM »

it's a Saphire ATI 9600 XT 128

from a few places listed on pricewatch.

the ATI retail version was as low as 180.

https://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=8054

https://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=8174

I a brown box buyer, don't need all the bells and whistles. Everytime i've read reviews on the exact same card but with different manufacturers, they've always been within 3-10 fps of each other. Unless they have some major differences like ddr speeds or clock rates, it's 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

mason22 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2003, 08:27:38 PM »

well, bad news. I can't for the life of me get this card to stabilize.

I've tried everything (or so i think):

new VIA 4in1's
updated to latest directx 9.0b
tried different cat drivers to no avail.
tried agp settings in bios (agp 2x, 4x, aperture etc.)

seems like anything that taxes the card it just shuts down, locks up (turning off the monitor), or reboots. No warnings, nothin.

Had AH working last night, but AHII once out of the tower will lockup (hard lock).

no blue screens.

I'm about to RMA this little heathan unless someone has any other ideas.

my setup:

azza 366x/ AS Mother board
XP1800+ (non OC'd)
512 RAM
scsi 2940uw with 15gig sCSI and 4.5 gig scsi drives

works like a charm with my old GF2 ULTRA 64meg.