Author Topic: Yet another upgrade thread (Read 451 times)

qts · « **on:** February 14, 2004, 02:40:57 AM »

I've got a P4-2400 (533FSB) and a Gf4-4200. After a long period of abstemiousness, I feel the need to treat myself. I can't afford too much, but I was thinking along the lines of a P4-3.06 and a Radeon 9600 of some description. The budget for each item is £150 inc VAT.

Apart from AH, I'm into Toca Race Driver (rarely) and FPS games - I've just downloaded the UT2004 demo and am impressed, but get pauses.

So, for which R9600 should I go and how will this improve my gaming frame rates? Or should I go for something else?

I should add that I use a Shuttle, so double-wide cards are out.

FOGOLD · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2004, 04:16:38 AM »

Treat yourself to some more RAM and a top range video card instead. It'll be cheaper than a new system and your processor is still fast enough. I would go so far as to say you wouldn't notice much of a leap by replacing your current processor. You would notice a huge difference by spending £180 on a Radeon 9800 Pro!

Dingbat · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2004, 07:58:43 AM »

I dunno how good your shuttle overclocks but the 2.4 should easily hit 2.8. If you add good memory into the mix which will keep latency down, your box will outperform any 2.8. Of course YMMV.

qts · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2004, 08:20:31 AM »

My PC is maxxed out on RAM (1 GB). As for overclocking, this is a SFF system with concommitant heat concerns.

Where are you finding a Radeon 9800 Pro for £180? The 9800SE AIW won't actually fit in my machine for some reason.

FOGOLD · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2004, 04:11:31 PM »

I just got an 9800 Pro 128 for £150 (before VAT) on Overclockers UK

/www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/sapphire_ati_graphics_cards.htm

Nilsen · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2004, 05:17:44 PM »

Dont bother with upgrading you cpu..its more than fine. Get a 9600XT or 9800XT and some ram or one of em,

Dingbat · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2004, 07:48:24 AM »

I'm puzzled by this statement:

Quote

this is a SFF system with concommitant heat concerns.

Hitting 2.8 with your 2.4 can be done with stock HSF.

ChasR · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2004, 12:14:40 PM »

If the 9800 Pro is too pricey for you, consider the 9700 Pro. It's quite a bit faster than the 9600 XT for the same money. Using Tom's hardware shopping for prices, the 9800 Pro is $209, 9700 Pro $175, 9600 XT $175, 9600 Pro $128. I don't know how this compares to pricing in the UK.
If you really want to save money, buy the 9600 Pro and use Rage3D Tweak to overclock the card. The 9600 Pro will clock up to 9600 XT specs easily. Add a better VPU cooler for another $20 and it will clock way faster than the stock 9600 XT. Overclocking will void your warranty.

qts · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2004, 12:47:36 PM »

According to Anandtech the 9800 Pro gives a 50% performance boost over the 9600 XT in FPS games, and is within my budget. Tom's Hardware backs this up for driving games. So the R9800 Pro is the one I'll buy. Thanks, guys!

Hap · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2004, 06:36:17 AM »

qts, might want to scan the ah2 bbs posts. ati guys report some probs that the nvidia guys don't experience. my guess is htc will get it all shook out, but did want to draw your attention to it.

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2004, 06:47:32 AM »

Practically every hard-core gamer today owns an Ati. It would be a major failure of a business-decision to leave them without proper support from HTC.

I for one would happily continue playing AH1 if the cost of AH2 will be the choppy framerates I've witnessed in the beta. It's not that pretty. In fact, at this state, it's not pretty at all. No offense.