AGP video card upgrade

[girlD6]

I need to upgrade my video card I am considering ATI X1600 pro and GeForce 7800GS. Which card is better for gamming?

Thanks

 

[Snorkius]

Those two cards are in completely different segments, price and performance wise. Maybe you should first consider how much you're willing to spend and what type of card you're aiming for: hig-end or mainstream.

 

[girlD6]

The x1600 pro AGP is $299 and the GeForce 7800 GS is $299 at Newegg. The thought these two were the best for AGP if not please give me a better option.

I want a good high end card.

 

[cleeve]

You can get a BRAND NEW X1600 PRO AGP from Newegg for $129:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102665

Other good AGP cards are the X800 GTO and 6800 GS, both under $200 in AGP.

If you want the best in AGP, get the $300 7800 GS.

But if you have the cash, use it to migrate your entire system to a newer PCI-express motherboard.
The PCI-express 7800 GT DESTROYS the 7800 GS for $275 or so, it's worth it to upgrade to PCI-express if you have the cash and want the best gaming performance.

I wouldn't recommend spending more than $200 on an AGP card.

 

[girlD6]

I don't think I can afford to upgrade the mobo+processor and memory now. I want to try to keep this system for a few more years if possible.

 

[twall]

7800 GS would be better for gaming, but do not waste 300 bucks on that.
At newegg you can find 512 MB x1600 pros for only 140. Only thing you would miss out, if you dont get the made by ati that is, is the bundled software of ati, it has a multimedia player, and thats about it.

x800 gto is a good choice, but i am not sure it has shader 3.0. i think the only ati's that have those are the x thousand series. 6800 GS would do the job for now, until you move to a pci express board.

 

[girlD6]

Motherboard: Gigabyte 8KNXP, 1.x
Processor: Pentium 4 4CPU 2.80GHz
Graphics: ATI 9600 Pro
Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer
Memory: Kingston DDR-SDRAM PC3200 1024 Mbytes
Windows XP Pro

 

[cleeve]

I don't think I can afford to upgrade the mobo+processor and memory now. I want to try to keep this system for a few more years if possible.

$80 - New PCI express Asus P4RD1-MX motherboard (use your old CPU and memory)

$263 - Refurb 7800 GT from Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122228R

-$30 - Sell old board on ebay
--------------
$313 total for your PCI-express uprade and a better card than a 7800 GS.

You have a new PCI express motherboard, your old CPU & Memory, and a 7800 GT that kicks the crap out of a 7800 GS.

That's why I think $300 is too much for an AGP upgrade...

 

[girlD6]

OMG!!

I have been searching for weeks for a PCI-E mother board for this processor I couldn't find one. WOW

 

[girlD6]

I thought I was looking at $1200 to replace motherboard, processor and memory.

 

[girlD6]

I don't think I can afford to upgrade the mobo+processor and memory now. I want to try to keep this system for a few more years if possible.

$80 - New PCI express Asus P4RD1-MX motherboard (use your old CPU and memory)

$263 - Refurb 7800 GT from Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122228R

-$30 - Sell old board on ebay
--------------
$313 total for your PCI-express uprade and a better card than a 7800 GS.

You have a new PCI express motherboard, your old CPU & Memory, and a 7800 GT that kicks the crap out of a 7800 GS.

That's why I think $300 is too much for an AGP upgrade...

Where can I find that mobo for sale?

Thanks

 

[Anoobis]

Don't waste $299.00 for the X1600PRO 512MB. Go with this X1600PRO or possibly even this 6800GS if you want to spend over $200.00 for one.

The upgrade idea is great too, but finding that motherboard is tough. I could only find one on eBay and it was in Germany. Zipzoomfly lists it, but shows it on back order. You might want to contact them and see if they have a realistic ETA on it, otherwise you may not have much luck finding it. You could place a request in the TG Classifieds Forum. Someone might have one for sale.

If you can't find the board anywhere, I'd get the X1600PRO I listed and save up to rebuild your system. With that card you should be able to hold out nicely until the new AM2 or Conroe platforms are available. Both systems are supposed to be available in a wide range of price points from budget to enthusiast.

 

[cleeve]

Where can I find that mobo for sale?
Thanks

Hmmm... harder to find than I thought. I'll look around, here's a new one on ebay though:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ASUS-Mainboard-...ryZ80158QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[cleeve]

The Albatron PX915P4C Pro is also a 478 PCI-express board.

Here's one for $89

http://www.itwebexperts.com/computer/product_info.php?products_id=39

I have to admit, these boards are already much more scarce than I thoguht...

 

[girlD6]

The Albatron PX915P4C Pro is also a 478 PCI-express board.

Here's one for $89

http://www.itwebexperts.com/computer/product_info.php?products_id=39

I have to admit, these boards are already much more scarce than I thoguht...

The site above does not accept credit cards. Have you ever used this site?

Thanks

 

[girlD6]

Motherboard should be here in 2-5 business days. Now for the video card.

I can get the 7900Gt new for $264 or the 7900GTX $464 please help me choose. I have credits at CC so I am trying to find a card here. www.circuitcity.com. Thanks

 

[Anoobis]

Good luck with the new mobo.

I think you meant the 7800GT.

You may want to hear back from Cleeve on this as he's the forum guru on video cards, but I've heard the new 7600GT is comparable in performance with the 7800GT.

The video cards I found Circuit City aren't really comparable to what you could get from Newegg.com and they're overpriced. Save your credits (???Gift Certificates??) for something else.

 

[girlD6]

Good luck with the new mobo.

I think you meant the 7800GT.

You may want to hear back from Cleeve on this as he's the forum guru on video cards, but I've heard the new 7600GT is comparable in performance with the 7800GT.

The video cards I found Circuit City aren't really comparable to what you could get from Newegg.com and they're overpriced. Save your credits (???Gift Certificates??) for something else.

LOL

Thank you for all your help.

 

[cleeve]

Here's a great card: Sapphire X1800 XT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102007


$300, and faster than a 7900 GT in most games, to boot...

 

[girlD6]

Here's a great card: Sapphire X1800 XT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102007


$300, and faster than a 7900 GT in most games, to boot...

You are awesome!!

Thank you.

 

[girlD6]

One more question. I am using a generic 400w power supply will it be ok with the card.

 

[Anoobis]

Newegg says it requires a 450W. I'm leaning towards you might be able to get away with the 400, but my knowledge in the PSU area gets grey.

However, here's a chance to use those CircuitCity credits.

EDIT: Ooops, apparently that one is out of stock. Try this one.

However, check Newegg on these prices because they may still come in cheaper even though you have the "credits" with CircuitCity.

 

[girlD6]

Newegg says it requires a 450W. I'm leaning towards you might be able to get away with the 400, but my knowledge in the PSU area gets grey.

However, here's a chance to use those CircuitCity credits.

EDIT: Ooops, apparently that one is out of stock. Try this one.

However, check Newegg on these prices because they may still come in cheaper even though you have the "credits" with CircuitCity.

I have been trying to use those credits for about six months. I was being to think about the gift card idea. Thanks

 

[girlD6]

I just found this in the power supply forum. Will this one work?

Power Supply

Thanks

 

[Heyyou27]

but I've heard the new 7600GT is comparable in performance with the 7800GT.

Not quite.