new video card help plz

[Guest]

hey guys,

As you might have read in other posts, my video card just 'broke' and the return policy of the retailer is only 10 days. So basically, i need a new card. I have been out of the game for about 6 moths so im not sure what to get. I hear that the ATI 9800pro isn't too bad, but even if I do choose that over NVidia (no flames please), what manufacturer should i get?? I know sapphire is good, but i have heard that hurcules has good cooling... can anyone help me out?

P.S. know any online retailers that allow international creditcards?

 

[cleeve]

Sapphire and Hercules are great, stay away from powercolor if you can.

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Radeon 9500 w/256 bit memory bus @ 367/310
AMD AthlonXP 2000+
3dMark03: 3439

 

[Guest]

but which is better, the 9800pro or the GeForce FX 5900
Also, does 256mb really offer better preformance than 128mb? When is the extra 128mb notacible?

 

[Nights_L]

the extra 128MB is useless currently..
and between 9800Pro and fx5900, everyone has their own point of view, for me, I would get 9800Pro
but if you really want to know, fx5900 is the fastest card now

 

[Spitfire_x86]

FX5900 Ultra is the fastest card now, not FX5900

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[Crashman]

I believe the 9800 Pro is faster than the FX5900, and the FX5900 Pro is faster still. But it really depends on which games the review sites use to test them.

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[TheGreatGrapeApe]

FX 5900 Pro? A joint CARD? Or were you smoking a joint when describing it? :tongue:

And yes the FX5900 is 'FASTER' much higher MHZ, however for performance, I haven't seen ANY card win ALL benchmark since the intro of the R9700PRO. The cards are very close now.

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK

 

[Nights_L]

oops..forgot to add an "ultra"..
sorry~

 

[daddywags214]

I think it's safe to say that the best deal in the highend market today is the 9800 pro 128. I'd go with a BBATi.

These days, no matter what company you like, be it <b>nVidia, ATi, or whatever,</b> no matter how logical your reasons, you're labeled an <b>idiot</b> or a <b>fanboy</b>, or <b>both.</b>

 

[Crashman]

Ooops, I'm getting my SUPERlatives mixed up again, sorry.

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<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[rower30]

I'd say that the "deal" depends on what you need. To play directX9 games, at least an 8 channel pixel engine and 256bit 128meg memory is needed. I doubt that the 9800np verses the 9800pro will be evident in real world usage terms.

I've had, and tested, BOTH the 9800np and 9800pro.

13500 3DMark 2001SE ($290)PowerColor.
15500 3D mark 2001SE ($374)Sapphire.

This is on a 145MHz FSB 2.6GHz P4 with an 845PE chipset. No card overclocking. Just the bus and 2.4P4.

So in 3D marks per dollar spent, the 9800 is the best "deal" and the pro is the fastest. I doubt you'll see any difference in real terms going up or down the CPU scale as the real world minimum frame rate speed increase is minimal. And a much slower computer will have too slow frame rates with either card so why spend more for that?

If you forget about directX9, and the power issues associated with power hungry cards, I think that the Nvidia Ti4600 or 4800SE (really a Ti4400) or 4800 (Ti4600 type)are fantastic cards that are stable and will please just about anybody playing any current games or even Doom III and half-life with a few minor visuals switched off.

X9 game cards are still for the fool of heart (me) to play with. But I'm single and make an OK salary with no wife or kids! But I don't see any "deals" where I'm sitting. Not a one. Just challenges to mess with electronics and spend money. Lots of money.