No body has anything to say?

[fangel]

I have this serious choice stuck in my head....

I'm building this new PC...and the stat are as followed...

2.4C
Chaintech 9CJS
Geil 3200 2.5CL 512 X2
Maxtor 120 8MB ATA133 (old)
Maxtor 80 2MB ATA133 (old)
and I'm stuck on my video card...I dunno what to choose...
I have come up with the following choices...

ATI 9500 256bit 128MB (with this..I'll attemp to softmod..)
9800SE 128MB (softmod this as well..I think..)
9700 128MB (same as 9500...softmod..)
9700pro 128MB (hard to find now a day...but I can try looking for this..)
9800 128MB (maybe softmod...)
5600 ultra (I have been reading a lot of benchmark...and the FX series is...."not that great")
and maybe a 5900 NP 128 from Leadtek.

As u can see...I have more ATI then NV...properly becoz the only gd NV is the 5900 which I kinda can't affort...
so when u help with out with this...bear in mind about the price... Becoz I'm also thinking about lowering the cost of video card for a few extra Gig on my CPU...(2.6-2.8)

thz for helping me out!!!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by fangel on 08/21/03 05:35 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[daddywags214]

DO NO buy a card simply because it will softmod. That's a risky operation that works only half the time. Cleeve got lucky with his 256-bit 9500. Rule that out. Also rule out the 9800se. The 9700 is the best value on the market, nothing you need to softmod, it just has lower clocks.

Best values

$140 Radeon 9600P (5600U r.2 is $160+)
$200 Radeon 9700
$230 Radeon 9700P
$320 Radeon 9800P


<b>nVidia cheated on me so I left her for ATi. ATi's hotter anyway...</b>

 

[fangel]

yeah..I have to agree to the softmod issue...
since there is no sure bet to it...

Do you not agree that the NV FX series r preety junky considering that the older TI series is by far much much stronger then the new FX?

That has also went into consideration....a cheap TI4200 or TI4800 with DX8 over all the new, more expensive DX9 card... (should I even be thinking?)

thz for the replied....(I was actually @ the board to whole time waiting for replied...)

 

[daddywags214]

Well, let's take a look at all of the geforceFXs.
$60 5200 - sucks
$100 5200U - Decent budget part, but you're above this range.
$120 5600 - sucks
$140 5600U r.1 - sucks
$160 5600U r.2 - decent, but no better than the (cheaper) 9600P
$320 5900 - about as good as a $320 9800 Pro
$450 5900U - good as a $450 9800 Pro 256

<b>nVidia cheated on me so I left her for ATi. ATi's hotter anyway...</b>

 

[fangel]

yeah..I have to agree with u on the FX....
so where do I stand?
To part with my not very stable relation with NV to be united with the HOT HOT ATI? (kinda like u...)

as for ATI...u believe that 9700 is the best bang for bucks right? do u feel that it could last me for a while into the future...becoz not only am I building a powerful workstation....I kinda want it to last as long as my current one...(I still can play some current title on it..)

my current machine:
AMD 1900+
MP VIP-L3
768MB DDR 233
NV Geforce 2 MX400 64MB

 

[emk]

I currently have a GF3 ti500 which I like, but it doesnt have DVI and im getting an lcd monitor so I'm looking to get a new card. What is the cheapest current-generation card that is about equivalent to the gf3 ti500? Either Ati or Nvidia would be fine, as long as it has analog and dvi and is not worse than my current card. Cheaper the better. Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks!

 

[ufo_warviper]

A solid Ti4200 can be had for only a mere $80! This card actually holds up identically framerate-wise to the Geforce 5600/Radeon 9600 series types of cards. Even on Doom 3 benchmarks, a Directx 9 game the Ti4200 lags only 5 to 10 percent. Now that's talking value.

My OS features preemptive multitasking, a fully interactive command line, & support for 640K of RAM!

 

[daddywags214]

The ti4200 is a terrific value, but he's looking for a more upscale card, as referenced by the original post. In pure bang for the buck, nothing can touch the 9700. In the highend market, nothing can touch the 9800P 128 for value. In the lowend, the ti4200 is a smart buy. But I don't think a 4200 can stand up to a 9600Pro. A 9600np, <i>maybe</i>, but not a pro.

<b>nVidia cheated on me so I left her for ATi. ATi's hotter anyway...</b>

 

[fangel]

yeah...if u dun mind to have an 3 Gen old card...then the DX8.1 Ti4200 is the best bang for bucks...

Hey..since more replied where in my post...
could u guys help me out with this decision...
I have been looking around the whole day...from store to store...and I have mainly come down to 4 cards...

9800se (a 4X1 pixel pipe version 9800 with a lower core and men speed...can be softmod to 9800 or even 9800pro)
9700 (Planning to Softmod this to a pro or a 9800)
9800 (no need to explain here right?)
5900LX (this is a so called "value" version of 5900...but the Leadtek version whihc is in play here has a 100 percent chance to OC to 5900 ultra core and men...)

When helping me out with this card choice...keep the price tag in mind....(they are arrange according to price from cheapest to the most expensive..)

(I'm not from North America...so I just made a crude calucation of the price in US$ for each card to make a reference...)
9800SE $123.75
9700 $177.5
9800 $272.5
5900LX $297.5

Please help me out with this....I'm really lost in this...
Thz a million..

 

[fangel]

bump~~

 

[coolsquirtle]

got ur PM

hmm lemme see see

9800se- i doubt u can softmod this thing into a 9800 non-pro or pro cause the 9800s uses 8 pipeline while this only has 4 and probably 128bit memory, this card is like a 9800 wannabe lol

9700 non-pro- u dont have to soft mod this thing, it already pretty darn fast, u can overclock this thing to 9700pro lvl if u want to though

9800 non-pro- u dont need to softmod!! if u want more just overclock this thing

5900LX- what's that?......... i dont think there is such a thing, probably something retailers made up to trick stupid costumers..... if u meant a FX 5900 non Ultra, it cost just as much a 9800pro, i dont think u can afford that

Again, i dont recommand softmod, it's a 50/50 chance of success and if u fail, ur %(#(*% screwed.

CIAO~~

Proud Owner the Block Heater
120% nVidia Fanboy
PROUD OWNER OF THE GEFORCE FX 5900ULTRA <-- I wish this was me
I'd get a nVidia GeForce FX 5900Ultra... if THEY WOULD CHANGE THAT #()#@ HSF

 

[ufo_warviper]

What does this "soft mod" process involve? From the way it sounds its more than an overclock of core and memory? Does it involve sodering like the modification to turn GeForce cards into Quadros?

My OS features preemptive multitasking, a fully interactive command line, & support for 640K of RAM!

 

[coolsquirtle]

u think too much lol

it requires a BIOS flash~~ but it only has 50% of of success

Proud Owner the Block Heater
120% nVidia Fanboy
PROUD OWNER OF THE GEFORCE FX 5900ULTRA <-- I wish this was me
I'd get a nVidia GeForce FX 5900Ultra... if THEY WOULD CHANGE THAT #()#@ HSF

 

[fangel]

thz for answering!!!!
I'm finally getting some replied...

as for softmod...it's basically 2 processs, u can use a driver hack which allow will force the rest of the 4 pipleline to work...(if they r in gd conditsion that is...)
then the second step is to flash the Bios...which would allow u to OC... but bio flashing is dangerous...if it fail..ur card is [-peep-]...unless u reflash it...

As for coolsquirtle...
the 9800se I'm looking @ is a 256bit version....and yes...I would have to reactivate the 4 missing pipleline...the stock performace is between 9600pro and 9600...
as for the 5900LX...that is a the leadtek transition from a normal 5900 to a 5900 value..(which they haven't made...becoz the core and everything will be different..) this 5900LX is real man..and it has a 100% OC ability..becoz everything that leadtek made is ment to be OC...(the stock are 400/700 with 2.8ns ram...)

link to the LX..but it is in chinese..
http://www.kingfung.com.hk/hkhtml/p_a350tdhlx.htm
Link the detail stat on LX in english
http://www.leadtek.com.tw/3d_graphic/winfast_a350_tdh_2.shtml

thz a million...please replied more...becoz I need all the comment I can get...

 

[coolsquirtle]

urg.... u have to understand something, just because Leadtek said it can Overclocked doesn't mean it can, Heat could be a huge problem and some reviews show that the Leadtek is pretty hot~~ anyways, that's just my opinion

anyways

regarding the FX5900LX...... it's just a FX5900 using 2.8ns Ram instead of 2.2ns Ram, no matter what Leadtek tells u 2.8ns ram will not overclock as well as 2.2ns, also, this card can't really be softmodded cause it's a FX5900 already, u can't made a FX5900 more FX5900

As for the 9800se, u might as well get a 9800 non-pro or 9600pro, softmodding is not recommanded unless ur real lucky and/or if u know 120% what ur doing.

The best bet would be a 9800-non pro or this 5900LX, if u dont want to spend this much, get a 9600pro.

anyways that's my 2.6 cent

Proud Owner the Block Heater
120% nVidia Fanboy
PROUD OWNER OF THE GEFORCE FX 5900ULTRA <-- I wish this was me
I'd get a nVidia GeForce FX 5900Ultra... if THEY WOULD CHANGE THAT #()#@ HSF

 

[fangel]

haha...thz for the recommand...
I think I would have to agree that softmodding is by luck...
as for the 5900LX..I have read review on it already..and it's OC ability..as for the heat...it's properly true that it will get fairly hot...considering the fact that u r OC the core up by 50 and mem by 150....but the review provided me a peek into it...and it's stabilty...(3Dmark03 for 12 hour continous with 450/850 which is ultra stat)

thz again~~~

 

[coolsquirtle]

sooo have u decided??

(hypnotising)
get the FX5900
(/hypnotising)


shhhhh.......we're catching WABBITS!!!

Proud Owner the Block Heater
120% nVidia Fanboy
PROUD OWNER OF THE GEFORCE FX 5900ULTRA <-- I wish this was me
I'd get a nVidia GeForce FX 5900Ultra... if THEY WOULD CHANGE THAT #()#@ HSF

 

[fangel]

decided?
well...dun u agree that it is a very tough choice?
I mean...it's like pay for 9500 price for a 9600 (9800se @ stock...) and have a chance to get 9800..(I know it is slim..but u can't stop me from day dreaming..)

9700 and 9800...I solid performer...

5900LX for the price of a 9800...and a fair chance of OC it till 5900ultra...while it might burn up on me...

it's really a big deal for me...coz I have never plan to get such expensive card in my whole computer life...always been get extremly cheap card...like the one I have now...

 

[daddywags214]

A 9800 is essentially a barely tweaked 9700 Pro, which is a fine performer.

Just DO NOT BUY on the account of softmodding. Don't base your decision on the slim chance of softmodding. Just don't do it. Just in case you were having second thoughts. This is $250 we're talking about. Also don't rely on overclocking. Some cards won't overclock worth a damn, so don't expect huge returns or you're bound to be disappointed.

If you want the 5900LX, fine, just make sure you double check the specs, because it may be more crippled than is immediately apparent. Like if it were only 128-bit memory, and you clocked it to 5900u levels, you'd only have half the bandwidth. Just do your research.

<b>nVidia cheated on me so I left her for ATi. ATi's hotter anyway...</b>

 

[fangel]

yes...ok....I think I understand what u mean...
try to get card with gd stock performance....

as for 5900lx..I saw the card in person today...
and it is 256bit...also...I have read another review on the card...and their ability to OC it...
it's not as gd as the other one...they only got 5900 rate...so I'm starting to understand what u r talking about on "dun rely on OC"....it's a matter of luck...but I'm wondering if the stock of 5900LX is any gd...

this is the benchmark score of the 5900LX @ stock..
400/700
3dmark01 11473
3dmark03 4725
Q3 D1 242
Q3 D2 242.9
villagemark 161

the test system are the follow
2.4C
intel850E(why use such an old board?)
samsung PC800 640MB RD (RD still???)
seagate U6 80G
XP SP1

PS. when OC to 450/850 it can do 5339 on 3dmark03