TOP 5 AGP CARDS

[bkraft4637]

WHAT are the best 5 agp cards to buy? 2 categories? 256mb and 512mb...

MONEY IS NO OPTION!!

I'm not concerned with value but pure raw speed...

I'm at work, so I'll contribute to this list at home...

Thanks guys!

 

[pauldh]

Performance based only (prices not considered).....

Gecube X1950XT is the best. But keep in mind it does have slower 1400MHz (effective) memory than the 1800MHz GDDR3 PCI-e version.

Most people would say a GF7950GT is next. I no longer agree and can provide many links why I feel the X1950 pro is now the better option. So take your pick as X1950 pro and 7950GT as being second and third. For me the X1950 pro takes second.

Fourth/Fifth/Sixth IMO goes to the HD2600XT/X1950GT/GF7900GS. I like the HD2600XT for non fsaa performance in newer games or the X1950GT for fsaa performance. The 7900GS is liked by many, but again it is showing signs of falling far behind the other two in some newer games. IMO the 7900GS takes 6th.

Also, I am leaving out the once available Gainward Bliss 7800GS 24-pipe that was basically a 7900GT. Obviosly it's above the 7900GS, but I will refrain from thinking out where I'd put it now.

Anyway, ram amounts don't change the pecking order IMO. Obviously if they are clocked the same go with the 512MB version as being better performing, but the 256MB X1950XT is still going to be top dog in almost all (playable) cases.

 

[bkraft4637]

ok majority of those are 256mb, what about for 512 as well?

 

[pauldh]

ok majority of those are 256mb, what about for 512 as well?

I really don't like to seperate the two but for you I will.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161082

The His X1950 Pro IceQ Turbo running 590 mHz core/1540MHz mem gets my vote as the top 512MB AGP gaming card right now. Other people would give that honor to a GF7950GT(which right now is no longer on Neweggs site so I can't give a link). Also never available within the USA, and who knows if available new anywhere, the 24-pipe Gainward BLISS 7800 GS SILENT 512MB GS+ has to be in the top 3 512MB AGP cards list.

Sticking to available cards, For 512MB, after the X1950 pro and 7950GT as 1 & 2, I like the HD2600XT 512MB as third. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129090

Forth and Fifth in available cards gets slim picking but would have to go to the X1650XT and HD2600 pro IMO. But picking either of these over a faster 256MB card above would be crazy.

 

[ejay]

A person wanting to jump on the "best AGP card" bandwagon might want to wait a couple of weeks.

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/11/06/amd-set-capture-100-agp-market

Dunno how fulfilling this "prophecy" will be considering the source, but...

 

[syfon]

Straight from Toms Hardware...

The X1950 XT - manufactured exclusively by Gecube - is simply the most powerful card ever to grace the AGP bus. This card's closest competition is the XFX 7950 GT, which costs slightly more but is a lot less powerful.

At $235, it is a bit of a tough pill to swallow for a dying interface. I would only recommend the X1950 XT AGP to someone with a very fast AGP system who already has a power supply with enough juice to handle the X1950 XT.

It must be noted that if you have $235 to spend on an AGP card - and possibly an extra $100 for a power supply that can handle it - you may be much better off purchasing a PCI Express motherboard, CPU and PCIe graphics card.

PCIe graphics cards are cheaper than their AGP cousins. If you upgrade your system to PCIe and sell your old components, you may actually spend a similar amount of money compared to buying an expensive AGP card alone.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/11/06/best_graphics_card/page5.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241049

 

[pauldh]

I think GeCube blew it with the 1.4GHz ram speeds though. If that card had 512MB of 1.8Ghz ram, it would be even more attractive But to OC the core that high and put crap ram with it doesn't sit well with me.