5700 Ultra or 9600 ProXT?

[Nolan75]

Looking for objective answers here from people with experience with both cards. I am currently using a TI 4200 128MB vid card and I am thinking about upgrading sometime in the near future to a card in the $200 range. I have read some reviews and come away a bit confused as even Anandtech was slobbering over both the 5700 Ultra and the 9600 ProXT. One said that the 9600 ProXT was as good as a 9700 Pro, the next said that the 5700 Ultra was the better buy. What? Could some people shed some light on this for me? Perhaps I will wait until new cards come out next year as games still run very well on my TI 4200. System is a 3.06 P4 in an Abit IS7 running dual channel 2x256 PC3200, Maxtor 80GB 8mb drive with a lite on cdrw and toshiba dvdrom.

Thoughts, comments?

Thanks,

Nolan

 

[Keysplayr]

Check these so you can make your own decision. Its the best way.

Anand Review

Toms Hardware Review

HardOCP Review

Firing Squad Review

Anyone else please add some review links.

 

[beserker15]

also remember that the 9600xt is being revised. all those benchmarks are for the version that's never been released.

 

[Pete]

That was just a rumor from The Inquirer--it hasn't been proven yet, and it doesn't even necessarily point to a differently-clocked 9600XT.

 

[Richdog]

Objective opinion on Anandtech?:Q

To be honest if you're willing to put the money out on a 5700 Ultra or 9600XT you should really be spending a little extra cash and getting a 9700 or 9800 np as they rape the other cards and the price-difference is negligible really. That's my opinion anyway.:beer:

 

[modedepe]

You can get a fx5900 for about $200--that'd be my choice over the other two.

 

[Corporate Thug]

5700 ultra and the 9600 XT are about equal so its just a matter of personal preference, if it it between those two i would pick the 9600 XT just cuz u get free HL2 with it. but in that price range 5900 will rape both of them

 

[jiffylube1024]

In my opinion, neither the 5700 or the 9600XT is really much of an "upgrade" over the Ti4200. You get better performance with AA/AF (most games this will still make them unplayable, however not all). I would really recommend an upgrade to a 9700/9800 or 5900 instead.

 

[railer]

what jiffy said. I'm selling my 9600 pro right now cause it's no faster than my 4200 w/ AA/AF off, but is worth 2x as much on ebay. Bang for the buck king is still the GF4 4200, or possibly the 9700 np.

 

[UCSDHappyAsian]

according to anandtech's review, geforce fx 5700 ultra seems to be a very strong video card for the mid-price...
it was a not as good as ati 9700 pro of course, but 5700 was doin pretty close to 9700... and in a few tests the 5700 ultra actually beat the ati 9700pro.. therefore, 5700 ultra in my opinion

 

[Rage187]

spent $10 more and get a 5900nu

 

[nRollo]

t was a not as good as ati 9700 pro of course, but 5700 was doin pretty close to 9700... and in a few tests the 5700 ultra actually beat the ati 9700pro.. therefore, 5700 ultra in my opinion

To me, the 5700Ultra looks OK at best. The 5900nu at $200 is a FAR better deal.

 

[Nolan75]

Looks like I might be getting a 5900 then. Thanks for the input folks.

Nolan

 

[Blastman]

and in a few tests the 5700 ultra actually beat the ati 9700pro.. therefore, 5700 ultra in my opinion

In Anands 9800XT review the 9600 pro beat the 5900U 4 times. And the 9600XT is faster than the pro, so maybe he should go for the 9600XT. (^_^)

The cards are generally pretty close. May come down to price and preference and the games you run. I like the 9600XT because it?s still looks stronger on DX9 and is therefore should be better in future games.

Either the 5700U/9600XT are going to be a decent upgrade from a 4200 --- but not huge. Might consider waiting and saving up a little more for a 9800/5900.

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

why get 5900...a fx card...i thought these can't play HL2 very well or at all through DX9...?

 

[Vette73]

If you play mostly/only older games then a FX card will be best. If you want to be able to play, and I mean play wellm the newwest DX9 games then go ATI 9500 or higher.

 

[Keysplayr]

5900 definately the way to go for the extra 30-50 dollars. Or just the cheapest one you can find.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
5900 definately the way to go for the extra 30-50 dollars. Or just the cheapest one you can find.

Except there is one 5900 that uses really crappy memory (like 2.8ns or something, which is garbage for a 5900). I can't remember the brand now...

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
5900 definately the way to go for the extra 30-50 dollars. Or just the cheapest one you can find.

Except there is one 5900 that uses really crappy memory (like 2.8ns or something, which is garbage for a 5900). I can't remember the brand now...

its the gainward, they have the cheap one with crappy ram then they have the ultra power pack with the good pack (not a 5900 ultra, just a 5900 with the name "ultra")

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: shady06
5700 ultra and the 9600 XT are about equal so its just a matter of personal preference, if it it between those two i would pick the 9600 XT just cuz u get free HL2 with it. but in that price range 5900 will rape both of them

wth is with this place and agp card rape...

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
5900 definately the way to go for the extra 30-50 dollars. Or just the cheapest one you can find.

Except there is one 5900 that uses really crappy memory (like 2.8ns or something, which is garbage for a 5900). I can't remember the brand now...

That 2.8 card better be cheap. Although it would still destroy the 5700U even with the slow mem. I would want the 2.2 5900 myself.

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE
why get 5900...a fx card...i thought these can't play HL2 very well or at all through DX9...?

can someone answer this please

 

[Tab]

You want a affordable mid range card and you like ATi = 9600XT
You want a affordable mid range card and you like nvidia = FX5700U

 

[Blastman]

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE
why get 5900...a fx card...i thought these can't play HL2 very well or at all through DX9...?

can someone answer this please

ATI cards look faster in DX9-HL2 ...

http://www.tech-report.com/etc/2003q3/hl2bench/index.x?pg=2

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Blastman

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE
why get 5900...a fx card...i thought these can't play HL2 very well or at all through DX9...?

can someone answer this please

ATI cards look faster in DX9-HL2 ...

http://www.tech-report.com/etc/2003q3/hl2bench/index.x?pg=2

Not sure about that but they can use the 8.1 DX. I thought nvidia did fix the problems..