AGP Upgrade -- Buy now or wait?

[Tarindel]

I'm currently running an ATI 9600 AGP (non-pro!) on an Athlon Barton 2500 o/c'd to 3200 (w/1 gig of ram). My video card is really slowing me down from enjoying some of the newer games at a reasonable level of detail (I just bought an LCD, so I want to run at 1280x1024).

I would like to upgrade my video card to another AGP card, but I'm not sure what to buy -- if anything! I am looking to spend around $150, give or take.

Strangely enough, it seems like a lot of the cards that would have been good performance/value choices (X800XT, X850XT) are no longer sold.

Looking on Newegg, it seems like my current choices are:
X800GTO (400/980)
7600GS (400/533)
X850Pro (500/1000) (try to OC a Vivo version to X850 XT?)
6800 XT (350/1000)
6800 GS (370/1050)
X1600Pro (laughably/bad)

Choices are:
a) Buy one of these (which one?)
b) Wait for the supposed upcoming 7600GT (which is no longer even listed at Newegg)
c) Wait for some other AGP card that's supposedly coming out soon(tm) (which one?)

Also of concern to me:
How much will my CPU bottleneck my performance of these cards?

Any thoughts you can provide me would be useful in helping me to make a good decision.

Thanks!

 

[AndrewL]

Why not buy a used video card off of anands forum or hardforum. 7800gs is not worth it bang for buck wise. I guess if you can get the x850pro vivo then id snag one of those up
.Any of the rest of the cards you listed will eventually if not already struggle at 1280x1024 with most newer games (except the 6800gs).

 

[Auric]

New only or consider used? Locally only? If not, the X800XT AIW is sure to be available mail-order (just don't limit yourself to one reseller).

There may be some oddball unlockables amongst the various GTO models plus there are XL AIW's that are really XT (not that XL itself should be ignored depending upon price). Check techpowerup forum for the most specific cards to look for.

The 7600GS and 6800XT should really be disregarded along with X1600Pro unless the CPU would really limit taking advantage of the next models up. But the forthcoming X1650XT may be a contender (again, depending upon price). Dug777 found joy with the 6800GS (PCIe + HSI model). 7600GT is worthy and been out a good six weeks in NA but initial supply seems to be dwindling rather fast. XFX has joined Leadtek with such offerings though so a l'il patience may be rewarded if you decide to go that route (on both availability and price).

Another consideration is adequate power to supply the higher-end cards of the previous generation. If not an issue I would lean towards the X800XT otherwise the 7600GT, X800XL or perhaps X1650XT when we see how that pans out. I would wait a bit and see.

 

[Craig234]

The 7600GS... should really be disregarded

Why, I bought one for $105 after MIR, and did not get discouraged in the forum...

 

[apoppin]

BFG Tech Geforce 7800GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail

$229.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate
it was 209

found by Wreckage and is in Hot Deals!
:thumbsup:

IF i didn't have an x850xt already, i'd jump on this one
-No problem with 'green' as long as i don't have to part with much of it

i don't know how much "give and take" you have in your budget over $150 -- but this card is awesome!


edit on the 'cheap end':

ATI Radeon X850PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
$129 after $10 rebate

EITHER card will be MUCH faster than your current card.

 

[acegazda]

The thought that the x1950 pro will be available in the agp flavor has been tossed around, if it comes true, the $200 card will be sold out in a day. That price on the 7800gs went back up unfortunatly was a hot deal indeed.
Anyway, on the x1950 pro, it's supposed to debut in 2 weeks so if you want to wait and see, go ahead. If you need one now, the x850xt is probably the best bang for buck, but will lag behind the 7800gs by a little.

 

[imported_goku]

If you check out overclockersuk.co.uk they've got a 7800GS+ which is basically the equivalent of a 7800GTX except it has 512MB ram.

 

[Tarindel]

I am looking to buy something new -- I have had bad luck with used products in the past. :|

Auric, thank you for your input -- that was very helpful. I have a 480 W power supply in this machine, so I think I'll be okay as far as power concerns.

apoppin, I did see the deal on the 7800 GS -- but it is somewhat out of my budget. I'm planning on upgrading my machine to a PCI express mobo in about a year's time, so I'm not looking to spend tooooo much as the video card will need to be replaced.

Has it been confirmed the X1950Pro wasn't just a typo? And how are Diamond products these days? I had a couple back in the day (eg. back when Riva cards were all the rage, if anybody remembers that) and I wasn't overly impressed, but that was a loooooong time ago.

At this point, I think I'll wait for a week or two and see if either the 7600GT or the 1950XT decides to make an appearance at reputable vendors.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear some other opinions.

 

[apoppin]

no we don't know for sure about the x1950p . . . in agp . . . for $199

what about the x850p for $129?

 

[Paratus]

Originally posted by: apoppin
no we don't know for sure about the x1950p . . . in agp . . . for $199

what about the x850p for $129?

If we believe Snakexor from the other X1950PRO thread he specifically checked and Best Buy has a Diamond X1950PRO AGP for $299 in thier system for Oct 28th. So I am tenatively hopeful.

 

[apoppin]

right . . . $299 . . . not $199.

 

[Paratus]

Originally posted by: apoppin
right . . . $299 . . . not $199.

It's better than the 299 ATI wanted for the X1600PRO 512 AGP or the 299 Diamond X1600XT 512 AGP

 

[mikeford]

I don't think you should take a general position of AGP upgrades as good or bad, it depends on what specifically the person wants to do, what they have now, and how soon non video issues are going to push them into a new system.

 

[myocardia]

This review here compares every card you mentioned, except the X800/850's: link.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: Craig234

The 7600GS... should really be disregarded

Why, I bought one for $105 after MIR, and did not get discouraged in the forum...

To clarify: the GS is good bang for the bolivare but more pep is preferred for the OP's intended 1280x1024.

 

[AndrewL]

Originally posted by: acegazda
The thought that the x1950 pro will be available in the agp flavor has been tossed around, if it comes true, the $200 card will be sold out in a day. That price on the 7800gs went back up unfortunatly was a hot deal indeed.
Anyway, on the x1950 pro, it's supposed to debut in 2 weeks so if you want to wait and see, go ahead. If you need one now, the x850xt is probably the best bang for buck, but will lag behind the 7800gs by a little.

See if you can confirm that that x850pro vivo is unlockable then just buy that. An x850xt is almost equal in performance with the 7800gs except for a few select games and for 129 would be within your price range it seems.

 

[apoppin]

BFG 6800GS OC AGP - $130 after $30 MIR

 

[Tarindel]

Thanks for all your advice, everyone.

I have decide to go with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122009

Leadtek WinFast A7600GT TDH 256MB Geforce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card

Newegg got em in stock today. A little more than I wanted to spend, but I think it'll serve me well for a long time and allow me to delay my next machine upgrade for longer than some of the other cards would.

 

[DayBreaker]

Each time I see a 6800 it burns me that I missed the $85 Evga cards at CC.

These are HOT cards, as in HOT, leaves me still a bit on the fence between them and a update to a PciE system.

Isn't the BFG 6800 for $130 at Frys a better card than the 7600 for $179 (both shipped prices) at Newegg?

 

[IcexMage]

Originally posted by: DayBreaker
Isn't the BFG 6800 for $130 at Frys a better card than the 7600 for $179 (both shipped prices) at Newegg?

In terms of value, I think the 6800 for $130 is a better value for your money. But according to this article:

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvi...eforce_7600_gt_performance/default.asp

The 7600 definitely has the performance edge (seems to be around 25% better)

If you multiply $130 by 1.25 (performance differential), you get $162, which isn't that far off from the $173 Newegg is charging for the 7600. I figured the extra $11 value differential was worth it for not having to replace my system quite as soon.

 

[Tarindel]

Uuh, that last post was me. I have _NO_ idea why it posted as IcexMage, whoever that is.