Recommend Me A New Video Card ...

[magis123]

My system specs are pretty decent as is, but I am looking to get a little more umph out of my graphics. The card is going to need to be AGP (as that is the only slot I have on my motherboard), and will replace an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128 MB card.

Here are my current system specs:

Dell PowerEdge 400SC

I had been looking at picking up an ATI x850 Pro but found out the sale ran out at Best Buy (that is what I get for being complacent and dragging my feet), so I am now leaning more toward the x700 line of cards. I haven't used a Nvidia card since I last used an agin MX440 64 MB card. My last few cards have been ATI: 8500, 9600 Pro, and now 9800 Pro. Any suggestions out there?

I am trying to stay as frugal as possible because I need to slip it in under my Christmas budget for myself. I really don't want to blow much more than $200, hence looking at the x700 Pro's.

Give me some feedback, let me know what you suggest and more importantly WHY you suggest it!

 

[Malladine]

You won't see much if ANY improvement choosing an x700 series.

At a $200 budget pray for a 6800gs to come out in AGP or look for used on ebay or the for sale/trade forum here on AT.

You MIGHT be satisfied with an x800gto or a 6800nu but that's about it at the $200 range to see significant boost over your 9800pro. Those cards are around 50% faster.

Check out some reviews here, THG and hardocp to see they'd be worth it.

IMO if you can scratch together another 50 bucks you'd be in a better position. If you're lucky you might even find an x800xl at that price. Hell, microcenter could have their $300 x850xt with a $50 rebate still available.

 

[Eureka]

X850XT from microcenter, about 250 AR + tax (comes out to 280 for me).
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=217999

If the 6800GS AGP ever comes out, look at that too.

Norm

 

[secretanchitman]

X850XT at microcenter
used 6800GT
6600GT
6800XT
6800
6800GS if it ever comes out in AGP.

those are your best bets for AGP. prolly last ones too.

 

[magis123]

Originally posted by: Malladine
You won't see much if ANY improvement choosing an x700 series.

Thank you this was exactly the feedback I was looking for! I had looked over most of the charts and it showed a moderate gain from 9800 -> x700 series but I was looking for some more real world opinion on it.

Could theoretically still pick up an x850 Pro from Circuit City for around $267.11 but looking at the MicroCenter deal is obviously the better way to go. Just how to justify spending 3 bills on a video card ...

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: magis123

Originally posted by: Malladine
You won't see much if ANY improvement choosing an x700 series.

Thank you this was exactly the feedback I was looking for! I had looked over most of the charts and it showed a moderate gain from 9800 -> x700 series but I was looking for some more real world opinion on it.

Could theoretically still pick up an x850 Pro from Circuit City for around $267.11 but looking at the MicroCenter deal is obviously the better way to go. Just how to justify spending 3 bills on a video card ...

It's 3 bills spilt over x, where x is the number of years you keep the card. x could also be the number of games you enjoy with it, if you prefer

 

[magis123]

The only caveat to that is ... it could also be 3 bills split over my head if my wife figured out I spent $300 on a video card ... LOL ... I tried to rationalize it with her the other night stating that I could eBay/sell off my existing video card and make X amount of dollars after I purchase a new one ... I sorta got that quit while you are ahead look LOL ...

 

[Eureka]

Considering that the x850xt will be the last AGP you will probably ever buy for that system, it's basically the epitome of AGP cards. There's still the x850xtpe, but they're basically the same card but with different clocks.

Norm

 

[Malladine]

hahaha. Hey, it's your hobby man. What if you liked going out to bars with the mates every week, that's certainly more than $300 over 2 years eh?

 

[magis123]

Hmmm ... just thought of this ... I wonder if Best Buy will price match per their policy to MicroCenter's Advertised price of $299 (it is $399 at Best Buy), that would be $110 (110% price match guarantee), bringing the card down to $289, and then mailing in the ATI $50.00 rebate ... which isn't comany purchase specific.

Hmmm ... : hamsters turning in my head :

 

[Malladine]

:thumbsup:

 

[Eureka]

Yeah but the BB one is a x850Pro, against a x850XT... unless BB has x850xts?

And the rebate for Microcenter is retailer specific...
"Offer availabe to Microcenter retail or online customers only. Coupon not valid with any other retailer."

Don't you hate the small print?

Norm

 

[magis123]

Well Best Buy actually lists the x850 XT on their site for in store pick up so at least that is one hurdle crossed LOL

 

[NoStateofMind]

I would still like to see if they would honor it.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: magis123
Well Best Buy actually lists the x850 XT on their site for in store pick up so at least that is one hurdle crossed LOL

the x800gto2 is probably a better deal though. they are supposedly unlockable

 

[Eureka]

They are unlockable, but have no value for him. He's on AGP right now.

Norm

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: magis123
The only caveat to that is ... it could also be 3 bills split over my head if my wife figured out I spent $300 on a video card ... LOL ... I tried to rationalize it with her the other night stating that I could eBay/sell off my existing video card and make X amount of dollars after I purchase a new one ... I sorta got that quit while you are ahead look LOL ...

Yeah, I tried that "but I can sell my old parts" reasoning, she looked at me skeptically and now I know why...from all the upgrades I've made in the last few years I have all the parts left over for almost two full computers lol...

-z

 

[magis123]

Originally posted by: zagoodYeah, I tried that "but I can sell my old parts" reasoning, she looked at me skeptically and now I know why...from all the upgrades I've made in the last few years I have all the parts left over for almost two full computers lol...-z

Well, from either upgarding parts, or fixing other people's junk computers, I have 3 total towers (which are in various states of function) sitting in my office right now, but my components actually are on an all time low (I went through an eBay frenzy a little while back to clear some of it out). Now if I could just get people to pick up their junk PC's that don' work, I'd be better off. Or better yet, if friends & family actually PAID me to be their 24x7 repair technician I would be golden.