Which graphics card to buy?

[Maximilian]

Hello plz can somone tell me which card i should buy.
My rig is: Athlon64 3200+//512 PC3200 RAM (soon to be 1gig)//Geforce FX5200256MB<--YUK!!
Ive gathered that my card is S**te and i need a better one. Can somone plz reccommend some good cards. Im a gamer mainly so being able to cut doom 3 is kinda needed in a card.

 

[MDE]

Go for any of the following if you want to buy now:
GeForce FX 5900 (SE is fine, BFG is my preferred brand for their superb warranty and support)
Radeon 9700 Pro
Radeon 9800 Pro

I'd wait for ATI and Nvidia to release their new chips in a couple months if possible, you'll be able to get a lot more card for the cash.

BTW: You might want to change your sig.

 

[Zinn2b]

Monkey that was a very good post same advice I have been giving people. As a matter of fact I been telling my resent customers same thing so many have opt. to install $100 card now and when new cards come out. They send me that card back and I credit them $75 on the new card.

 

[Maximilian]

Hi i'll do just that thanks for the advice.

 

[stranger707]

I have an Athlon 64 3200+ rig with an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, and it is a screamer. No problems with between the 9800 Pro and the ASUS K8V mobo. It is a sweet combo.

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

9600xt is fine

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing
9600xt is fine

I am not impressed with it having "upgraded" from the Radeon 8500-128.

It is going back to the store and I will get a 9800.

(My system: P4-2.80c@3.1Ghz/512MB PC-3500/AbitIC7-g)

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

are you serious?
being in that price range i think thats an excellent card.
especially if you can get the asus version with vivo
i upgraded from geforce 2 ti but that my 2cents

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing
are you serious?
being in that price range i think thats an excellent card.
especially if you can get the asus version with vivo
i upgraded from geforce 2 ti but that my 2cents

Quite serious.

it is probably 1/3 faster than my 8500 - especially with AA/AF enabled. I paid $150 (after MIR) but am NOT satisfied considering a SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9800PRO (128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out) is only $70 more at Newegg.

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

well now your comparing apples and oranges (9800pro vs 9600xt) and a 1/3 is probably exaggerated
for us canadians, the xt is approx. 280$ retail and the 9800pro approx 450-499 retail (depending where obviously)
that is a large price difference and anyways since the original poster wanted to play doom, he might as well wait a couple months like monkey suggested, especially for a game that isnt even out

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing
well now your comparing apples and oranges (9800pro vs 9600xt) and a 1/3 is probably exaggerated
for us canadians, the xt is approx. 280$ retail and the 9800pro approx 450-499 retail (depending where obviously)
that is a large price difference and anyways since the original poster wanted to play doom, he might as well wait a couple months like monkey suggested, especially for a game that isnt even out

No apples to oranges comparison; and How is the 1/3rd faster an exageration? 3DMark2001 benchmarks supports this for DX8 gaming.

I really don't think about Canada (until one of those slowpokes from "Beautiful BC" cuts in front of me on a SoCal freeway [and hits the brakes]).

IN THE USA, a 9600XT was $150 after MIR at Circuit City last week. The 9800Pro is $219 at NewEgg today. My 9600XT is GOING BACK for a refund and the 8500 going back IN my computer (as soon as ATI rmas it) UNTIL the 9800 is in the sub$200 range . . . in a couple of months.

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

hahahahahaahhahahaha on the beautiful bc
its nice to live in california where prices are CHEAP for computer hardware
my friend used to work there before the bust and he attests to that fact
i guess its just two different viewpoints on the card as a result of the price differences

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing
hahahahahaahhahahaha on the beautiful bc
its nice to live in california where prices are CHEAP for computer hardware
my friend used to work there before the bust and he attests to that fact
i guess its just two different viewpoints on the card as a result of the price differences

We DO take our temperate weather and cheap HW prices for granted (along with lots of crowding, smog and high real estate).

Not only that, you went from a GF2 to a 9600 (I had a GF256, a Radeon 7200 AND a 8500) where the differences would be striking.

Don't get me wrong, the 9600XT is a fine card (especially if you have DX9 games). But not THAT huge of a difference from my 8500 to pay $150 for the 9600 where only $70 more would get me DOUBLE the 8500's performance with a 9800pro.

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

true true
no i understand

 

[tenoc]

dothedamnthing, go to here.

Enter 9600xt and 9800 pro in the box provided (separately) and search.

I came up with C$200 and C$300 respectively, not the inflated prices you quoted.

Shop smart, more loonies left for :beer: