Graphics Card

[Scorpiоn]

Seeing as my PC configuration is finally set in stone, and I shall hopefully get it soon.  What card should I get for it?

• AMD 64-bit 3.0 Ghz
• 1Gb of RAM, later to be upgraded to 2 or 3
• Asus K8V Deluxe
• PNY NVidia Ti4200 64Mb
• Windows XP Home
• Philips sonic edge 5.1

I can't think of anything else relevant, and I'm willing to pay up to $200.  Fire away with your suggestions, gentlemen!

[Gixer]

9800pro and o-clock it to 9800xt speeds. Dunno how much they are in the states though but shouldn't be far off the $200 mark.

Just make sure you get a 256bit one.  It can have 128ddr ram or 256ddr ram but ensure it has 256bit as this gives the card more bandwidth and thus more performance.

[4_Series_Scania]

9800pro and o-clock it to 9800xt speeds. Dunno how much they are in the states though but shouldn't be far off the $200 mark.

Just make sure you get a 256bit one.  It can have 128ddr ram or 256ddr ram but ensure it has 256bit as this gives the card more bandwidth and thus more performance.

Scorpion, my old friend, nice little rig there sir!

Let me just say this to you and anybody else considering a "new" Graphics card, FORGET ABSOLUTELEY ANY OF THE OLD GeForce FX or ATI Radeon's, period.

Why? I think your just throwing your money down the pan! I'd personally sit back & wait a while for prices to level off. If you insist on the (excellent in its day) 9800, then wait again, this card is now old hat & frankly overpriced by a considerable sum.

Nvidia have their new 6800 Ultra, Ati have their X800Xt,  if you fancy an average of 40+ fps @ 1600x1200 with 4xAA & 16(!) x AF in FS2004  then you really have no other viable option, not to mention future games performance.... - Far Cry will slow to a crawl with more than a few 9800's I've seen and Far Cry is no where near as performance intensive as the likes of Doom3 / Half-Life2 or FS10 / CFS4 no doubt will be.


Buy an FX5900 or 5950 / Ati 9800 by all means just remember they are now utterly obsolete.

To quote this months PC Gamer magazine, "No Touchy" !

http://www.hardocp.com/image.html?image=MTA4ODEwMzE5ME9waVhxWmxmUU1fN18yX2wuZ2lm Read & weep

I was quite literally about to buy a new 5950Ultra from my local store http://www.overclockers.co.uk the bod behind the counter gave me some quiet heads up and strongly advised me to wait until the newer cards either reduce in price, or the 5950's / 9800's drop to a more realistic level.

I'm keeping my wonga in my pocket for a month or so, I'd advise you to do the same sir.

Paul.

[bm]

Scania - you really know how to break the news nicely to a 9800XT owner

I couldn't believe the performance was double when I saw the benchies! I thought there would be a 30% increase or something bearable.......  

So when will the X800XT be outdated then? I enjoyed my little six months stint at the top but I'm going to stay well behind the cutting edge from now on!

Anyway - we'll see! It makes you want to cry

[Gixer]

Only reason I said that card was the guy said he has got a $200 limit.

If money is no object then yes get one of the new gen cards.  My money this time is on the Nvidia 6800 series as they are gonna develop a lot and support sm3.0

Hence I got a nice 6800 ultra on order  ;D

[4_Series_Scania]

[quote]Only reason I said that card was the guy said he has got a $200 limit.

If money is no object then yes get one of the new gen cards.

[Scorpiоn]

I can afford to wait, although how long are we talking here, a month, or two years? I do consider myself particularly patient.  While not a speed demon, my Ti4200 bears all my gaming, graphical and 3-D work just fine.

[Gixer]

Lol. I dont have money to burn, I got it on buy now pay later  ;)  Just puttin by a bit each month to cover it so at the end I just pay it off  ;D  

Your right about bein at the top, u just never will be, there is always somthing new out.  I never had a really decent graphics card though so I thought I would treat myself  :D probably be outta date before I get it at this rate though!  Hopefully I wont need to upgrade it for a few years though!

[4_Series_Scania]

[quote]I can afford to wait, although how long are we talking here, a month, or two years? I do consider myself particularly patient.

[Scorpiоn]

Thanks Scania if there's one thing I like to hear, it's to keep my hard earned money in my pocket!

'Till Christmas, that is.

One less thing to worry 'bout.

[bm]

If only I was so sensible

[Daz]

excuse me?

OLD GeForce FX

the fx5950 ultra will handle anything u throw at it  and with the humongous noisy jet engine suction fan thingy that takes up a PCI slot its that big the overclocking capabilities are tremendous? yeah teh fx range has been put to the back of the shelf by the newer cards but there still a heck of a good quality card

[4_Series_Scania]

[quote]excuse me?


the fx5950 ultra will handle anything u throw at it

[bm]

At least NVIDIA will always have the Linux community! I think I'm going to try and wait for DX10 before getting a new card, and I hear that

[Daz]

grr im not saying that the 6800's arent beastly sons of a bitches im even thinking of getting one in my new machine just stating the point that the 5950 is not outdated yet

40 fps average at the same settings in FS9?

i have mine locked at 25 fps and it stays there as well on them settings but then again i have overclocked it

core clock 525 mhz
memory clock 1.07 GHZ

the 5950 ultra is not lame by any means and until i buy a game that it struggles to run then i wont replace her

heck even the old ti4200 8x cards are doing well even though they are pretty old now

daz