Which card is best?

[ppgstf]

Not giving you too much of a choice here, but which of these two is the better card for FS9:

NVidia 7600GS
NVidia 7600GT

I would be looking at the 256 version, 8x AGP

Have an Athlon 3000, 1GB RAM, currently use a 6600GT.  These have come about at a silly price and was wondering which would be the better of the two.

PLEASE, any quick answers would be very much appreciated.

Have a great weekend.

[Celtman]

I would say the GT version, GS versions are usually quite poor compared to the other ones.

[Fozzer]

Don't forget this one....>>>>

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search_re ... ng=7800+GS

The last, and the fastest, of the remaining AGP Video Cards.....7800GS AGP 256 Mb.

I snapped one up while they are still available......!

Paul...Still in AGP Heaven.... ...!

[waspiflab]

Nuts to that PGGSTF get this one http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =GX-137-SP
this is the mutts nuts of agp cards
or http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =GX-071-PC
psssst.....it's faster than Fozzer's bike!

[DonAlfonsoRoKil]

It's like this: (first one is worst, last listed is best)

LE & SE (never buy these, they are always worse than a normal version two generations older )
GS
GT (these often have a good price in relation to that what they give you )
GTS (these, too)
GTX (often very expensive!)

maybe there are some more names, but I don't know them.
The number code is always something like this: 7950
The first number tells you which generation it is,
the second tells you how goos it is, e.g. a 6500 is not as good as a 6600.
The third and fourth  are either 00 or if not, it means it's an upgraded version.

Hope this will also help you in future, but for now, GT is definitley better than GS!!! (and look if you find limited editon for the same price)

[jimcooper1]

Nuts to that PGGSTF get this one http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =GX-137-SP
this is the mutts nuts of agp cards
or http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =GX-071-PC
psssst.....it's faster than Fozzer's bike!

Sorry...but I'm with Fozzer on this one

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_ ... &chart=292
lets start a flame war:
The 7900GS eats the X1950Pro for breakfast, spits it out and dances on its grave..

Regards

Jim

[ppgstf]

Thanks for all your comments, really appreciate it.

[Mees]

Nuts to that PGGSTF get this one http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =GX-137-SP
this is the mutts nuts of agp cards
or http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =GX-071-PC
psssst.....it's faster than Fozzer's bike!

The 7900GS eats the X1950Pro for breakfast, spits it out and dances on its grave..

I knew video cards can be buggars, but this....

[Fozzer]

Don't forget Chums, Ppgstf is after an AGP card, not a PCIe one!

The choice of fast AGP cards is quite limited now, and probably due to be fazed-out soon.

I have one of the fastest remaining AGP cards, and I am very pleased with it, 'till the time comes to upgrade the complete computer...(BIG expense!).....!

Paul....AGP 7800GS.... 8-)...!

[Nick N]

Hmmmmm

Toms Hardware is bias toward Intel and Nvidia, always has been. And their test methods tend to make sure the products that pay the majority of their ads and kickbacks, and hardware loan, get top results. I trust Toms Hardware to give me accurate information about as much as I trust an IRS investigator to look at my taxes correctly, or McDonalds to post a truthful nutrition chart of their food products.


I am not going to get into that one.

Instead, I will say that what you want in AGP is the largest video memory, with the fastest core and memory speed and the most pixel pipe lines.

If you are into clocking that is another issue that must be taken into consideration. Some cards clock like no tomorrow, like the 7800GS+ 512 from Gainward (which they dont make anymore) which has a base core/memory of 450/600 and will clock to 590/705 witout any voltage mod OR any heat issues because it uses the G71 core, just like the 7900GTX, but with an onboard PCIe to AGP converter. Anyone who was fortunate enough to get one of those Gainward cards when they were available, and has a good PUS, can clock that card to those speeds without having to worry about a thing.

There is more to video card purchasing than just model numbers.


Choosing an AGP card can be difficult. The current offerings, for both Nv and ATi, all have their ups and downs. I have not looked into them in a while so I dont know what manufature is producing the better product. Many times its not the Nvidia or ATI core, its the manufacture and the engineering they put into the card over and above what the core maker gives them on the 'base" production run. The manufactures such as Gainward, Saphire, EvGA, etc can order the blanks with the features/components they want so they are not all the same.

Also, if one waits you can get a DX10 AGP card in a few weeks too. Both Nvidia and ATI will have AGP versions of their DX10 cores on the market.

[aussiewannabe]

Hmmmmm

Toms Hardware is bias toward Intel and Nvidia, always has been. And their test methods tend to make sure the products that pay the majority of their ads and kickbacks, and hardware loan, get top results.

That's interesting! I have a few bookmarks on some of their card recommendations (btw that was before I asked questions about video cards in SimV).

Looks up bookmarks under Video Cards Folder. Presses delete key

Ah, I feel so much better

[Nick N]

Hmmmmm

Toms Hardware is bias toward Intel and Nvidia, always has been. And their test methods tend to make sure the products that pay the majority of their ads and kickbacks, and hardware loan, get top results.

That's interesting! I have a few bookmarks on some of their card recommendations (btw that was before I asked questions about video cards in SimV).

Looks up bookmarks under Video Cards Folder. Presses delete key

Ah, I feel so much better

With Tom you have to know when his site is full of it and when they are posting decent information. I do look at their charts from time to time to compare when I need a 3rd or 4th reference, and I take it with a grain of salt, but I also find flaws in those charts all the time.


His flight simulator video card/ frame rate list is a joke

[4_Series_Scania]

LE & SE (never buy these, they are always worse than a normal version two generations older )

Get your facts straight!

I have an aged Geforce 6800LE 128MB AGP - its still able to run FS9 with good framerates (and, the FSX demo for that matter!)

To say a 6800LE is worse than a card two generations older is plain daft imo.

The equivalent card of two previous generations in my case would have been the geforce Ti4200 64MB.

Apart from full support for Pixel shader 3.0 and double the RAM, it (the 6800LE) also just happens to run titles such as battlefield 2 with ease.

try that with a 2 gen old card!

[ppgstf]

Hi all

After all your useful information, I got myself a 7600GT 256mb factory overclocked card.  Couldn't quite stretch to some of the others you suggested as I recently upgraded my TFT to a 21" widescreen, she who must be obeyed would have gone ballistic if I'd have overstretched my budget.

Under the thumb, moi, never!!

Will let you know what differences it's made to my FS9.......if you are interested.

Thanks again.

[ppgstf]

Just an update from me.

My PC guy came round last night and installed the new card.  Whilst he was at it, I got him to install two new 1gb memory strips (gained brownie points so I was bought this as a gift, i do love my other half).

Fired everything up using the latest drivers from NVidia, FS9 kept freezing.  Got rid of that driver and installed the one that came on the disc with the card and all's fine now.

Overall, am seeing a good increase in performance.  Load time of external scenery is quicker along with a few extra fps.....I'm more than happy now.

Thanks again for all your advice, anyone else reading this, listen to what these guys say; they do know what they are talking about.