Video card suggestion?

[RobertM525]

My FX5900XT appears to be dying. I'll be getting a new computer in January when Vista comes out, so I don't want to sink too much money into my current system.

But I've got a 19" monitor and I want to be able to continue playing WoW at 1280x1024. I've got 1GB of PC3200 RAM and an Athlon 64 3000.

The two cards I'm considering right now are the following:

eVGA Geforce 6200 128MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130008

eVGA Geforce 6600LE 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130262

Considering my situation, does the 6600LE justify being 2.4x more expensive? Especially considering I'll only be using it for about six more months. (And that I make $9.78/hour. )

Thanks.

EDIT: BTW, if you vote "something else," please specify!

 

[prozac26]

The LE has a lower core clock, so it'll perform little worse than a plain 6200.

 

[RobertM525]

The LE has a lower core clock, so it'll perform little worse than a plain 6200.

I thought GHz ≠ speed? I figured there had to be more to the 6600LE than merely memory size.

OTOH, the only differences I see between the 6200 and the 6600LE are: memory size (128MB vs. 256MB), core clock (350 MHz vs. 300 MHz), memory interface (64-bit vs. 128-bit), and cooling method (heatsink vs. heatsink & fan).

Might, then, a 256MB 6200 out-perform a 6600LE? Or does the memory interface make that much of a difference?

 

[prozac26]

256mb of memory on a 64-bit bus is a cripple card. Memory doesn't help performance. Don't get a card with 64-bit bus.

 

[RobertM525]

256mb of memory on a 64-bit bus is a cripple card. Memory doesn't help performance. Don't get a card with 64-bit bus.

Doesn't that contradict your previous post?

EDIT: Oh, and it appears my current card has a 256-bit bus, 350 MHz core clock, and 128MB of memory.

 

[RobertM525]

Would this SAPPHIRE Radeon 9600PRO Advantage be, perhaps, a better choice than either eVGA card? I dunno how Sapphire compares to eVGA (nor have I ever owned an ATI card before). By the specs (Core clock 400MHz, Memory Clock 466MHz, Memory Size 256MB, Memory Interface 128-bit) it seems like a great card for $60. It appears to have quite a bit better bang-for-the-buck than the 6600LE.

 

[angry_ducky]

Would this SAPPHIRE Radeon 9600PRO Advantage be, perhaps, a better choice than either eVGA card? I dunno how Sapphire compares to eVGA (nor have I ever owned an ATI card before). By the specs (Core clock 400MHz, Memory Clock 466MHz, Memory Size 256MB, Memory Interface 128-bit) it seems like a great card for $60. It appears to have quite a bit better bang-for-the-buck than the 6600LE.

Hell yes; the 9600Pro will beat the crap out of the 6600 and 6200.

 

[cleeve]

I don't think a 9600 PRO would be much better than a 5900FX, in fact it'd probably be slower in alot of instances.

Upgrading to anything less than a Geforce 6600 (not LE) or X1300 PRO would be a waste for you if you have an FX 5900.

Even then the difference might not be as huge as you're hoping. You can get an X1600 PRO for under $150, that'd make a big difference.

 

[RobertM525]

I don't think a 9600 PRO would be much better than a 5900FX, in fact it'd probably be slower in alot of instances.

Upgrading to anything less than a Geforce 6600 (not LE) or X1300 PRO would be a waste for you if you have an FX 5900.

Even then the difference might not be as huge as you're hoping. You can get an X1600 PRO for under $150, that'd make a big difference.

Yeah, but I don't want a "big difference." It's not an upgrade, it's just a replacement until I can get a new computer next year. If I could get the same performance I'm getting now in WoW (which is the only game I'm playing at the moment) for under $100, I'd be ecstatic. I just don't want to sink much money in this computer if I'm going to replace it in six months.

OTOH, I want to get a dual-core, DirectX 10 video card, Vista system, and at the beginning of next year, those will probably be really expensive, so maybe I shouldn't plan on getting a new system right when Vista comes out...

Decisions, decisions...

 

[cleeve]

Ah.

Well, if you want a simple replacement... get a used 9700 PRO off ebay for $40. Better performance than your 5900 for next to nothing.

If you want new, get a 9600 PRO, X1300, X700, 6600... whichever you can find the cheapest. Just make sure it has a 128-bit memory interface, not a 64-bit one.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

In addition to Cleeve's eBay recommendation (IMO your best route), there's a Sapphire R9600XT on NewEgg for $55, which would likely perform the same or better than the FX5900XT in modern games.

There's also an R9800SE (128bit) there which would be another consideration.

Then you get into the $85 GF6600 and $98 X1600P range.

Seriously eBay is a great resource.

 

[RobertM525]

there's a Sapphire R9600XT on NewEgg for $55, which would likely perform the same or better than the FX5900XT in modern games.

After mail in rebates? Here is all the "9600XT" video cards by Sapphire on Newegg. The top of that list is a $70 one that's $55 after rebates. I assume that's the one you're referring to.

Seriously eBay is a great resource.

For new cards or just used ones?

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[RobertM525]

So far, this is looking like my best bet for under $100:

SAPPHIRE 100151L-RD Radeon X1300 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X

Or this, if I go open box:
Open Box: SAPPHIRE 100148 Radeon X1600PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X

Doesn't look like I'm losing anything going OEM instead of retail. (No bundled software. )

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yes after rebates, didn't know you were averse to rebates. They're a pain, but if you're buying on the cheap there's few better ways to get a deal.

That X1300 will be about the same speed if not slower than the R9600XT.

The X1600P is your overall best deal for bang/buck and will outperform that FX5900XT is just about everything.

eBay has some good deals for used cards. They are a bit riskier, but just depends on your comfort level with eBay,never had a problem myself.

If you're even slightly concerned, go with the X1600P, almost as risky being 'open box', but at least you've got a company to complain to.

 

[RobertM525]

That X1300 will be about the same speed if not slower than the R9600XT.

Oh. I didn't know that. So the $70 card's gonna be a good bet, eh?

The X1600P is your overall best deal for bang/buck and will outperform that FX5900XT is just about everything.

If you're even slightly concerned, go with the X1600P, almost as risky being 'open box', but at least you've got a company to complain to.

True, true... The last thing I need is to encourage problems...

So the 9600XT or the open-box X1600 Pro...? Hmm...

(And I used to be a nVidia man. )

 

[Primitivus]

Open box is usually risky unless you trust the manufacturer or the retailer with their return policies

 

[RobertM525]

Open box is usually risky unless you trust the manufacturer or the retailer with their return policies

Newegg's been great with buying stuff but, admittedly, I have no idea what their return policy is like. Plus there's the hassle...

Meh. I think I'll just get a new card (perhaps this one or this one), even if that X1600 Pro is rather alluring...

 

[RobertM525]

Well, for better or worse, I went ahead and bought this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143056

Hopefully it'll work similarly to my 5900XT.

Thanks for the help. It was a tough choice, though.

 

[Primitivus]

The operative word here being "hopefully" because... who the h*ll is 3D Fuzion???

 

[jkay69]

I think you made a fair purchase, for that money the 6600 should provide you with the performance you are expecting and it'll also run Vista, how well is another question ;-) Although I have the BETA2 of VISTA running on my 9800Pro 128MB with an Athlon64 3200 and it seems to run well enough considering it's a BETA.

As for who 3D Fuzion is, who cares ;-) For that money I'm sure the card will do you well, I'd only consider a brand name for a high end card anyways, also after checking out the link it seems the 3D Fuzion is somehow linked to BFG Tech, perhaps this is their name for this card...If it is, then I believe the card will definately suit you well.

Good Buy... ;-)

JKay6969

 

[Primitivus]

Yeah I saw that possible link to BFG too. In that case it shouldn't be too bad

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Well, for better or worse, I went ahead and bought this card:

Should be good enough to take you up until you do your next upgrade.

It should play every game out there at a basic level, and it will play them better than the FX5900XT IMO.

Now that it's done no other card existed, enjoy it you should find things look a little better, probably less glitches and you now have access to some features that weren't an option with the Fx.

 

[RobertM525]

The operative word here being "hopefully" because... who the h*ll is 3D Fuzion???

BFG, apparently. It was recommended to me here.