AGP upgrade

I have a 9800pro in my machine right now. going to updgrade to the x1650pro.. however when looking at the different cards at Newegg i'm not sure i understand why all of them show different core clock and memory clock numbers ?

Which is better? I would think the higher the clock speeds the better but..

Is one brand better then another? any to truly avoid ?

I'm trying to squeeze another year or so out of my current system and this seemed to be a way to do it..

Thanks for any information.

Mousekiller.

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All things being equal, higher clocks are better. But they should all be pretty close to spec, 10 or 20 mhz isn't going to make a huge difference.

If you're seeing more than 20 Mhz difference, please link to it because that doesn't sound right...

Reply to Cleeve

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ategory=48

Most are 600 for core and 800 memory, others are 590 and 1380, ones 450 and 1300 ..

All are DDR2 cards and i thought i read somewhere that you could not get the 1300 1380 clock speeds on a ddr2 chip ?..

Figure the 600 and 800 is probably more realistic.

Mousekiller.

Reply to Mousekiller

Wow...

X1650 PROs are supposed to have a 600 Mhz core and GDDR3 memory running about 700 Mhz (which is often called 1400 Mhz 'effective' because it's double data rate memory).

If they're GDDR2, they're not true X1650 PROs.

Hard to say if that's a typo and it's really 800 Mhz GDDR3 - which would be a factory overclock - or if it's 400 Mhz DDR2, which would really suck...

Reply to Cleeve

Well i went and looked at the ATI website and there overview and specs both show ddr2.. nothing about ddr3 with the x1650pro agp card..

Although it did not mention clock speed in either description. so.. who knows what's correct ?.

Mouse.

Reply to Mousekiller

I'm in the same boat as you and decided to buy a PowerColor radeon x1650 XT AGP, which is GDDR3 and, as far as I've heard in forums like GPUReview and GameFaqs, is equal to or better than the critics' darling nVidia GeForce 7600 GT AGP. It hasn't arrived yet, but it will be much better than my 9800 Pro (which served me well, though, I must say--one of the reasons I stuck with the Radeon line, plus the drivers are the same). Good luck with your purchase.

Reply to WB

Thanks, yeah my 9800 has been wonderful can't complain about how it's operated and really there is nothing wrong with it other then being about a zillion generations out of spec.. but hey, i don't know to many that can keep up with spec anyway..

I play Bf2 and i'd like to play it with something other then medium and low settings but yet not rebuild an entire new machine... figured hey.. little better video card and i'm good for a year or so. and buying at gaming machine at 3000 + is just plain out of the question not to mention insane..

Mouse.

Reply to Mousekiller

Quote :

Thanks, yeah my 9800 has been wonderful can't complain about how it's operated and really there is nothing wrong with it other then being about a zillion generations out of spec.. but hey, i don't know to many that can keep up with spec anyway..

I play Bf2 and i'd like to play it with something other then medium and low settings but yet not rebuild an entire new machine... figured hey.. little better video card and i'm good for a year or so. and buying at gaming machine at 3000 + is just plain out of the question not to mention insane..

Mouse.

for bf2 there are a few great agp cards way better than your 9800pro.
76gt,x1650 in ddr3, x1950 but expensive.
hell if you could find a 6800gt for cheap that would be good too.

Reply to sirheck

Quote :

Well i went and looked at the ATI website and there overview and specs both show ddr2.. nothing about ddr3 with the x1650pro agp card..

Although it did not mention clock speed in either description. so.. who knows what's correct ?.

What's correct is the reference board that Ati releases for other manufacturers to base their specs on, and the reference board for the X1650 PRO is 600 core/700 memory...

Reply to Cleeve

Also to Mouse: I had to get a more powerful power supply unit (one that has 18 amps on the 12 V rail was what I was counseled to get from GPUReview and GameFaqs) to safely use the x1650 XT, since my "old" (2004) system didn't have quite enough power for a newer card. I just wanted to let you know that factoid in case you may need a new PSU like I did. Using Diamond Multimedia's 1650 Pro AGP as a reference, they recommend a 420 W PSU for their card. For my 1650 XT, I got a 450 W model just to be on the safe side, since it was in my price range. This is the one I got just FYI:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171005

Reply to WB

Quote :

Also to Mouse: I had to get a more powerful power supply unit (one that has 18 amps on the 12 V rail was what I was counseled to get from GPUReview and GameFaqs) to safely use the x1650 XT, since my "old" (2004) system didn't have quite enough power for a newer card. I just wanted to let you know that factoid in case you may need a new PSU like I did. Using Diamond Multimedia's 1650 Pro AGP as a reference, they recommend a 420 W PSU for their card. For my 1650 XT, I got a 450 W model just to be on the safe side, since it was in my price range. This is the one I got just FYI:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171005

Thanks, i'm running a 450w Antec i believe is what i put in after my "stock" PS crapped out.. So unless i go to the 1950 i think i'm ok.. going to check though.

So is the concensus that DDR3 is better ? 256 or 512 ? Any particular manufacturer to stay away from ? HIS seems to have cheaper cards ? Saphire has been around a while.. The ATI cards are more expensive..

Mouse.

Reply to Mousekiller

As long as you've got 30amps on the 12v rail, your current 450W PSU would be enough for an X1950PRO.

Yes, GDDR3 is better. Don't bother spending the exta $$ on the 512MB version, as it'll only amount to maybe a couple FPS. As far as brands go, I'd go for what's cheapest. They're all basically the same, just different bundles and warranties.

Reply to kaotao

Yep, you really have to watch the clock speeds in X1650 pro's, especially the AGP's with even the HIS IceQ running slow GDDR2 memory. Make sure you get one with GDDR3.

I have currently been testing the 256MB version of this Sapphire card, which actual clock speeds are 594MHz core/ 693MHz (1386MHz effective). As far as I know that's the best clocked X1650 pro AGP, and it was only $99 after rebate a couple weeks ago.

Just so you know, with the X1650XT, you are getting a better card for not much money. And the AGP ones can be found at a reasonable price with real XT clock speeds.

Anyway, this is the AGP card you want if you don't go for the X1950 pro: His X1650XT iceQ Turbo $135 AR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161064

Reply to pauldh

Quote :

Yep, you really have to watch the clock speeds in X1650 pro's, especially the AGP's with even the HIS IceQ running slow GDDR2 memory. Make sure you get one with GDDR3.

I have currently been testing the 256MB version of this Sapphire card, which actual clock speeds are 594MHz core/ 693MHz (1386MHz effective). As far as I know that's the best clocked X1650 pro AGP, and it was only $99 after rebate a couple weeks ago.

I was going to say, this is the card i was going to purchase.
SAPPHIRE 100174L Radeon X1650PRO 256MB GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X CrossFire Support Video Card - Retail $119.00 Newegg.. + shipping..

Clock 450 - 1300...

I'll take a look at the above one also.. Thanks.

Reply to Mousekiller

I edited the above post. Go with the Bold one. $135 for an AGP X1650XT iceQ turbo is an incredible price. Best deal in AGP. I'll post a pic of it next to the Sapphire tonight as soon as I finish benchmarking the X1650 pro.

Reply to pauldh

Nice find.

Reply to kaotao

Yeah, too bad I paid $15 more less than 2 weeks ago. Still even $150 was a great deal IMO.

Reply to pauldh

Yeah, I was very tempted to pick that up today after seeing it.

Reply to kaotao

And you didn't??? :?

Maybe I can post the pics I mentioned to the OP and twist your arm just far enough. Price will go up you know. :wink:

Clockwise starting with the IceQ

HIS X1650XT IceQ Turbo 256MB AGP
Sapphire X1650 Pro 256MB AGP
BBA 9800 Pro 128MB AGP
BBA X800XTPE 256MB AGP

Reply to pauldh

That HIS is perty. Don't know if my wife would agree. Going to have to see if I can talk her into it. She's got me on a tight budget. I could just pull the trigger, but the couch doesn't look too comfy.

Reply to kaotao

Quote :

but the couch doesn't look too comfy.

well atleast you wont have her knee in your back :lol:

go for it man.

Reply to sirheck

I totally hear that. My wife and I have been undergoing discussions tonight on a cheap laptop I don't want to pass up. To say she is less than thrilled about the idea is an understatement. :cry:

Reply to pauldh

I;m not worried about her knee in my back as much as her knee in other places. 8O :lol:

Reply to kaotao

if you are looking at the x1650 that paul has (hopefully its ddr3)
i would imagine it is as paul knows his shtuff.

it should be a good card, good as a 68gt i hear.

Reply to sirheck

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