7600gs AGP upgrade to X1950 XT

[Zeppelin1]

Ok. I currently have a 7600GS (AGP, 256mb) and I am wanting to upgrade to a X1950 XT (AGP, also 256mb), based on the fact that i have heard this is the "highest" AGP card. My specs are as follows:

P4 2.8Ghz
1GB DRR RAM
350w PSU

My questions are: Would it be worth the upgrade? Is the performance increase substantial? Would I need a 500w PSU? Would it bottleneck? Is it worth it upgrading on a P4?

Thinking of getting another 1GB DRR RAM while I'm at it...Opinions?

 

[pauldh]

It's a big performance increase but IMO not worth the typical price ($230ish in USA). That's alot for an AGP card with slower memory than the PCI-e version even. For comparison, a $160-$180 PCI-e HD3850 is faster.

You would be better off with a $115 HD2600XT as your CPU is about minimum spec in some games and the 2600XT is a decent card priced much better. Without FSAA iit matches the X1950 pro in many new games and beats the 7900GS by a good margin in those games. And the 7900GS is way above your 7600GS.

Best value in AGP IMO is this card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102711

 

[pauldh]

If this ever comes back in stock it would be a good option too, especially if you want to use FSAA. But it does consume more power so you would have to make sure your power supply is up to the task. $155 AR for a 512MB X1950 pro isn't bad at all.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161071

The 2600XT still gets my vote though.

 

[mactronix]

Your just flat not going to have the power in your currant power supply to run a 1950 pro nevermind a 1950xt the pro wants 28amps on the 12 volt rail and i dont think your psu will have that not unless its a very very good unit.
I would go with the $115 HD2600XT that Pauldh sugests.
Im not 100% sure but it has a lot more chance of running on your currant PSU than the other two,but as pauldh says if you like to use AA at all even a little bit then stear clear.If this is the case then i would get a 500watt PSU 28+amps and get a 1950 pro.
Mactronix

 

[crusoe74]

You haven't said what mobo you're using but you have to rmember that the AGP x1950xt is a dual slot card. Otherwise like other people it's a case of cost and also what your power supply can provide.

 

[Zeppelin1]

I'm thinking of upgrading to an Antec Sonata III, this would be able to fit most cards and comes with a 500w PSU (and is the case i am choosing for when i do a full system upgrade), I've heard that the X1950 PRO is faster than the HD 2600XT, and I'm not going to use DX10 until my next full system upgrade. Dual slot isn't really a problem. Is the X1950 XT still a viable option?

As for the mobo I really don't know what it is, as it was second hand (anywhere I should look/any tools that can tell me?), but i do know it supports 8x AGP and DDR1 RAM.

 

[mactronix]

I'm thinking of upgrading to an Antec Sonata III, this would be able to fit most cards and comes with a 500w PSU (and is the case i am choosing for when i do a full system upgrade), I've heard that the X1950 PRO is faster than the HD 2600XT, and I'm not going to use DX10 until my next full system upgrade. Dual slot isn't really a problem. Is the X1950 XT still a viable option?

As for the mobo I really don't know what it is, as it was second hand (anywhere I should look/any tools that can tell me?), but i do know it supports 8x AGP and DDR1 RAM.

As far as the power supply goes, good choice shouldnt give you any problems.
As has been said the 1950pro and 2600xt are about the same as long as you dont want to use AA ans as i said even if you only use a little AA then the pro will be better.
As for the XT card it would depend on the cost differance for me personally as i beleive that you may end up with identical performance as the pro due to your CPU posably bottlenecking the graphics card.
Mactronix

 

[Zeppelin1]

Alright. Thanks for the help. I think I will go for the X1950 PRO, this seem like a good deal? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161071

 

[mactronix]

May i sugest this one as it is cheaper even before the mail in rebate is pre-overclocked and the IceQ cooler is very quiet and exhausts the heat out of the back of the case .
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161088
Mactronix
It does need two slots though so make sure it will fit first.

 

[pauldh]

edit: that iceQ is PCI-e though, otherwise if it was AGP... what a bargain.

 

[mactronix]

edit: that iceQ is PCI-e though, otherwise if it was AGP... what a bargain.

OOps my bad sorry Zeppelin1
Mactronix

 

[pauldh]

First I agreed with you for him to go for the ice Q, then after saw it was PCI-e.