Which Card?

[Evicerator]

My first post here and I know I am going to catch flak for making this post as I know it's been posted prolly 50 times by now.

I've been researching for building a new computer (p4 2.8, yada yada...) so I can play some of the newer games that are coming out in the near future. I really just wish to make a computer than can hold its own over the next year or so until I have to upgrade again.

With all of that said, I have been having a TON of trouble figuring out graphics cards. I have done countless amounts of research that all conflicts one another and its gotten me more confused than anything else. I want a card that will be DX9.0 compatible for future games and I want the card to not choke on some of the higher end games. Need the card to last a year without costing me more than $200-250.

Which card would get the best recommendation? Thanks to anyone who can help me out, I'm in bad need of a card for this new system and it's the only thing I can't make my mind up on.

 

[cleeve]

The Radeon 9800 non-pro will rock your world for that price.



------------------
Radeon 9500 (hardmodded to PRO, o/c to 322/322)
AMD AthlonXP 2400+ (o/c to 2600+ with 143 fsb)
3dMark03: 4055

 

[Evicerator]

9800 SE? or just 9800? or are they the same (I suck at this...) THANKS for the reply.

 

[cleeve]

The 9800SE is useless. Do not buy it, even if at gunpoint. It has HALF of the Radeon 9800's pipelines and bandwidth. It is complete $hit.

Get a 9800 non-pro... Just called a "Radeon 9800 128mb" in most cases.

Beware the "SE". Look hard for it! If it has it, stay away!

------------------
Radeon 9500 (hardmodded to PRO, o/c to 322/322)
AMD AthlonXP 2400+ (o/c to 2600+ with 143 fsb)
3dMark03: 4055

 

[Vapor]

I'd buy it at gunpoint.

RDRAM = (ENEMY)^2

 

[Evicerator]

I found a gigacube 9800. Good or bad? I've been looking for the card in that price range and it's always in the $300+ market

http://www.nexcomdirect.com/Itemdesc.asp?CartId=1-ACCWARE-2135646PLLZI49&ic=HDSTSATA120GB&tpc=

 

[Vapor]

Avoid gigacube. I'd go for a 9600PRO and OC a lot (they are very good overclocking cards). Look at this newegg:

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16814102276" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16814102276</A>

Add a Zalman HP80C (i think that is the model #) and it's optional fan and you should get 525/660 easily (based on the top review).

RDRAM = (ENEMY)^2

 

[LtBlue14]

pc wonder has <A HREF="http://pcwonderinc.com/atirad98sap3.html" target="_new">the sapphire 9800</A> OEM for $265 shipped
their rating on resellerratings.com is a <A HREF="http://www.resellerratings.com/seller4741.html" target="_new">7.67</A>

otherwise you could get a 9600pro and overclock it like someone else said. check reviews for comparisons of 9800, 9600pro etc

EDIT: how about a retail powercolor 9700 for $229 at gameve.com <A HREF="http://www.gameve.com/store/gameve_viewitem.asp?idproduct=849&showit=1" target="_new">here</A>. reseller rating is a <A HREF="http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2651.html" target="_new">7.55</A>

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this signature area is too dern short, no space to put your system specs<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by LtBlue14 on 11/04/03 04:53 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[sweatlaserxp]

Sealed-box 9800NP cards are becoming more sparse. There are people on eBay that are selling them, but mostly out of the box, and they usually go for around $220-240. The box (for the built-by-ATi ones) looks exactly like the 9800 Pro, except it just says "Radeon 9800" on it. You should find out which video RAM is the best for the BBA 9800NP, and then contact the sellers directly and ask what kind of RAM chips are on the card- Samsung, Infineon, etc...

 

[Evicerator]

what are the thoughts on the 9700 non pro card? I've been finding alot of them with prices in my range. They also have the 8 pipelines and 256 interface. Good card or no? 9800 MUCH better or marginally?

 

[Crashman]

The only reason people aren't recommending 9700's is because they are hard to find. The 9700 is a VERY solid card and VERY close to the 9800 in performance. Also there are modified drivers that turn on the 9800 features to transition the 9700 to a 9800.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[coolsquirtle]

ggggiiiiiggggaaacccccuuuuubbbbeee????

*shakes*

....... helppppppp

RIP Block Heater....HELLO P4~~~~~
120% nVidia Fanboy
bring it fanATics~~ nVidia PWNS all!
SCREW aBOX! LONG LIVE nBOX!!

 

[Evicerator]

Sounds good, I think I will be snagging one off of ebay shortly.

 

[lhgpoobaa]

Indeed
See if you can find yourself a sapphire, gigabyte, or OEM 9800pro or nonpro in the 128Mb version.

Top level performance (almost), kicks FX ass and is considerably cheaper than the top of the line R9800XT/FX5950ultra.

You might be able to find a pro going for $300 US. nonpro alot cheaper.

It will rock your gaming world.



<b>I am not a AMD fanboy.
I am not a Via fanboy.
I am not a ATI fanboy.
I AM a performance fanboy.
And a low price fanboy.
Regards,
Mr no integrity coward.</b>

 

[Nights_L]

what's wrong with Gigacube?

 

[Britdude]

http://www.fticomputer.com/cgis/list.cgi?ses=5d14e76503fec2b75a5e899ad8727b85&cat=VB

 

[Britdude]

http://www.fticomputer.com/cgis/list.cgi?ses=5d14e76503fec2b75a5e899ad8727b85&cat=VB some good cards here in your price range.

 

[Evicerator]

you, sir, effing rawk! SWEET prices. Thanks!

I found this card to my liking and seen that the clockspeeds on the RAM are nice. Figured I would ask the experts if this is a good one. It's listed as a 9800SE but shows same clock speed as the 9800. Is this an error on their behalf or a 9800 OEM?

http://www.fticomputer.com/cgis/detail.cgi?product=VB-PC-ATI-R98SE-C3&ses=5d14e76503fec2b75a5e899ad8727b85&cat=VB

vs. this one

http://www.fticomputer.com/cgis/detail.cgi?product=VB-ATI-R9800P&ses=5d14e76503fec2b75a5e899ad8727b85&cat=VB
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by evicerator on 11/06/03 00:57 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Ion]

AVOID SE version of radeon cards.

It has half the bandwidth of the 9800np when clock at same frequency, extra bandwidth translate into a big performance difference especially when you use AA/AF.

 

[Britdude]

get the radeon 9800 non SE, if ucan afford it lol if u can't the 9700pro or fx5600(apogee) ultra or the fx5900

 

[Evicerator]

thanks again for all the help guys, looks like it's going to be the 9800 NON SE for me.