Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Which ATI Radeon card to get???
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Cane1992   01-18-2004 at 06:45:21 PM

Looking to upgrade and I haven't been in the buying "loop" for some time.

Looking under $200 and have been thinking about the...

ATI Radeon 9800
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
ATI Radeon 9600 XT

Any thoughts or suggestions???

Thanks.

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Marvelii   01-18-2004 at 07:12:12 PM
- 0 +

I have a 9600Pro and it hasnt been a dissapiontment. The 9600XT should be faster and now you can get it under $200 w/ a free Half Life 2 game.

Shuttle XPC SN45G
Athlon XP 3200+
nForce2 Ultra 400
Corsair 512mb ddr400
Radeon 9600 Pro
WD 160GB HDD
Toshiba DVD-RW

Reply to Marvelii
sirak   01-18-2004 at 07:12:29 PM
- 0 +

The 9700pro is easily the best card out of the three. If you can find one for under $200, get it.

Reply to sirak
Cane1992   01-18-2004 at 07:22:49 PM
- 0 +

Yeah...the 9700 Pro is at the higher end of my range. You can find it for just over $200.

What makes the 9700 Pro better than a 9800 that I can get for about $160? They both are 256bit, 8x1 and both seem to run at about the same speed.

Reply to Cane1992
jpw1234   01-18-2004 at 07:34:19 PM
- 0 +

the 9800 you see for $160 is a 9800SE which sucks. 9800 regular is like $240

P4 2.8ghz 800mhz FSB w/ HT
ECS 648FX SiS MB
1gb (512x2) 3200 Kingston DDR400
ATI Radeon 9500 Pro

Reply to jpw1234
pauldh   01-18-2004 at 07:48:12 PM
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9700 Pro "easily the best card of the 3"? I don't agree with you. In most tests the 9700 Pro manages to edge out the 9800 by .5 to 1 fps. But the 9800's with the right memory can be modded to run as a 9800 Pro, and even the ones that can't still tend to overclock half way up to 9800 pro speeds. The 9700 Pro is usually more fussy on power requirements too. Either card for $200 is a great find, but IF you could find a 9800 (np) for the same price as a 9700 pro, I would buy the 9800 without question. Maybe you wouldn't and that is fine, but I just had to comment on the EASILY the Best part, as I feel it isn't good advice. I'd sure hate to see him pass up a $200 9800 if he sees one because he thinks the 9700 Pro is much better.

ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9500 Pro, Santa Cruz, Antec 1000AMG, TruePower 430watt

Reply to pauldh
jpw1234   01-18-2004 at 07:59:30 PM
- 0 +

Yeah, I agree with Pauldh. The 9700pro is a nice card but if the 9800 non pro is the same price I would defintely go with the 9800 NP.

P4 2.8ghz 800mhz FSB w/ HT
ECS 648FX SiS MB
1gb (512x2) 3200 Kingston DDR400
ATI Radeon 9500 Pro

Reply to jpw1234
UNSoldierPT   01-18-2004 at 08:27:29 PM
- 0 +

I really recommend you the 9700Pro. All the test ressults I've seen show that card as the winner. That card was for a long time the best card in the market, and a lot of upgraded versions of the drivers were designed for it. On the other hand the 9800 NP was after a short time upgraded due to some performance problems that always put it behind the 9700pro.
Good Luck!

Reply to UNSoldierPT
JEZZAAA   01-18-2004 at 08:27:56 PM
- 0 +

WHATS WRONG WITH NVIDIA BOY???? aRE nVIDIA CAARDS TWO 1337 4 J000R SUMM17??? MY GEFORCE 2 MX WILL OWN ANY ATI CARD, THEY SUCK SMALL, HAIRLESS PENISESESES. DONT LISTEN TO ANY OPF THESE ATI TROLLS, THEYRE BIASED NOOBS WHO PRETEND TO BE LEET HAXORS.

Reply to JEZZAAA
TheGreatGrapeApe   01-18-2004 at 09:19:38 PM
- 0 +

*Cough* Fake Troll *Cough*


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK :evil:

Reply to TheGreatGrapeApe
TheGreatGrapeApe   01-18-2004 at 09:24:13 PM
- 0 +

If you can get a TRUE R9800 non-pro (NOT SE) for the same price as that R9700PRo, then the R9800 pro would be the better choice. But avoid the SE!

The R9600XT would likely be overpriced in comparison. If you want the best performance then an R9800/R9700Pro would give you that. And R9800SE (256bit memory) would perform in the same region as the R9600XT, but would be well behind the R9700Pro and Regular R9800.

IF you're looking for a 'deal' then look to the R9600Pro, but if you are looking for the best bang for your buck if you can get an R9800non-pro (like some here) for $200 or less, then that's your best bet.

But I can't say it enough, avoid the R9800SE.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK :evil:

Reply to TheGreatGrapeApe
GeneticWeapon   01-18-2004 at 09:24:31 PM
- 0 +

God bless you! :wink:

<b>I help because you suck</b>

Reply to GeneticWeapon
HardWareBoss   01-19-2004 at 04:49:32 AM
- 0 +

What the heck are you talking about?

Reply to HardWareBoss
dhlucke   01-19-2004 at 05:08:21 AM
- 0 +

Jezzaaa is yours too

_________________________________________
<font color=red><b>GOD</font color=red> <font color=blue>BLESS</font color=blue> <font color=red>AMERICA</font color=red></b>

Reply to dhlucke
GeneticWeapon   01-19-2004 at 05:30:20 AM
- 0 +

No he's not, thats fcking bullshiit.

<b>I help because you suck</b>

Reply to GeneticWeapon
Cane1992   01-19-2004 at 09:25:36 PM
- 0 +

Thanks all for the posts and suggestions.

Reply to Cane1992
baldurga   01-20-2004 at 11:22:49 AM
- 0 +

Based on all comments, I suppose that finding a 9800NP for $200 is like a miracle come true. I have tried some search engines (like the ones THG, Anandtech, etc provided), but nothing succesfull.

Any ideas? Any sites? Any search engines? Thanks!


Still looking for a <b>good online retailer</b> in Spain :frown:

Reply to baldurga
TheGreatGrapeApe   01-20-2004 at 06:06:24 PM
- 0 +

Well there was alot of good deals on the R9700 and R9700Pro, they will be in the same range as the R9800NP.

The FX5900 and FX5900SE/XT/LX/etc. can also be found for a reasonable price.

As long as you go with those clase of cards, and don't get an SE on the ATI side of the equation, then you're likely going to be fine. I'd stick with the ATIs for an equivalent price, but some of the deals out there on the FXs are very hard to pass up. Just don't expect the same level of playability in future Pixel shader games if you go with the FXs, but therun-time compiler should make it close.

As for places to look, it depends on where you live. If in the US, try www.pricewatch.com or www.newegg.com.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK :evil:

Reply to TheGreatGrapeApe
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