Debating on new video card

[tako]

Total newbie on these boards, but wondering as a gaming freak, which video card to upgrade to. I just purchased a p4 3ghz hyperthreading 800, and I frequently play FPS and MMORPG games specifically Everquest, Unreal Tournament, and planning on picking up halo. Mostly I focus on everquest and don't really see myself going away from that game, and play the FPS's as a time passer. So as it stands right now I'm running a GF4 TI4600 card and I do like it. I know everyone else is going nuts over the ati cards, but I'm one of those that had nightmares with a previous experience of ATI cards, and have since vowed never to use their cards again. however with all the evidence in front of me it almost seems stupid to run anything but an ATI. however compatability is always an issue I do remember Everquest having problems running with ATI cards because they focus their setup on Nvidia chipsets. But I want some solid opinions as far as which card should I buy, more specifically brand too and I'm not really on a set budget, so I was looking at 5950 chipsets and the new 9800s. so any input would be awesome. thanks everyone

 

[sirak]

You might want to wait a few months for the new cards to come out, which apparantly should be in ~April.

 

[fragglefart]

Well if you have just purchased the rest of the machine, i would buy a card now... the waiting game is a never-ending process, as soon as the next cards are out, we will be waiting for the improved revisions, and price drops.

Well if you like, NV, i recommend their high end cards. I have a 5900Ultra and its a beauty. However, i knew what i was getting myself into, and to be honest i STRONGLY recommend you go with Ati if you just want the best gaming experience possible.
The 9800Pro/XT are real monsters.... and now there is a large Ati-based community to assist with potential driver problems/glitches.
Go 9800 Pro, sounds like you already want to

............................................
Render times? You'll find me down the pub...

 

[neveroldmilk]

Agree!The driver's problem is not very serious now,and Catalyst is very wonderful.

Truth is somewhere out there!
--Movie 'X Files'

 

[HardWareBoss]

Since money is no issue buy ATI 9800 Pro or XT. How soon do you need it? ATI new cards due March. Nvidia due April.

 

[Crashman]

It's important to remember that many compatability issues are caused by nVidia drivers remaining on the system after the switch to an ATI or other brand of card. It's almost as if nVidia drivers purposely plant "landmines" in your system so that any attempt to use anything else will result in problematic configuration. And people will blame the other company, rather than nVidia, because they don't understand what happened.

There are even applications out there made for eradicating nVidia drivers.

<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>

 

[michael11699]

Speaking from personal experience, I love my FX5950 Ultra. Have heard great things about the ATI 9800XT, but went Nvidia this time, last card was an ATI 9700Pro, which now resides in me wife's machine. I am definitely not a 'fan boy' to either company.

Is it wrong for a grown man (almost 40) to love his vid card?

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Love your video card, just don't <b>LOVE</b> your video card.


- 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

 

[Vimp]

Where I live a Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb, from any company, goes for the same price as a 5900non-ultra.

Where I live:
Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb ranges from $360-$400
FX5900 goes for $350-$390
FX5900 Ultra, $480-$560
FX5950 Ultra, $540-$610
Radeon 9800 Pro 256mb, $560-$620
Radeon 9800XT, $590-$660

As you can see where I live the 9800 Pro is the deffinit choice product. It performs just as good as the 256mb pro card but for a great deal less, which is very odd in my opinion. Whats funnier is that the 9800 Pro 128mb more often then not seems to do just as well and often times better then the FX5950 Ultra and yet costs a significant amount less. The 9800 Pro 128mb card is the best price to performance ratio high end card you can possibly get here in western Canada. I've been a nVidia fanboy, as they say, in all the years I've used nVidia cards however even though I would still prefer to stick with nVidia I can't deny how much better a deal the 9800 Pro is compared to any other highend card.

 

[Vimp]

My advise when trying to get the most for your money is, assuming you dont mind waiting a while if need be, to look for the card you want now but then wait till its stopped being made and then by it then or reanalize and see whats best at that time again. Reason I say this is because where I am cards will continue to drop in price intill they stop being made and then they tend to increase in price. So getting them right when they have stopped being made will likly be when you'll get the best deal for the card.

 

[tako]

ok I think i've narrowed it down to the 9800xt and the 5950 ultra. so really since its a lot of money, whats the best route?

 

[Vapor]

9800XT, imo.

Maxtor disgraces the six letters that make Matrox.

 

[pauldh]

9800XT IMO too. Better Card and HL2

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

 

[Spitfire_x86]

Another vote for R9800XT

----------------
<b><A HREF="http://geocities.com/spitfire_x86" target="_new">My Website</A></b>

<b><A HREF="http://geocities.com/spitfire_x86/myrig.html" target="_new">My Rig & 3DMark score</A></b>

 

[pauldh]

Retail Built by ATI 9800XT w/ HL2 is $440 now. Oem $425

But the Radeon 9800 Pro's are oem for under $230 now. Tough choice?

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

 

[michael11699]

Well, the final decision will have to be yours, to be honest you will be happy either way. My 5950 hasn't failed me yet and I play everything at 1280x1024x32, with all details maxed out.

Newegg has the Gainward card I have for $409!

This is my system and scores:
P4 3.0HT 533FSB @ 3.22
1Gig PC2700 DDR333
Asus P4PE
FX5950Ultra @ 555/1000

Aquamark3=51379 <A HREF="http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=1549950676 " target="_new">http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=1549950676 </A>

3DMark03=6790 <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1947089" target="_new">http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1947089</A>

Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll enjoy the heck out of it!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by michael11699 on 01/25/04 01:35 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[michael11699]

Love your video card, just don't LOVE your video card.

LMAOROTF!!!! Wife wants to know what's so funny?

 

[GeneticWeapon]

Your 3DMark03 score isnt valid....

<b>I help because you suck</b>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1819095" target="_new"><b>3DMark03</b></A>

 

[michael11699]

Your 3DMark03 score isnt valid....

Are you referring to the link? I went back and revised it.


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by michael11699 on 01/25/04 01:36 PM.</EM></FONT></P>