ATI Radeon 9600 SE Yes or No ??

[mbs081200]

I am presently in the market for a new video card, but like everyone else in the world, I am on a conservative budget. I can presently get an ATI Radeon 9600 SE fairly cheap ($80), but I'm not sure if its worth it or not.

I'm a casual gamer but I like a lot of what I see down the road, (Half-Life 2, Doom 3, etc.) who doesn't, right?

I presently have a GeForce4 MX440 Xtasy 64MB Card and some of the newer games are starting to crash so its time to upgrade. Any thoughts??

 

[cleeve]

The Radeon 9600SE or Geforce4 Ti4200 are both good cards in that segment.

The Geforce4 has more brute strength in older titles, and some newer ones. the 9600SE is a beter card in some newer titles that use complex shaders, and thew core overclocks very high in most cases.

If you're not the type to overclock you're probably better off with the Ti4200, even though it's not a DirectX 9 card.
But if you're an overclocker and DirectX 9 is high on your list, the 9600SE isn't a bad buy either. But I don't think you should bother with a 9600SE if you don't plan to overclock it though.

P.S. LET ME ADD that it's DEFINITELY worth the $20 or so to upgrade to a 9600 non-pro if you can spare it.

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9500 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(hardmodded 9500, o/c 322/322)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>2600+</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 2400+ w/143Mhz fsb)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>4,055</b></font color=red>

 

[markgun]

The 9600SE is barely faster than your MX440 in 99% of games. Yeah yeah, it's a DX9 class card with more powerful shaders and better image quality. But it's just too slow for that to matter. It wouldn't be worth upgrading to, IMO. Also, is that $80 US? If so, that isn't the best deal. You can find them around $65ish.

If your games are starting to crash, it probably isn't the video card's fault, and I wouldn't use that as the sole reason for upgrading. You should find out what's causing your instabilities first (PSU, overheating, drivers, a BIOS setting, virii).

I'd take Cleeve's recommendation on the Ti4200 side, or maybe a 9600 Pro/Non-pro series card, since the Ti4200s are becoming very hard to find.

<b>Qui habet aures audiendi audiat</b>

 

[TheRod]

I don't think you will be pleased of your choice in a few months! If you really want to play HL2 or Doom 3 you will have to upgrade again when they will come out. the 9600 SE is not very good in DX9 games... In fact, this is one of the slowest DX9 card on the market right now!

Check this :
<A HREF="http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-09.html" target="_new">http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-09.html</A>

You should do like me and wait for HL2/Doom 3 to buy your next video card. When these games will be out, evry site will bench all the cards for them, and we will know which card to buy!

--
Would you buy a GPS enabled soap bar?

 

[hogfather]

Yep, just want to reitterate whats been said - dont upgrade until these games are out. SE cards are horrible, stick with what you've got. Maybe check ebay see if you can get a GF4 Ti4600 for that price. Ti4200 are just fantastic, can pick them up easily in the UK for £65

XP2000, 256ddr 2100ram, GF4 MX440, XP Pro

 

[mbs081200]

Thanks everyone, looks like I got my answer. I think I'll take the advice of waiting and see what happens in a couple of months.

I'll definetly look for the other cards as well. Ebay, great idea.

Thanks again

 

[agcheavin]

No No No No No and No, not enough grunt.

....................
<font color=red>AMD 2700 XP<font color=red>
<font color=red>PC 9800 pro<font color=red>
<font color=blue>ASUS A7N8X deluxe<font color=blue>
<font color=blue>1024 meg DC DDR 3200<font color=blue>
....................

 

[Spitfire_x86]

STAY AWAY from R9600SE

GF4 Ti4200 is better card, even though it's not DX9 compliant

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Please vote in this poll: <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=39560#39560" target="_new">Should Tom Fire Omid?</A>

 

[Snorkius]

what he said.

A long long time ago, but I can still remember, how that music used to make me smile... <A HREF="http://www.nexus.hu/zonix/DIGGER.MID" target="_new"><b><font color=blue>Digger rulz</font color=blue></b></A>

 

[HardWareBoss]

Good idea wait. IF you live in the States check New EGG for prices. Time new cards arrive 9800Pro should drop in price. Better card than what you wanted.