Can someone please help me evaluate this card?

[utahraptor]

I am probably getting a video card for my birthday. ( 21st birthday ) And I have an MSI Geforce FX 5600 right now that I am very pleased with in terms of quality, but not speed. I cannot find a review for MSI's ATI Radeon 9800 PRO because it is new, but I want it because of the quality of the card I have from them now. What do you all think?

If you want to see either card, here are the links:

One I want: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/vga/vga/pro_vga_detail.php?UID=576

One I have: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/vga/vga/pro_vga_detail.php?UID=447

Also, should there be a good increase in performance with the new card?

 

[GeneticWeapon]

I think MSI are getting their 9800Pro's directly from ATi, instead of making them themselves. Excellent card, the difference between that and the 5600 your using now will be amazing to you.

<A HREF="http://rmitz.org/AYB3.swf" target="_new">All your base are belong to us.</A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=2216718" target="_new"><b>3DMark03</b></A>

 

[utahraptor]

Well, the heat sink looks a lot different from the official ATI module. It looks like it covers the ram as well as the core.

 

[TheRod]

If you have a good CPU you will get a big boost in performance! If you're CPU is not fast, you will not use the full potential of the Radeon 9800 PRO.

Check the benchmarks in this article :
<A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html" target="_new">http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html</A>

You will notice that the FX5600 and Radeon 9800 PRO are not on the same league, Radeon 9800 PRO will kick the butt of your FX5600.

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Lookin' to fill that <font color=blue>GOD</font color=blue> shape hole!

 

[ChipDeath]

Just a point: If you're switching from nvidia to Ati (which it looks like you are), make sure to remove ALL the old drivers before you install the new card, or your performance might suffer.

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Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744