SpikeVicious

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Feb 14, 2005
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I've been looking into getting a new video card for my system. I currently have a 9500pro and want something that will give me a pretty good boost in performance. I've thought about the x700pro, 6600gt, 6800, and 6800gt. Obviously the 6800gt would offer the larger increase, but I'm also concerned about the compatability w/ my mobo. I looked at BFG's website and the 6800gt specs said it was incompatable while another area of the same site said it would work. Can anyone give me a straight answer on this? And also, if it wouldn't work, which card would be the next best option and would work with my system? Thanks for your help.

Asus P4PE Mobo
P4 2.4Ghz
Ati Radeon 9500pro
1ghz PC-2700 Crucial RAM
480W Thermaltake PSU
 

cleeve

Illustrious
I don't think an AGP 8x card (0.8v) exists that isn't compatible with the AGP 4x (1.5v) spec.

You can't use a PCI-e card though. :)

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9700 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 332/345)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>3200+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 400 FSB)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>5,354</b>
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
Your board supports ALL current AGP cards and NO PCI-Express cards.

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SpikeVicious

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Feb 14, 2005
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Thanks guys for answering the AGP issue. Like I said, BFG's website just threw me for a loop, and I had to make sure I wasn't buying a card that wouldn't work. So new question: If I get the 6800gt, will I have any problem with it working well with my other hardware (bottlenecking and whatnot)?

Asus P4PE Mobo
P4 2.4Ghz
Ati Radeon 9500pro
1ghz PC-2700 Crucial RAM
480W Thermaltake PSU
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
Bottlenecks are overstated: take the 9700 Pro in an old MVP3 chipset Pentium MMX system, it still performs better than a 9500 Pro in the same system, but barely.

Certainly the platform you're using isn't that bad.

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SpikeVicious

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Feb 14, 2005
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I figured if I got a 6800gt I'd get it from BestBuy. I've got about $120 in gift cards there =). Now I just gotta save up for the rest. Thanks for the input guys.

Asus P4PE Mobo
P4 2.4Ghz
Ati Radeon 9500pro
1ghz PC-2700 Crucial RAM
480W Thermaltake PSU
 

cleeve

Illustrious
At 2.4 Ghz, bottlenecking won't be a problem except on flight sims and the newest cpu-dependant games; even then, you're probably talking a 10 fps difference.

You'll see a real noticable boost with a 6600GT over a 9500 PRO, have fun dude!

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9700 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(o/c 332/345)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>3200+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 400 FSB)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>5,354</b>
 

pauldh

Illustrious
I was going to say about the same thing. Up to a 10 FPS drop with that CPU compared to say a A64 3200+ or top P4, all depending on the game and resolution AA/AF settings. But definately a 6600GT/6800/6800GT will show huge improvements over the 9500 pro.

Even in HL2, a 6800GT doesn't get crippled too bad with a slower AXP CPU. His P4 2.4B should tuck inbetween the XP2500+ and XP2100+. I would expect the lows to be alot lower depending on CPU, so I could imagine to remain smooth a slight resolution or AA decrees would probably be needed on his CPU compared to an A64. That's about what we saw from [H] in the Doom 3 cpu scaling they did where a P4 2.4C and XP2500+ did cause reduced settings to be needed.


Firingsquads AXP HL2 scaling: <A HREF="http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/half-life_2_athlon_xp/default.asp" target="_new">http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/half-life_2_athlon_xp/default.asp</A>


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pauldh

Illustrious
By the way, with that gig of PC2700 ram and a P4 2.4B, there should be some room for overclocking that CPU if/when needed.


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pauldh

Illustrious
When you move into A64's <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2330&p=6" target="_new">look how these top cards open up</A> as the cpu speed is increased. The X850XTpe gained almost 50 fps overall, and that was at 1600x1200! Even the 6800GT gained about 30 fps.

EDit: shoot, I'm getting way too into this. <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2149&p=7" target="_new">Here is D3 scaling</A> with AXP, P4, A64 & a 6800U. Again shows in certain games the top cards will be very cpu limited on older systems.


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<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Pauldh on 02/14/05 03:32 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 
Just amazing in that D3 scaling that the AMD3500+ still stits above all the Intel chips. I don't care one way or the other, but considering it's the chip I'm thinking of getting that's pretty re-ass-uring. :cool:


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