horrible time to upgrade =( but can wait no longer

[CombatWombat]

sup guys . i have waited to the last minute yet again (story of my life) to upgrade my video-card from its previous stature. However the problem here is that i have a recently built system(which i will describe below) designed around AGP
and do not wish to upgrade M/B at this time. This removes SLI from my near future as the vid card will undoubtedly have to be AGP8x. another problem is the fact that the current 6 series of Nvidia's line up has been to market for a while and they will release a new set of cards within the year. my question to u is " WHAT SHOULD I DO ?!?!?" my current specs are

MB : msi socket 939 neo2 platinum
processor: "winchester" 3000+ @ 2.5 ghz
memory : 1gig PDP ddr400 @ ddr544
vid card: (cries) Geforce 5900 128meg , original release @ 400/800

As u can see the vid card is deffinitly my only bottle neck and i dont wish to wait to play the next round of pc titles about to be released which will need the processing power of the newest line of cards. my card is limited by its feature set AND its ammount of memory =( please let me hear your comments I am aiming for a geforce 6800 ultra solution ...
-thanks alot

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

It really depends on the games you like to play. Either an X800/850XT or GF6800GT IMO.

Maybe this can help a bit to 'best fit' your games;
<A HREF="http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/2004-27gpu2.html" target="_new">http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/2004-27gpu2.html</A>

I'd say the Gf6800GT is your wiser choice for the money over the Ultra. The GF6800Ultra will be better, but you have to decide whether the dollar increase is worth the meagre boosts considering how well the GTs overclock.


- 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

 

[CombatWombat]

titles in the foreseable future include . F.E.A.R , splinter cell chaos MP, battlefield 2 (yay) , elder scrolls - oblivion,
matrix-online, and quake 4 . these titles are gonne need some heavy video card(s) to produce acceptable frame-rates for me =) i cry if it gets under 60ish

 

[cleeve]

A couple things:

1. memory isn't limiting your videocard. It's that god-awful GeforceFX chipset in it that's screwing you over. 128 mb is still pretty decent.

2. AGP 8x is on par performance-wise with PCI-express video cards. So the only thing you're missing out on is SLI, which really isn't a reliable and consistant source of performance. It works very well in a few games, ok in others, and not at all in some.

3. New AGP cards? 6800 Ultras are great, so are X850 XT's, but they're too expensive for the performance return. Still, if budget isn't a factor, they'd be the best you can get.

If you want 90% of the performance for 50% of the cost, get an AGP 6800 GT or X800 XL.

________________
<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>

 

[CombatWombat]

midnight bump
also , thanks for the responses , and cleeve . your statement about the memory is correct , i misstated my sentence. memory is a limiting factor when pushing environments in the 1600x1200 and up resolution range, which , regrettably i have a nak for doing keep em comming pls

 

[Animefreak]

hello just wondering does the 6600gt still pack a punch or is it starting to become out dated?

 

[pauldh]

The first X850XT platinums here in the US just became available and are priced to show it. It will take a few weeks to become decently priced.

<A HREF="http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=10728&sid=0REHEL2EVMPG9P88QG7KA2RVB4249DXB" target="_new">http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=10728&sid=0REHEL2EVMPG9P88QG7KA2RVB4249DXB</A>


<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=658042" target="_new">3DMark05</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3781954" target="_new">3DMark03</A>

 

[pauldh]

If you are in the USA, 6800GT for about $340 is about the most return on investment for high end AGP. For about $60 more, a <A HREF="http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=190436" target="_new">6800U</A> is definately worth considering for a little more performance. Switching to ATI, the X850XTpe jsut came out and would be the absolute top choice in AGP. But $617 is quite alot considering a plain X800XT is $430.

It all depends if this is your last AGP card and how long you'll game on it. With your same mobo and cpu, I went for a BFG 6800U and am glad I did (over the GT) Although R520 should be released in AGP, likely this 6800U is the top AGP card I'll ever own. But AGP is far from dead. Personally, it doesn't bother me that I can't SLI as adding another 6800U would never happen for me and a PCI-e 6800U cost a ton more than an AGP anyway. I couldn't afford 2 $500+ cards in one system. Only thing PCI-e would offer me is decently priced ATI options with a X800XL or X850XT. Probably would have done X800XL now R520/NV(whaterever's next) later.



<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=658042" target="_new">3DMark05</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3781954" target="_new">3DMark03</A>

 

[Rugger]

Do you have any good links for the R520?

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[KCjoker]

Here's a deal for a BFG 6800Ultra OC for $399.99 after 50.00 rebate. Says in stock also.

<A HREF="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1213309" target="_new">http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1213309</A>

 

[cleeve]

R520 ain't here yet, probably won't be officially announced for a month at least.

________________
<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>

 

[Rugger]

Ok - thanks! Just been reading the Inquirer and wondered if anybody had any other info...

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[DeathClock]

We in Europe still have to wait for those x850 agp's. What would you guys buy if money did not matter: Gainward Extreme or ATi X850XT? And I dont care about the games those run good in now because they both do a very good job, but I want to buy something that can run upcoming games like Quake 4 and other 'heavy' games. Or is it smarter to wait for the 512mb cards?

<A HREF="http://www.forsaken-game.com/" target="_new">Half-Life2:Forsaken</A>

 

[GAME]

[thumbs up]

 

[Guest]

Now that is ironic :tongue:

<font color=green> Woohoo!! I am officially an <b> Addict </b>!! </font color=green>
<i> <font color=red> One new Firefox fan </font color=red> </i>
<pre> Always remember to keep testicles away from live wiring </pre><p>

 

[pauldh]

Kinney thrilled with a GGA post....Better capture a sceenie of that one.

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=658042" target="_new">3DMark05</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3781954" target="_new">3DMark03</A>