ATI, new card?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Don
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Don

Am building a new P4 machine, will run XP Pro full install, and 2 gigs of
memory, want a new ATI card for gaming, etc.
Have read many comments here and am confused on exactly what to get and
where to get it.
Any suggestions?
Money isn't really the object, but I don't think I want to spend more than
$200-250.
Have an ATI AIW Pro in my old machine since 1997 and am pretty happy with
it.
Thanks.
 
I am waiting for the 9600 XT Sapphire Ultimate - Ultimate means the model is
fanless and has a heatsink instead - come available in early December. The
9600 XT is slightly faster, so I believe, than the 9600 Pro and comes in
128MB and 256MB sizes. In the UK I have seen it earmarked for about £140 -
£150 which is under $200.

If you want to spend more money then the 9800XTs are available but most of
the ones I have looked at, except the Ultimate range, seem to have very big
fans and so noise would be my concern. They are also pricey. However, as
these are just coming on the market it will probably push down the price of
the 9600 Pro, the 9800 SE and the 9800 Pro in the coming weeks but most
likely dramatically after Christmas.

I only know this because I did some research in the last 48 hours about
buying a new card myself but am happy to be corrected if the above is a load
of rubbish - which I don't think it is. The 9800s would be nice if you are a
hard core gamer who must win online - I used to be sucha guy - but they are
very expensive for something which, let's face it, will be old hat within 6
months. You can buy the XTs in any make you prefer of course but, for me,
noise is a big issue. I also think some of the 9800 cards need to be
connected into the HD power supply these days because they take so much
juice to power.

John.
 
What is preferrable, PCI or AGP?
Thanks.

John Smith said:
I am waiting for the 9600 XT Sapphire Ultimate - Ultimate means the model is
fanless and has a heatsink instead - come available in early December. The
9600 XT is slightly faster, so I believe, than the 9600 Pro and comes in
128MB and 256MB sizes. In the UK I have seen it earmarked for about £140 -
£150 which is under $200.

If you want to spend more money then the 9800XTs are available but most of
the ones I have looked at, except the Ultimate range, seem to have very big
fans and so noise would be my concern. They are also pricey. However, as
these are just coming on the market it will probably push down the price of
the 9600 Pro, the 9800 SE and the 9800 Pro in the coming weeks but most
likely dramatically after Christmas.

I only know this because I did some research in the last 48 hours about
buying a new card myself but am happy to be corrected if the above is a load
of rubbish - which I don't think it is. The 9800s would be nice if you are a
hard core gamer who must win online - I used to be sucha guy - but they are
very expensive for something which, let's face it, will be old hat within 6
months. You can buy the XTs in any make you prefer of course but, for me,
noise is a big issue. I also think some of the 9800 cards need to be
connected into the HD power supply these days because they take so much
juice to power.

John.
Click to expand...
 
Am building a new P4 machine, will run XP Pro full install, and 2 gigs of
memory, want a new ATI card for gaming, etc.
Have read many comments here and am confused on exactly what to get and
where to get it.
Any suggestions?
Money isn't really the object, but I don't think I want to spend more than
$200-250.
Have an ATI AIW Pro in my old machine since 1997 and am pretty happy with
it.
Click to expand...

If money is no object and you don't understand the differences between
a video card that uses AGP or PCI...

Why do you have or need 2GB of RAM? For most people, 512mb is just
fine - even with WinXP.

Shave off 1GB of RAM and put that $100 into the video card and get a
9800Pro for $350.
 
Make sure whatever AGP card you get is able to be taken by your motherboard.
Most newer cards/motherboards are both AGP 4 and 8 but some motherboards
only take one type and you end up frying things or it simply not working -
so bear that in mind.
Dark Avenger said:
Magwheelz <[email protected]> wrote in message

A 9800 non pro... definitly a good choice of card if you have the money
Click to expand...
:-)
 
If money is no object and you don't understand the differences between
a video card that uses AGP or PCI...

Why do you have or need 2GB of RAM? For most people, 512mb is just
fine - even with WinXP.

Shave off 1GB of RAM and put that $100 into the video card and get a
9800Pro for $350.
Click to expand...

Thats actually a good idea. You're not even gonna notice that extra
gig of ram if you get 2GB.
Unless you're running a server or like to open 100s of programs at one
time.


***
....the Phoenix shall rise...
 
Darthy said:
If money is no object and you don't understand the differences between
a video card that uses AGP or PCI...
Click to expand...

Hey, I've dropped out of the loop that past couple of years, gimme a break.
Why do you have or need 2GB of RAM? For most people, 512mb is just
fine - even with WinXP.
Click to expand...

I do high end CAD and 3D animations for a living, for myself.
Care to render an image for 22 hours?
I didn't think so.
Shave off 1GB of RAM and put that $100 into the video card and get a
9800Pro for $350.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I can't *shave off* anything, cept my beard.
The RAM is here to stay.
But thanks for the recommendation.
I'm looking into it.
Have an ATI AIW Pro in my fun machine and a FIRE GL PRO in my production
machine.
 
Phoenix AG said:
Thats actually a good idea. You're not even gonna notice that extra
gig of ram if you get 2GB.
Unless you're running a server or like to open 100s of programs at one
time.
Click to expand...

Or one AutoCAD file thats 7mb and interchange with one Studio VIZ file thats
54 mb.
 
Thats actually a good idea. You're not even gonna notice that extra
gig of ram if you get 2GB.
Unless you're running a server or like to open 100s of programs at one
time.
Click to expand...

100 programs at the same time? With Windows? Bwahahahah... I'd go
into a coma first. ;)
 
Or one AutoCAD file thats 7mb and interchange with one Studio VIZ file thats
54 mb.
Click to expand...

I work with photoshop files that are 25~50mb in size.... Hits a bit
hard on Win98 with 512mb... but I do it... hours at a time.
 
Hey, I've dropped out of the loop that past couple of years, gimme a break.
Click to expand...

Well, you are IN the loop to know what a P4 is and that it can handle
2GBs of ram.... AGP has been around since the PII-266 days, so its not
like its suddenly a SURPRISE. You even talk about a FIRE GL PRO,
these cards are typically AGP.

So break for you, uh no. ;)
I do high end CAD and 3D animations for a living, for myself.
Care to render an image for 22 hours?
I didn't think so.
Click to expand...

Your original post said "want a new ATI card for gaming, etc" - you
didn't include CAD and 3D animation.
Sorry, I can't *shave off* anything, cept my beard.
Click to expand...

Wish I didn't have to shave... it sucks.
Have an ATI AIW Pro in my fun machine and a FIRE GL PRO in my production
machine.
Click to expand...

$200~170 = ATI 9600XT (Fine for moderate gaming)
$250~300 = ATI 9800 - A bit better
$300~400 = ATI 9800 Pro - You can't get much better than this for
under $500.

I was trained on AUTOCAD with 8086 PCs with 640K RAM under MSDOS.
 
Darthy said:
break.

Well, you are IN the loop to know what a P4 is and that it can handle
2GBs of ram.... AGP has been around since the PII-266 days, so its not
like its suddenly a SURPRISE. You even talk about a FIRE GL PRO,
these cards are typically AGP.

So break for you, uh no. ;)


Your original post said "want a new ATI card for gaming, etc" - you
didn't include CAD and 3D animation.


Wish I didn't have to shave... it sucks.


$200~170 = ATI 9600XT (Fine for moderate gaming)
$250~300 = ATI 9800 - A bit better
$300~400 = ATI 9800 Pro - You can't get much better than this for
under $500.

I was trained on AUTOCAD with 8086 PCs with 640K RAM under MSDOS.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Darthy.
Is newegg the best place on line to purchase?
(I hate going into bricks and mortar stores any more, do most everything
online, its easier on the arteries ;-) )
 
I do high end CAD and 3D animations for a living, for myself.
Care to render an image for 22 hours?
I didn't think so.
Click to expand...

I find that quite surprising, actually. 22 hours seems a bit long to
me. What machine are you running?
Instead of wasting your money on other things, you should consider the
Intel Xeon or the AMD 64bit processor. Maybe get a dual Xeon config.

I was talking to one of the developers of America's Army (the game)
and he told me that the compile time of the game (full install =
1.62GB, installer = 650MB) is around 20 mins.
He said he usually compiles 2 or 3 builds everyday to test them out.
I know its only the code compilation, but you can imagine how much
code it must be!

As you said, you are only working with a 54 MB file.

For your purpose (3D app design), a 9600 Pro would do nicely. You
could get a nice new 9800XT and get more FPS in games, though.


***
....the Phoenix shall rise...
 
Thanks, Darthy.
Is newegg the best place on line to purchase?
(I hate going into bricks and mortar stores any more, do most everything
online, its easier on the arteries ;-) )
Click to expand...

newegg is quite good.. they have the best PHOTOS of their products...
click on the SEE ITEM buttons on them..

You an also shop aroundon www.pricewatch.com I highly recommend both!

Check this page out, I HIGHLY recommend this case, excellent photos.
This case is SWEET!!!

http://ap.terrabox.com/rpc

Newegg sells that case for $57 now.
 
I find that quite surprising, actually. 22 hours seems a bit long to
me. What machine are you running?
Instead of wasting your money on other things, you should consider the
Intel Xeon or the AMD 64bit processor. Maybe get a dual Xeon config.
Click to expand...

I am a big time AMDer - I sell only AMD systems to clients... low cost
with excellent performance. But the weakness of AMD is in single task
jobs such as 3DRendering - so I'd recommend the P4 for that.

My next CPU of course would be AMD again ;)
 
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