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I have a 3 year old P4/2.4 GHz (2.6 GHz O/C), AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1 GB
PC2700 RAM, 2 x 1600x1200 CRT monitors. Funds permitting, and depending on
how pissed off I get with my current system, I hope to replace it in maybe
9-12 months with a close to high end Socket M2/dual-core AMD CPU and a close
to high end PCI-Express video card depending on M2 availability and prices
of new technology stabilizing.
I am unhappy with the performance of the 9700 Pro in Doom3, HL2, and
Riddick. Even though I play 3D shooters badly, I need all the help I can
get. I am thinking of getting another video card to tide me over until I
build a new system that I expect to last me for a few years.
It would be cool to have a 16 pipeline card and I can get a 6800 GT or
X850XT AGP for around $300 from ZipZoomFly when they have them back in
stock. I would appreciate some advice on what¹s best to do. Here are a
few thoughts I have:
1. Am I wasting my money on one of those cards as my CPU is so underpowered
and I should settle for a 6600GT, X800GTO, or X800XL (alas, no 6800GS AGP)
or some other card not that there is much to choose from with AGP?
2. Whatever I buy, will I be dissatisfied so I should just put the $300
towards the new system and get it as early as possible?
3. I am not a quietness fanatic as I have four PCs running in my study, but
in the past I just could not put with the noise from a high speed fan on a
P3/700 CPU and just gave up on the PC. That rather turns me off the
Sapphire X800GTO which is supposed to be very loud and makes me wonder about
the 2 slot X850XT.
4. I do play DVDs on my PC and the nVidia MPEG2 is much better for image
quality than ATI according to Maximum PC, but I guess the X850XT would give
me a better chance to try out AA and AF at 1600x1200. I run at 1024x768 no
AA/AF now as I cannot afford the performance hit.
My biggest fear is that I blow $300 on a new card and I cannot tell the
difference.
Thanks for any advice on these questions and any questions I should have
asked instead.
Clive
PC2700 RAM, 2 x 1600x1200 CRT monitors. Funds permitting, and depending on
how pissed off I get with my current system, I hope to replace it in maybe
9-12 months with a close to high end Socket M2/dual-core AMD CPU and a close
to high end PCI-Express video card depending on M2 availability and prices
of new technology stabilizing.
I am unhappy with the performance of the 9700 Pro in Doom3, HL2, and
Riddick. Even though I play 3D shooters badly, I need all the help I can
get. I am thinking of getting another video card to tide me over until I
build a new system that I expect to last me for a few years.
It would be cool to have a 16 pipeline card and I can get a 6800 GT or
X850XT AGP for around $300 from ZipZoomFly when they have them back in
stock. I would appreciate some advice on what¹s best to do. Here are a
few thoughts I have:
1. Am I wasting my money on one of those cards as my CPU is so underpowered
and I should settle for a 6600GT, X800GTO, or X800XL (alas, no 6800GS AGP)
or some other card not that there is much to choose from with AGP?
2. Whatever I buy, will I be dissatisfied so I should just put the $300
towards the new system and get it as early as possible?
3. I am not a quietness fanatic as I have four PCs running in my study, but
in the past I just could not put with the noise from a high speed fan on a
P3/700 CPU and just gave up on the PC. That rather turns me off the
Sapphire X800GTO which is supposed to be very loud and makes me wonder about
the 2 slot X850XT.
4. I do play DVDs on my PC and the nVidia MPEG2 is much better for image
quality than ATI according to Maximum PC, but I guess the X850XT would give
me a better chance to try out AA and AF at 1600x1200. I run at 1024x768 no
AA/AF now as I cannot afford the performance hit.
My biggest fear is that I blow $300 on a new card and I cannot tell the
difference.
Thanks for any advice on these questions and any questions I should have
asked instead.
Clive