The best Bang for your Buck in Graphics Cards??

[Valusek]

I need a new graphics card...I have a Geforce FX 5200 128MB, currently worth $55 on pricewatch...

Any suggestions on what I should get?

I'm willing to spend anything under $200...

Thanks!

- Val

[DiscoDave]

Best value is a 9700 pro, imo. The highest of the high end ATI card is the same thing but clocked at a somewhat higher speed, and it's only $180.

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA18510

[Excessive]

I have never used a ATI card. But I have heard many people say that the 9700 is the best card for under $200. I might pick one up next time I have the extra cash.

[ghrogels]

could always ovar clock the 9700 to get it upto 9800s proformance, right? or do they not allow that anymore?

[DiscoDave]

There's nothing preventing it except for the specific card's overclocking headroom.

[Valusek]

Bought a 9700 Pro...thanks for the advice guys =)

[SuperDude]

geforce 5700 is t3h r0xx0rz 1f u l1k3 /\/ \/ / d 1 4

[Dr. Deezee]

Uh, Val, wanna give me your old card? >_<

I have a GeForce 2 MX 400!

XD

[Valusek]

Sure, just pay my entrance fee to the next lan and its yours :D

- Val

[PyroInsane]

No, you should give it to me! I have a NIVIDA TNT 2 Pro XD

[Valusek]

I used to have that card....2 years ago : (

[Dr. Deezee]

Not sure if I can prepay for you (since my parents are weird when it comes to things like Paypal) but if you prepay for yourself, I can definitly reimburce you when it comes LAN time.

[Valusek]

that works

[Dr. Deezee]

rgr mcaffirmitive

Thanks dude!

[Expunge]

Originally posted by PyroInsane
No, you should give it to me! I have a NIVIDA TNT 2 Pro XD

You have an onboard videocard Blaine, meaning you cant upgrade it. Unless you get a PCI videocard (which will suck nuts) and Val's is most likely not PCI :P

Conclusion: You're fucked, enjoy your TNT2 :buttwag:

[Dr. Deezee]

UBAR L337 SCORE BOARD

Deezee: Infinity

Pyro: Losar

[Valusek]

Yes, its an AGP card, not PCI :P

sorry pyro

[M4LFUNCT10N]

Does this mean no more excuses when I ask you to play UT2k4????? woot!

[Valusek]

hmm...my system has frozen three times...got the BSOD twice, and automatically kicked me out of BfV once, and Planetside twice...

All since I installed my Radeon 9700 Pro...

I updated the drivers, so thats not the problem...

Is it simply overheating?

Or could there be another reason?

:( :( :(

[DiscoDave]

Take off the case, and lay the case sideways so the heat rises out.

If that works, then it's overheating...if it doesn't, then it's something else.

[Valusek]

Yeah, it was overheating...I popped in a slot fan right below the video card and now it works fine...Thanks Disco =)

[DiscoDave]

:rup:

[Dr. Deezee]

Originally posted by M4LFUNCT10N
Does this mean no more excuses when I ask you to play UT2k4????? woot!

No... >_>

[DropkickDuffy]

Dude, if you can, send back the CARD!!!!

You can get a badass Sapphire 9800 Pro (prolly the best price/performance ratio ever!) for only $210 vs. $180 for a 9700 pro! It is an R360 core (the same at the 9800 XT, not the usual R350 for most pros--and can be flashed to an XT!) and has 2.2 memory (the lower the faster) rather than 2.8 or 3.3 which is typical for 9700 pros. Also, it has more pipelines, higher core clock and memory speeds, and all for only 30-40 dollars more. All in all, it's just the best card you can get for the money.

Here's a side by side comparison:

9800/9700 pro

Core Clock: 380/325
Mem Clock: 680/620
Memory: 2.2ns/2.8 or 3.3ns (lower the faster)

Cheers

[DropkickDuffy]

Also, you may be having problems with your card overheating because of 1.) you didn't uninstall the Nvidia drivers entirely [as a matter of fact, the best thing to do after getting a new video card is a clean reformat of the hard drive. 2.) you may not have a good enough power supply -- although it says 300w minimum, if you have a few harddrives or optical drives, then you should probably at least have a 350w minimum, and a quality one at that like an Antec. 3.) and finally, try the 3.7 catalyst drivers (they tend to perform the best with the most stability). Hopefully, that helps.

[DropkickDuffy]

Sapphire 9800 pro Bulk (damn good price!!) - the reviews speak for themselves:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&depa=0


HIS Ice-Q Excalibur 9800 pro (look at the Freaking Cooler!)or, if you're into OCing, check out this bad little puppy ( I have mine OC'ed past 9800 XT speeds ):

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-161-109&depa=0

[Excessive]

Originally posted by DropkickDuffy
Also, you may be having problems with your card overheating because of 2.) you may not have a good enough power supply -- although it says 300w minimum, if you have a few harddrives or optical drives, then you should probably at least have a 350w minimum, and a quality one at that like an Antec.

That will not cause the card to overheat. It may cause general crashes of the system, but not just the video card to overheat.

[DiscoDave]

Originally posted by DropkickDuffy
Sapphire 9800 pro Bulk (damn good price!!) - the reviews speak for themselves:
FYI, the Saphhire 9800 pro is what I have, and while I'm happy with it, it uses the same board design as the 9700 pro. In order to save time and cash, they just took the 9700 pro board they were using, swapped out the chip and memory, and released it as is. It's not a huge deal, but while it's technically a 9800 pro, it's actually about as fast as a 9800 standard, which isn't all that much of an improvement over the 9700 pro.

I wouldn't have gotten the card I got if I had known that. :shrug: