What to get

bugz · 13-January-04, 08:50 PM

Ok guys, i'm seriously stuck here in the midst of building a rig for a friend.
What ATI video card should I get?

Aaaaaaand the nominees are:
9600 XT
9700PRO
9800PRO 128mb
9800PRO 256mb

I'm favoring the 9800PRO 128 at this moment because i don't think an extra 128mb is worth $100 at this time since the difference will be minimal in games. Basically I'm looking for a card that will offer solid framerate (solid meaning hanging around 45fps on high-end games) on current and upcoming games such as Half Life 2 and Doom 3

btw, I don't care much about the overclockability of these cards...

Evil3lf · 13-January-04, 09:01 PM

Is the 9800xt not an option?

biohazardpc · 13-January-04, 09:13 PM

Budget wise defently 9800 pro 128.. Or a 9700 pro for 200.00

JackFrostyCPU · 13-January-04, 09:19 PM

Personally I think you should only go for an ATI card if you plan on going for the throught.
I own a 9800 All in wonder pro and love it!! but if your planning on getting anything under a 9800 series VPU i would recogmend going with an Nvidia (built by Asus of course) because the VPU in the 9800 is the only thig that makes it better (dont get me wrong it makes it a lot better) but if your going for that Nvidia makes some hard core stuff under that 9800 series.

TekXoID · 13-January-04, 09:29 PM

256MB of onboard vRAM will actually have a use when games like HL2 come out, so I would go with the 9800 Pro 256MB or 9800XT.

But...if you'd like to cut the costs, a 9700 Pro, 9800 Pro, or even a 9600XT will spit out enough frames for a playable experience.

bugz · 13-January-04, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil3lf


	Is the 9800xt not an option?

9800xt is a liiiiittle out of my range at the moment

Ok, how long do you guys think we have until the price on this baby drops $50 or so? http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-505&depa=1

TekXoID · 13-January-04, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugz


	9800xt is a liiiiittle out of my range at the moment Ok, how long do you guys think we have until the price on this baby drops $50 or so? http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-505&depa=1

Same Model/Spec, different brand, for $35 less.

bugz · 13-January-04, 11:49 PM

Except it's a Sapphire

i've had bad experiences with Sapphires.

TekXoID · 14-January-04, 12:09 AM

Bad experiences? Sapphire is ATI's right-hand partner. And I've never had problems with them.

jcarkeys · 14-January-04, 12:13 AM

I just bought that same card Monday. So, you know my recommendation

BigAkita · 14-January-04, 06:21 AM

I've had a Sapphire for quite a while now with no problems. Every review I've read has been favorable.

bugz · 14-January-04, 07:24 AM

Hmmm, alrighty... can someone please explain to me the difference between the "Built by ATI" cards and the Sapphires? Why are the Sapphires usually $25-50 cheaper?

TekXoID · 14-January-04, 08:30 AM

Built by ATi cards are manufactured and warranted by ATi.

Powered by ATi cards are manufactured using ATi components but by another manufacturer.
These manufacturer's, or ATi Manufacturing Partners, offer products in varying configurations and price points all based on the quality and reliability of ATi components.

Performance improvements are often found in Tier 1 or 2 Powered By ATi cards. (Sapphire, Asus, Abit, etc)

bugz · 14-January-04, 05:19 PM

Hmmm, ok... I guess I can give Sapphire another try. Thanks guys

jcarkeys · 14-January-04, 05:27 PM

Mine got here today. I got the free shipping with the tshirt, ordered sunday night. Got here wednesday in St. Louis. Have yet to install it as I'm doing the musical at school, tonight's the first performance and all, but I'll tell you when I get the time to do it.

bugz · 14-January-04, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcarkeys


	Mine got here today. I got the free shipping with the tshirt, ordered sunday night. Got here wednesday in St. Louis. Have yet to install it as I'm doing the musical at school, tonight's the first performance and all, but I'll tell you when I get the time to do it.

That would be awesome, jcarkeys. Thanks a lot.

Arkangyl · 14-January-04, 07:41 PM

Get a 256mb version of the 9800 (Pro or XT) the xtra mem will give you awesome performance in HL2 and Doom 3, if you're crushed for price (like me) the 128mb is still an awesome card, I just get the feeling that based on all the stuff I've read that the xtra memory will make the card a bit more "future proof"

13-January-04, 08:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
bugz Apex Techie Lite Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 37	What to get Ok guys, i'm seriously stuck here in the midst of building a rig for a friend. What ATI video card should I get? Aaaaaaand the nominees are: 9600 XT 9700PRO 9800PRO 128mb 9800PRO 256mb I'm favoring the 9800PRO 128 at this moment because i don't think an extra 128mb is worth $100 at this time since the difference will be minimal in games. Basically I'm looking for a card that will offer solid framerate (solid meaning hanging around 45fps on high-end games) on current and upcoming games such as Half Life 2 and Doom 3 btw, I don't care much about the overclockability of these cards...

13-January-04, 09:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Evil3lf Lokie's Elf of Evil Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 775	Is the 9800xt not an option? __________________ It was dark when I started drinking... I blame the sun for making it day again.

13-January-04, 09:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
biohazardpc H.A.L.O.-Hoe Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fayetteville NC Posts: 1,617	Budget wise defently 9800 pro 128.. Or a 9700 pro for 200.00 __________________ When all else fails beat it with a hammer. One shot One kill, why waste ammo.

13-January-04, 11:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
bugz Apex Techie Lite Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 37	Except it's a Sapphire i've had bad experiences with Sapphires. Last edited by bugz; 13-January-04 at 11:55 PM.

14-January-04, 06:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,344	I've had a Sapphire for quite a while now with no problems. Every review I've read has been favorable. __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot."

13-January-04, 09:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
JackFrostyCPU Apex Techie Lite Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nashua, New Hampshire Posts: 32	Personally I think you should only go for an ATI card if you plan on going for the throught. I own a 9800 All in wonder pro and love it!! but if your planning on getting anything under a 9800 series VPU i would recogmend going with an Nvidia (built by Asus of course) because the VPU in the 9800 is the only thig that makes it better (dont get me wrong it makes it a lot better) but if your going for that Nvidia makes some hard core stuff under that 9800 series.

13-January-04, 09:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned Join Date: May 2003 Location: looking for love in the nearest gay bar Posts: 4,089	256MB of onboard vRAM will actually have a use when games like HL2 come out, so I would go with the 9800 Pro 256MB or 9800XT. But...if you'd like to cut the costs, a 9700 Pro, 9800 Pro, or even a 9600XT will spit out enough frames for a playable experience.

14-January-04, 12:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned Join Date: May 2003 Location: looking for love in the nearest gay bar Posts: 4,089	Bad experiences? Sapphire is ATI's right-hand partner. And I've never had problems with them.

14-January-04, 12:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
jcarkeys Key Hoe Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Defiance, MO (real city) Posts: 2,333	I just bought that same card Monday. So, you know my recommendation

14-January-04, 07:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
bugz Apex Techie Lite Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 37	Hmmm, alrighty... can someone please explain to me the difference between the "Built by ATI" cards and the Sapphires? Why are the Sapphires usually $25-50 cheaper?

14-January-04, 08:30 AM	#13 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned Join Date: May 2003 Location: looking for love in the nearest gay bar Posts: 4,089	Built by ATi cards are manufactured and warranted by ATi. Powered by ATi cards are manufactured using ATi components but by another manufacturer. These manufacturer's, or ATi Manufacturing Partners, offer products in varying configurations and price points all based on the quality and reliability of ATi components. Performance improvements are often found in Tier 1 or 2 Powered By ATi cards. (Sapphire, Asus, Abit, etc)

14-January-04, 05:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
bugz Apex Techie Lite Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 37	Hmmm, ok... I guess I can give Sapphire another try. Thanks guys

14-January-04, 05:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
jcarkeys Key Hoe Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Defiance, MO (real city) Posts: 2,333	Mine got here today. I got the free shipping with the tshirt, ordered sunday night. Got here wednesday in St. Louis. Have yet to install it as I'm doing the musical at school, tonight's the first performance and all, but I'll tell you when I get the time to do it.

14-January-04, 07:41 PM	#17 (permalink)
Arkangyl Hoe-lier than Thou Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: far, far away Posts: 2,342	Get a 256mb version of the 9800 (Pro or XT) the xtra mem will give you awesome performance in HL2 and Doom 3, if you're crushed for price (like me) the 128mb is still an awesome card, I just get the feeling that based on all the stuff I've read that the xtra memory will make the card a bit more "future proof"

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