Which video card? (Specs listed, need good adive)

JackEh · 09-02-2006, 04:17 AM

Alright, recently my good old Radeon 9200 died and I am in the market for a new graphics card, and some other parts while maintaining a strict budget. I'll start of with my specs:

P4 3.0 GHz
512 DDR RAM
120GB 7200 rpm drive
20GB older drive used as my C drive for windows installation (is this bottlenecking me?)
integrated sound on mobo

Firstly I need a graphics card, all I really want to use it for games like Sims 2, battlefield 2, i'm not really a hardcore gamer, but gaming is more of a priorety when getting this graphics card because I don't do much video editing or what not. I was able to run these games with my 9200 but maybe with a better card i can now get some eye candy

Im looking at x700 series, x1600 series, 9800XT/Pro, and i'm a ATI fan but iv'e also gotten allot of reccomendations to get a 6800. All opinions are welcomed because im not a video card expert and keep the max price around $150 (Mid range cards)

Will upgrading from a radeon 9200 to one of these cards give me a big boost in video card performance?

Secondly, i'm getting a new heatsink for my processor because my PC is abnormaly loud. When my computer boots up it is quiet but when I get into windows, begin using applications and god forbid gaming it is like a vaccum cleaner. So secondly i'm also getting heatsink for my processor, opinions/help with this would be good too.

Lastly, well, really lastly i'm buying a 1gb stick of ddr ram so I will have 1.5gb of RAM. And, my last question is, would it be worth changing mobos to a PCI-e compatible mobo so I can get a PCI-e video card? Or is a AGP fine for now? Does PCI-e have a huge performance boost? Are the cards much more expensive?

Thanks to all replies.

**blackduck30** · 09-02-2006, 06:13 AM

I am a converted ATI fan and have crossed over to Nvidia, so in saying that i personaly would go for the 6800 but would look to the GT. Also there are huge differences in manufacturers so remember that a cheap 6800GT may not perform as well as one a little more expensive. The amount of ram is not as important as the bit rate of the card, stay right away from anything that is 64bit. Look at 128bit or if available 256bit. Also i think from memory that the 6800's generally run 12 pixel pipelines, make sure you look at this, in some cases you can unlock an extra 4 pipelines and this will increase performance like the EVGA’s e-GeForce 6800
AGP is still ok but I think that PCI-E is better

As for heatsink/fan I would look to Zalman, the all copper units. The are great at cooling and also nice and quiet.

**pharoah** · 09-02-2006, 10:09 AM

actually id add one to the list and thats an x850xt has more horsepower than the cards you have listed and is in your price range

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102688

JackEh · 09-02-2006, 03:22 PM

It is now down to either a 6800 or a x850... thanks for your opinions guys I really appreciate it, and for the tip on what to look for in a card.

Last question. Will the boost from a 9200 to a 6800/x850 be big? Or will I need to upgrade to something better to see a big enough difference? With my 9200 I was gettin like 40fps in source with my rig.

**pharoah** · 09-02-2006, 03:32 PM

going from a 9200 to a 6800 or a 850 will be like going from a volkswagen"9200" to a porsche"6800/850"

edit: a little more ram wouldnt hurt either

JackEh · 09-02-2006, 04:10 PM

Haha, thanks thatbrought music to my ears, glad to hear that. AndI know about the ram issue, I even said in my original post im getting a 1gb stick so i'll have 1024/512 ram.

**forcifer** · 09-02-2006, 04:23 PM

my vote goes out to this.
this is ok.

**blackduck30** · 09-02-2006, 06:33 PM

I have to agree with forcifer's first choice is a great card and a good price, it also has the ability to unlock the extra pipeline ( 12 to 16 ), nice find Forcifer

**TheMatt** · 09-02-2006, 07:08 PM

I like pharoah's choice, it comes with 16 pipelines and its fully loaded with speed (faster than an X1600PRO). This is the most bang for your buck.

**jnob** · 09-02-2006, 07:34 PM

pharoah's choice is the best for the price however it's PCIe and will require a new motherboard. If you plan on continuing to upgrade this computer into the future the best route may be to upgrade the motherboard and get the x850xt. However if this is the last upgrade you plan on making and just plan on getting a new system in a few years the AGP cards listed above should be great.

**pharoah** · 09-03-2006, 11:22 AM

yeah i just really noticed that lol whatever card ya get just make sure its an agp card

**TheMatt** · 09-03-2006, 04:13 PM

Oh I didn't catch that. You can get an X850PRO, which is just as fast but only has 12 pipelines. You might be able to unlock some more.

Diamondsleeper · 09-05-2006, 06:48 AM

I agree with Forcefier. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143045 I personally have this card and have run it for a couple years. Very happy with it. Play a lot of BF2 and it works well and is a great card for the money. No plans to use anything else until I upgraded to a PCI express system. I still have the AGP system too.

09-02-2006, 04:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
JackEh Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23 OS: XP	Which video card? (Specs listed, need good adive) Alright, recently my good old Radeon 9200 died and I am in the market for a new graphics card, and some other parts while maintaining a strict budget. I'll start of with my specs: P4 3.0 GHz 512 DDR RAM 120GB 7200 rpm drive 20GB older drive used as my C drive for windows installation (is this bottlenecking me?) integrated sound on mobo Firstly I need a graphics card, all I really want to use it for games like Sims 2, battlefield 2, i'm not really a hardcore gamer, but gaming is more of a priorety when getting this graphics card because I don't do much video editing or what not. I was able to run these games with my 9200 but maybe with a better card i can now get some eye candy Im looking at x700 series, x1600 series, 9800XT/Pro, and i'm a ATI fan but iv'e also gotten allot of reccomendations to get a 6800. All opinions are welcomed because im not a video card expert and keep the max price around $150 (Mid range cards) Will upgrading from a radeon 9200 to one of these cards give me a big boost in video card performance? Secondly, i'm getting a new heatsink for my processor because my PC is abnormaly loud. When my computer boots up it is quiet but when I get into windows, begin using applications and god forbid gaming it is like a vaccum cleaner. So secondly i'm also getting heatsink for my processor, opinions/help with this would be good too. Lastly, well, really lastly i'm buying a 1gb stick of ddr ram so I will have 1.5gb of RAM. And, my last question is, would it be worth changing mobos to a PCI-e compatible mobo so I can get a PCI-e video card? Or is a AGP fine for now? Does PCI-e have a huge performance boost? Are the cards much more expensive? Thanks to all replies.

09-02-2006, 06:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	I am a converted ATI fan and have crossed over to Nvidia, so in saying that i personaly would go for the 6800 but would look to the GT. Also there are huge differences in manufacturers so remember that a cheap 6800GT may not perform as well as one a little more expensive. The amount of ram is not as important as the bit rate of the card, stay right away from anything that is 64bit. Look at 128bit or if available 256bit. Also i think from memory that the 6800's generally run 12 pixel pipelines, make sure you look at this, in some cases you can unlock an extra 4 pipelines and this will increase performance like the EVGA’s e-GeForce 6800 AGP is still ok but I think that PCI-E is better As for heatsink/fan I would look to Zalman, the all copper units. The are great at cooling and also nice and quiet. __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All Last edited by blackduck30; 09-02-2006 at 06:27 AM.

09-02-2006, 10:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
pharoah TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,188 OS: vista business edition My System	actually id add one to the list and thats an x850xt has more horsepower than the cards you have listed and is in your price range http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102688 __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015

09-02-2006, 03:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
pharoah TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,188 OS: vista business edition My System	going from a 9200 to a 6800 or a 850 will be like going from a volkswagen"9200" to a porsche"6800/850" edit: a little more ram wouldnt hurt either __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015 Last edited by pharoah; 09-02-2006 at 03:42 PM.

09-02-2006, 04:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
forcifer ole' Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kansas City kansas Posts: 3,631 OS: Vista Premium 32 My System Blog Entries: 1	my vote goes out to this. this is ok. __________________

09-02-2006, 03:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
JackEh Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23 OS: XP	It is now down to either a 6800 or a x850... thanks for your opinions guys I really appreciate it, and for the tip on what to look for in a card. Last question. Will the boost from a 9200 to a 6800/x850 be big? Or will I need to upgrade to something better to see a big enough difference? With my 9200 I was gettin like 40fps in source with my rig.

09-02-2006, 04:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
JackEh Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23 OS: XP	Haha, thanks thatbrought music to my ears, glad to hear that. AndI know about the ram issue, I even said in my original post im getting a 1gb stick so i'll have 1024/512 ram.

09-02-2006, 06:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	I have to agree with forcifer's first choice is a great card and a good price, it also has the ability to unlock the extra pipeline ( 12 to 16 ), nice find Forcifer __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

09-02-2006, 07:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	I like pharoah's choice, it comes with 16 pipelines and its fully loaded with speed (faster than an X1600PRO). This is the most bang for your buck. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

09-02-2006, 07:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
jnob TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Valley Posts: 692 OS: XP Pro, SP2 My System	pharoah's choice is the best for the price however it's PCIe and will require a new motherboard. If you plan on continuing to upgrade this computer into the future the best route may be to upgrade the motherboard and get the x850xt. However if this is the last upgrade you plan on making and just plan on getting a new system in a few years the AGP cards listed above should be great. __________________ Everest Memtest86

09-03-2006, 11:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
pharoah TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,188 OS: vista business edition My System	yeah i just really noticed that lol whatever card ya get just make sure its an agp card __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015

09-03-2006, 04:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Oh I didn't catch that. You can get an X850PRO, which is just as fast but only has 12 pipelines. You might be able to unlock some more. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

09-05-2006, 06:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
Diamondsleeper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Area Posts: 69 OS: XP Pro 32 bit My System	I agree with Forcefier. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143045 I personally have this card and have run it for a couple years. Very happy with it. Play a lot of BF2 and it works well and is a great card for the money. No plans to use anything else until I upgraded to a PCI express system. I still have the AGP system too.