$300 for a card?

RWBRWB Icrontian
edited August 2003 in Hardware
Soon I will be coming across some good old fashioned moola! I have a rule for buying, and that is never to spend more than $300 for a GFX Card, unless perhaps there is no line between how amazing the card is compaired to the rest.

I'll be buying the card ASAP between Sept 15th and 17th.

So, since I haven't been keeping up with things since the GeForce4 came out, what should I get?

Comments

  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    refurbished 9700 pro, 9800 pro from newegg.
  • AuthorityActionAuthorityAction Missouri Member
    edited August 2003
    I just ordered a refurbished AIW 9700 pro from newegg for ~$260.

    From what I hear ATI's image quality blows away nvidia, I'm guessing a lot of people here will tell you to go with ATI.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Personally, I see no difference between the FX-series and the R3xx line as far as visual quality is concerned.

    I'd tell you to get ATI now anyways, however.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Is the GFFX 5900 (non-ultra) better than the R9700 Pro?

    EDIT:

    What I REALLY need is a comparison chart of some kind that will show the different cards from the GF4Ti4600 through the best out if you could?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    1. 5900 Ultra
    2. 9800 Pro
    3. 9700 Pro
    4. 5800
    5. 9700
    6. 5600 Ultra
    7. 9500 Pro
    8. 9600 Pro
    9. 5600
    10. 9500

    Or thereabouts.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    OK so far from the benchmarks I have been looing at, the performance gain over my current Ti4600 isn't that great. However, if memory serves me correctly, the Radeon cards have that thing in it(truform?) that you can set to make things appear with more polygons or something? Like a entran with an arch actually has an arch and not a jagged curve?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Truform is gimpy
  • LIQuidLIQuid Raleigh, NC
    edited August 2003
    Trueform kills performance :P

    But man trust me, i have a 9800 pro and i run ALL my games at 1280x1024 32bit, highest detail possible and 4XFSAA and 8X anisotropic ... silky smooth ;)
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited August 2003
    RWB said
    OK so far from the benchmarks I have been looing at, the performance gain over my current Ti4600 isn't that great.

    If you have a GF4-4600, then WAIT!

    The Radeon 9900/10000 is due out by Q4 2003.

    DOOM 3 isn't supposed to arrive until Q1 2004 anyway.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    Take a look at the attached image- ATi 9800 Pro 256 on top, 5900 Ultra on bottom. Also look at the FPS counter... the 9800 Pro is better than the 5900 Ultra, let alone the non-ultra...
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    :banghead: Forgot teh image
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited August 2003
    Many will tell you not to buy a vid card till at least Half Life 2 is released. At this point, the Ti4600 cards are still great for any game currently available, but even the newest cards are said to struggle with the likes of Doom 3.

    At least if you wait till after HL2's release, you'll get a better idea of what will run HL2/Doom3 with medium high detail.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    If you want to run tomorrow's games, how does it make sense to buy today's video cards? Wait until the games have been out for a bit, then upgrade.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I hate those screenshots, because they're old and don't compare to what I've seen personally.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Thrax said
    I hate those screenshots, because they're old and don't compare to what I've seen personally.

    IMHO, anything from {H} is untrustable... although those pictures may be correct, driver updates can alter appearance alot.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    For three-D lots of folks like nVidia, for 2-D that is ATI hands down right now. Nvidia works better when one is an O\S researcher by nature, they do better drivers for alternative systems.

    Lets say for TV motion editing on a computer I woudl get an nVidia quadro partly for the dual GPus of whihc one specializes in converting for non VGA signals and some have 4 outs that can simultaneously feed on a fast box. I run an nVidia on the box I check out operating systems and an ATI 8500 on my business box as I only do still digital media work and presentation shows for video intense stuff and lighter weight DTP and accounting for non-intense work.

    If you do not have work that needs a GFX expressly I would get the best GF4 or a 9500 ATI card, and if slower buy more RAM for box instead unless VERY slow unless this is your last card for 3+ years in which case woudl buy best GFX you can afford.

    People keep thinking dcard will perform to spec, but it needs other hardware teaming with it and applications that can use it to full to be really valuable. If you have applications you will be specifically using buy to start a mid-toward upper range card recommended for the applications.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I'm gonna be waiting a while, when I deem the latest and greatest under $300 price ranged 3d graphics accelorator is much better than my Ti4600.

    Maybe when my Ti4600 turns into the worth of a GF2 ;)
  • LIQuidLIQuid Raleigh, NC
    edited August 2003
    9500 pro >>>> ti 4600
  • WuGgaRoOWuGgaRoO Not in the shower Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    i think thrax is wrong...the 9500pro has much better benches than the 9600 pro
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited August 2003
    Thrax said
    7. 9500 Pro
    8. 9600 Pro
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited August 2003
    RWB said
    I'm gonna be waiting a while, when I deem the latest and greatest under $300 price ranged 3d graphics accelorator is much better than my Ti4600.

    Maybe when my Ti4600 turns into the worth of a GF2 ;)

    That’s my plan. Just wait till Half Life 2 has been around for a month or two, then reassess the market.
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited August 2003
    Waiting and waiting never gets me any further along in the upgrade window.

    Simply fork over the cash when you see a good deal and enjoy your product. Nobody ever said computing was easy... or cheap :D

    //Edit: W00Tage.... 1000th Graphics & Sound Post :D
  • FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
    edited August 2003
    I would definately get an ATI card. Ive been an avid nvidia believer for years but I recently picked up a 9700 PRO and let me tell you this.

    Playin on a geforce 4 ti 4600 is like playing on a 9700 pro but looking at it through a screen door.

    and that aint no ****e either.
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