Need advice on upgrading my vid card

TorqueTorque
edited May 2004 in Hardware
Hi,

My ti4200 died, and its time to buy a new video card. It will be used for gaming primarily, and the usual web-surfing and such. The price limit is ~$250.
I was thinking Radeon 9800 pro, or something like that, but there are so many different kinds on newegg and such, that I wouldnt know which is the best/good.
And if it matters, it needs to have a DVI connection for my monitor.

Thank you for the help!

Torque

Comments

  • MackanzMackanz
    edited May 2004
    Torque,

    Bestbuy.com have the new X800 Pro for $299. Can't buy anything better as of now. It's even cheaper than the "old" 9800 XT.
  • TorqueTorque
    edited May 2004
    Mackanz wrote:
    Torque,

    Bestbuy.com have the new X800 Pro for $299. Can't buy anything better as of now. It's even cheaper than the "old" 9800 XT.

    Hi,

    Is this what you are referring to : http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1082519264724&skuId=6628919&type=product ??

    That is the cheapest X800 i found there, for $399 not $299. Four hundred bucks is a bit beyond my budget :)

    Thanks for the help
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    dont get the x800 cause then I will be completely jelous and have to go get one!
  • MackanzMackanz
    edited May 2004
    Torque wrote:
    Hi,

    Is this what you are referring to : http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1082519264724&skuId=6628919&type=product ??

    That is the cheapest X800 i found there, for $399 not $299. Four hundred bucks is a bit beyond my budget :)

    Thanks for the help
    My bad. I must have dreamed of $299 last night. You are right, if $250 is the limit, $399 is a bit much.
    Personally, i have a X800 XT on order as soon as it is released. It's cheaper for me to upgrade the videocard for $499 than get a new FX53 rig with cpu and mainboard. I still have 2.9 ghz of barton power under the hood and coupled with a X800 XT, it will last a while i hope.
  • TorqueTorque
    edited May 2004
    Mackanz wrote:
    My bad. I must have dreamed of $299 last night. You are right, if $250 is the limit, $399 is a bit much.
    Personally, i have a X800 XT on order as soon as it is released. It's cheaper for me to upgrade the videocard for $499 than get a new FX53 rig with cpu and mainboard. I still have 2.9 ghz of barton power under the hood and coupled with a X800 XT, it will last a while i hope.

    Sounds good ... I'm sure that will last a while.

    Any recommendations for my current budget?
  • MackanzMackanz
    edited May 2004
    I would say a 9800 Pro, OR even better, if you can find a 9800 Non-Pro with Samsung memory on it. That's the same card as a 9800 Pro/XT but for $140-$150.

    Also, the 256MB version of the 9800 Pro is actually a 9800 XT, but downgraded to sell more since a Pro is cheaper than XT. Are you going to buy new or used? If used, try to find the 9800 Non-Pro with Samsung.
  • TorqueTorque
    edited May 2004
    Mackanz wrote:
    I would say a 9800 Pro, OR even better, if you can find a 9800 Non-Pro with Samsung memory on it. That's the same card as a 9800 Pro/XT but for $140-$150.

    Also, the 256MB version of the 9800 Pro is actually a 9800 XT, but downgraded to sell more since a Pro is cheaper than XT. Are you going to buy new or used? If used, try to find the 9800 Non-Pro with Samsung.

    Chances are I'm gonna buy it from newegg.

    I search for 9800, pro and non-pro, and there are like 40 different kinds for each. I don't know who is better than whom. For example, to me these look the same:

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

    and

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

    and

    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-286&depa=0

    Do you recommend a 9800 pro with 256 or 128? Is it worth the extra money?

    thanks for the help
  • MackanzMackanz
    edited May 2004
    If you can afford the Pro with 256, go for that, as it has the R360 core (which is XT, R350 is Pro), but it's flashed "down" to a Pro bios to sell more cause it's cheaper. The R360 core is about 100-150 mhz faster i reckon. At least.
    http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=8693&sid=QLJ0ET3E6E7C9MQWFDJUHFKXQ9D4DH75

    There are R360, 9800 Pro for $15 cheaper, but this is the ATI original and the retail package. The cheaper is the "lite" or bulk versions. Don't compare this with the 9800 pro prices, as this is a real XT but reflashed to 9800 Pro. Instead, compare it with the XT prices and you will understand.

    EDIT//

    http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-292R&depa=1

    That's a refurbished 9800 Non-Pro with Samsung memorys. EASILY does XT speeds and above. Don't even need to flash it. Can't see if it's in stock though, or am i blind? Anyway, at $161, it's a steal any day of the week. Also for you who wants a second card with performance. I want that card bad.
  • TorqueTorque
    edited May 2004
    Mackanz wrote:
    If you can afford the Pro with 256, go for that, as it has the R360 core (which is XT, R350 is Pro), but it's flashed "down" to a Pro bios to sell more cause it's cheaper. The R360 core is about 100-150 mhz faster i reckon. At least.
    http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=8693&sid=QLJ0ET3E6E7C9MQWFDJUHFKXQ9D4DH75

    There are R360, 9800 Pro for $15 cheaper, but this is the ATI original and the retail package. The cheaper is the "lite" or bulk versions. Don't compare this with the 9800 pro prices, as this is a real XT but reflashed to 9800 Pro. Instead, compare it with the XT prices and you will understand.

    EDIT//

    http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-292R&depa=1

    That's a refurbished 9800 Non-Pro with Samsung memorys. EASILY does XT speeds and above. Don't even need to flash it. Can't see if it's in stock though, or am i blind? Anyway, at $161, it's a steal any day of the week. Also for you who wants a second card with performance. I want that card bad.

    thanks for the help
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