Another Video Card Thread
<div class="IPBDescription">There r many like it but this one r mine</div> Sorry about the r's in the subtitle, but I had to in order to make it fit.
Bascally, I need a new graphics card. Not just for HL2, i've needed one for a while. What I currently have is a Radeon 7000, 64mb. It runs NS just fine at about 50-60ms on a good day with my 1.5 processor, with 384mb ram. But it ISNT directX9 compatible <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->
What I need is a card that is:
DirectX 9 compatible
Backwards compatible (i.e, will still play NS)
at least 128mb (if possible 256 but im not that bothered)
affordable, i.e, less than ?160/$200 (phear the stonger pound)
I was looking at the Geforce 5600 until yesterday when someone posted that is isn't backwards compatible... unless they lied <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
I have heard good things about the 5200, except i'm ideally looking for something a little more upmarket (i.e, wont be obsolete when DirectX10 inevitably comes out).
Other than that, I don't know. I'm willing to have another Radeon, but which one can you recommend?
Ideally I want the opinions of people who HAVE these cards, and can say from experience that it is good, not from hearsay and "It looks purty".
Please don't turn this into an Nvidea vs ATI flamewar, I really don't care what make it is as long as it works.
*edit* At this point i'm swinging towards the Radeon 9700. What I would like to know though is why do some sites have the 9700 listed as 128mb and others as 256mb? *edit*
*edit* Okay, now i'm REALLY confused, AAAARGH!!! The same site (Dabs.com) has a Radeon 9700 as both 128mb, AND 256mb. Now I understand ATI only provides the parts and doesn't actually manufacture the cards, so does that mean a Radeon 9700 256mb is BETTER than a Radeon 9600 128mb? Logic would dictate YES, so how come the 128mb is more expensive??? I feel confused and nubbly. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> *edit*
Bascally, I need a new graphics card. Not just for HL2, i've needed one for a while. What I currently have is a Radeon 7000, 64mb. It runs NS just fine at about 50-60ms on a good day with my 1.5 processor, with 384mb ram. But it ISNT directX9 compatible <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->
What I need is a card that is:
DirectX 9 compatible
Backwards compatible (i.e, will still play NS)
at least 128mb (if possible 256 but im not that bothered)
affordable, i.e, less than ?160/$200 (phear the stonger pound)
I was looking at the Geforce 5600 until yesterday when someone posted that is isn't backwards compatible... unless they lied <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
I have heard good things about the 5200, except i'm ideally looking for something a little more upmarket (i.e, wont be obsolete when DirectX10 inevitably comes out).
Other than that, I don't know. I'm willing to have another Radeon, but which one can you recommend?
Ideally I want the opinions of people who HAVE these cards, and can say from experience that it is good, not from hearsay and "It looks purty".
Please don't turn this into an Nvidea vs ATI flamewar, I really don't care what make it is as long as it works.
*edit* At this point i'm swinging towards the Radeon 9700. What I would like to know though is why do some sites have the 9700 listed as 128mb and others as 256mb? *edit*
*edit* Okay, now i'm REALLY confused, AAAARGH!!! The same site (Dabs.com) has a Radeon 9700 as both 128mb, AND 256mb. Now I understand ATI only provides the parts and doesn't actually manufacture the cards, so does that mean a Radeon 9700 256mb is BETTER than a Radeon 9600 128mb? Logic would dictate YES, so how come the 128mb is more expensive??? I feel confused and nubbly. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> *edit*
Comments
That was not helpful <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->
O.k, so DX9 compatability is a given, it needs to be backwards compatable and at least 128mb. Any recommendations? I want something that isn't going to be obsolete in a year.
good luck with that ..
and, generally speaking, everything is backwards compatible, except windows.
Good luck with that. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
ENOUGTH WITH THE SARCASM AND UNHELPFULNESS!
And also:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->and, generally speaking, everything is backwards compatible, except windows. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So could you please explain how come:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Yeah, I paid $180 for a GF FX 5600 256megs, and guess what I got? Something that wasn't backwards compatible. I also learned that you have to get the 5900 for reasonable clock speeds that run everything. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Although looking at the context, he could have meant that things run slower, which would be a result of not enougth RAM, or a processor too crappy to handle a 5600.
I want the next post to be HELPFUL.
Grrrrrrrr. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->
EDIT: By the way, that what I have. It works fine and runs everything that's came along perfect.
At what point did I suggest to you that I thought ping and graphics cards are related? Methinks either I made a typo or you read the post wrong.
NO FLAMEWARS IN MY POST!
Grrrrr don't make me use the angry emoticon again.
*edit* O.k, take a look at this <a href='http://www.dabs.com/products/prod-search.asp?action=search&tid=700&ob=manufacturer&stab=ref' target='_blank'>site</a> and explain to me why <b> the 256mb card is CHEAPER than the 128mb. </b> I don't get it <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> *edit*
DX9 compatibility starts with ATI 9600 and the NVIDIA 5200, so anything above that is fine.
5200 not worth it. Get the 5600 instead. But the 9700 is also very good. DooManiac has stressed price drops in November. So if you're patient, you may want to wait out.
Which in English means.....?
*edit*
actually now that i think about it, I don't know what the "I" in it is.
:: ends his shameless plug ::
DX9 compatibility starts with ATI 9600 and the NVIDIA 5200, so anything above that is fine.
5200 not worth it. Get the 5600 instead. But the 9700 is also very good. DooManiac has stressed price drops in November. So if you're patient, you may want to wait out. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well sh!t, i guess my G4 Ti 4200 ain't DX9 compatible <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> Btw, should i replace my G4 Ti4200 ? ? ? i only have it already for about a year ...
I don't think the 9800 is within your budget, but I'm not sure since I'm not British.
2) ATI both produces their own cards, AND sells the GPUs to third-party manufacturers. I'd suggest going with a Built By ATI (ATI-made), and not a Powered By ATI (third-party).
3) Some third-party manufacturers made 256MB versions of the 9700, again IIRC. I'd still go with the Made By ATI. It's possible that the 128MB one may have been an All-In-Wonder version (with TV-In as well as the standard TV-Out) which would boost the price.
4) 9700s and 9500s are becoming more and more difficult to find. While the 9500 (Pro, especially) is a good bit more powerful than the 9600, the 9800 performs better than the 9700. (aka: Get a 9500 Pro if you can find one)
5) ATI is doing trade-ups... send them ANY video card, and get $50 off one of their newer cards... the 9600 Pro, 9800 Pro, or so on. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> So buy a cheap CGA vid card from the thrift store for a dollar, and get fifty off your new card.
6) The ATI cards spank the similarly-priced nVidia card in terms of framerate, image quality, integrated enhancements (such as increased DivX and DVD viewing/decoding speed and quality), and customer support. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> Go with ATI, you'll thank yourself. At the very least, they believe in their GPUs enough to make and support their own cards.
Yes Duff-Man, the 9800 is out of my price range, stop making me feel bad already! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
As for the trade up thing, that sounds cool! Only thing is, if I wanted to trade in MY card, I would have to send it to them, hence I would be without a graphics card for at least a week. Can't live that long without NS... grrr....
May want to check the External US trade-up though... all my info comes from the in-US one.
(edit: And as noted.. they'll even take a binned video card. Buy a cheapo if you must and send it in.. you're STILL saving money. You do NOT have to send the one currently in your machine.)
which stands for milliseconds ... which is latency .. which is ping ..
so SUYF ok <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->