High End AGP Video Card Advice Please

I have a 3 year old P4/2.4 GHz (2.6 GHz O/C), AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1 GB
PC2700 RAM, 2 x 1600x1200 CRT monitors. Funds permitting, and depending on
how ****ed off I get with my current system, I hope to replace it in maybe
9-12 months with a close to high end Socket M2/dual-core AMD CPU and a close
to high end PCI-Express video card depending on M2 availability and prices
of new technology stabilizing.

I am unhappy with the performance of my system in Doom3, HL2, and Riddick.
Even though I play 3D shooters badly, I need all the help I can get. I am
thinking of getting another video card to tide me over until I build the new
system that I would expect to last me for a few years, unless there are
major technology changes. I am making the possibly rash assumption that a
faster video card could be worthwhile and I can leave the CPU alone. There
seems to be nothing faster than a 2.8GHz/533 available anyway that is
suitable for my early rev Asus P4PE motherboard.

It would be cool to have a 16 pipeline card and I can get a 6800 GT or
X850XT AGP for around $300 from ZipZoomFly when they have them back in
stock. I would appreciate some advice on what¹s best to do. Here are a
few thoughts I have:

1. Am I wasting my money on one of those cards as my CPU is so underpowered
and I should settle for a 6600GT, X800GTO, or X800XL (alas, no 6800GS AGP)
or some other card not that there is much to choose from with AGP?
2. Whatever I buy, will I be dissatisfied so I should just put the $300
towards the new system and get it as early as possible?
3. I am not a quietness fanatic as I have three PCs and a Mac running in my
study, but I am rather turned off the Sapphire X800GTO which is supposed to
be particularly loud and it makes me wonder about the 2 slot X850XT.
4. I do watch DVDs on my PC and the nVidia MPEG2 is much better for image
quality than ATI according to Maximum PC, but I think the X850XT would give
me a better chance to try out AA and AF at 1600x1200. I run at 1024x768 no
AA/AF now as I cannot afford the performance hit.

My biggest fear is that I blow $300 on a new card and I cannot tell the
difference.

Thanks for any advice on these questions and any questions I should have
asked instead.

Clive

It's unfortunately you can't use a PCIe card now and plug it into your
new box when you eventually upgrade. So that is a problem. I have
the same PC, a 2.4ghz Intel, 1gb RAM and a 21" monitor. I use an X800
Pro card and it works great. The 2.4g chip isn't THAT outclassed yet.

If you really must have a temporary card you might just look for a used
9800 Pro on Ebay and then sell it when you upgrade. Otherwise you're
probably best just waiting it out until you can get your whole new
system put together. Patience is a virtue.

Eoforheard wrote:
I have a 3 year old P4/2.4 GHz (2.6 GHz O/C), AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1 GB
PC2700 RAM, 2 x 1600x1200 CRT monitors. Funds permitting, and depending on
how ****ed off I get with my current system, I hope to replace it in maybe
9-12 months with a close to high end Socket M2/dual-core AMD CPU and a close
to high end PCI-Express video card depending on M2 availability and prices
of new technology stabilizing.

My biggest fear is that I blow $300 on a new card and I cannot tell the
difference.

Thanks for any advice on these questions and any questions I should have
asked instead.

Clive



I went from an ATI 9800 XT to this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....0837123 92168

You will notice the difference and you won't be disappointed...

(Even though I notice the price has gone up since I bought mine less
than a month ago! Must be popular for some reason...)

"Eoforheard" wrote in message
...
I have a 3 year old P4/2.4 GHz (2.6 GHz O/C), AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1
GB
PC2700 RAM, 2 x 1600x1200 CRT monitors. Funds permitting, and depending
on
how ****ed off I get with my current system, I hope to replace it in maybe
9-12 months with a close to high end Socket M2/dual-core AMD CPU and a
close
to high end PCI-Express video card depending on M2 availability and prices
of new technology stabilizing.

I am unhappy with the performance of my system in Doom3, HL2, and Riddick.
Even though I play 3D shooters badly, I need all the help I can get. I am
thinking of getting another video card to tide me over until I build the
new
system that I would expect to last me for a few years, unless there are
major technology changes. I am making the possibly rash assumption that a
faster video card could be worthwhile and I can leave the CPU alone.
There
seems to be nothing faster than a 2.8GHz/533 available anyway that is
suitable for my early rev Asus P4PE motherboard.

It would be cool to have a 16 pipeline card and I can get a 6800 GT or
X850XT AGP for around $300 from ZipZoomFly when they have them back in
stock. I would appreciate some advice on what¹s best to do. Here are a
few thoughts I have:

1. Am I wasting my money on one of those cards as my CPU is so
underpowered
and I should settle for a 6600GT, X800GTO, or X800XL (alas, no 6800GS AGP)
or some other card not that there is much to choose from with AGP?
2. Whatever I buy, will I be dissatisfied so I should just put the $300
towards the new system and get it as early as possible?
3. I am not a quietness fanatic as I have three PCs and a Mac running in
my
study, but I am rather turned off the Sapphire X800GTO which is supposed
to
be particularly loud and it makes me wonder about the 2 slot X850XT.
4. I do watch DVDs on my PC and the nVidia MPEG2 is much better for image
quality than ATI according to Maximum PC, but I think the X850XT would
give
me a better chance to try out AA and AF at 1600x1200. I run at 1024x768 no
AA/AF now as I cannot afford the performance hit.

My biggest fear is that I blow $300 on a new card and I cannot tell the
difference.

Thanks for any advice on these questions and any questions I should have
asked instead.

Clive


I would get either a 6600GT or a 6800 standard. You will automatically get
much better OpenGL performance for Doom 3, Riddick, Quake 4 and Call of Duty
2 and Half-Life 2 should run easily. Anything else is a waste of cash if you
plan a major upgrade in 12 months.

"Sleepy" wrote in message
k...

"Eoforheard" wrote in message
...
I have a 3 year old P4/2.4 GHz (2.6 GHz O/C), AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1
GB
PC2700 RAM, 2 x 1600x1200 CRT monitors. Funds permitting, and depending
on
how ****ed off I get with my current system, I hope to replace it in
maybe
9-12 months with a close to high end Socket M2/dual-core AMD CPU and a
close
to high end PCI-Express video card depending on M2 availability and
prices
of new technology stabilizing.

I am unhappy with the performance of my system in Doom3, HL2, and
Riddick.
Even though I play 3D shooters badly, I need all the help I can get. I
am
thinking of getting another video card to tide me over until I build the
new
system that I would expect to last me for a few years, unless there are
major technology changes. I am making the possibly rash assumption that
a
faster video card could be worthwhile and I can leave the CPU alone.
There
seems to be nothing faster than a 2.8GHz/533 available anyway that is
suitable for my early rev Asus P4PE motherboard.

It would be cool to have a 16 pipeline card and I can get a 6800 GT or
X850XT AGP for around $300 from ZipZoomFly when they have them back in
stock. I would appreciate some advice on what¹s best to do. Here are a
few thoughts I have:

1. Am I wasting my money on one of those cards as my CPU is so
underpowered
and I should settle for a 6600GT, X800GTO, or X800XL (alas, no 6800GS
AGP)
or some other card not that there is much to choose from with AGP?
2. Whatever I buy, will I be dissatisfied so I should just put the $300
towards the new system and get it as early as possible?
3. I am not a quietness fanatic as I have three PCs and a Mac running in
my
study, but I am rather turned off the Sapphire X800GTO which is supposed
to
be particularly loud and it makes me wonder about the 2 slot X850XT.
4. I do watch DVDs on my PC and the nVidia MPEG2 is much better for image
quality than ATI according to Maximum PC, but I think the X850XT would
give
me a better chance to try out AA and AF at 1600x1200. I run at 1024x768
no
AA/AF now as I cannot afford the performance hit.

My biggest fear is that I blow $300 on a new card and I cannot tell the
difference.

Thanks for any advice on these questions and any questions I should have
asked instead.

Clive


I would get either a 6600GT or a 6800 standard. You will automatically get
much better OpenGL performance for Doom 3, Riddick, Quake 4 and Call of
Duty 2 and Half-Life 2 should run easily. Anything else is a waste of cash
if you plan a major upgrade in 12 months.


Yeah. I just upgraded one of my PC's from an AthlonXP 1800+ to a 3000+ and
from a GeForce Ti4200 to 6600GT and it runs everything to date just fine. It
wouldn't be too far off from your specs either. Fairly inexpensive upgrade
that will allow you to play all the latest games for the next year. Granted
not at top notch quality, but still playable at decent framerates.

Is the 6800 worth the extra bit of cash when compared to the 6600?

Cheers

If you really must have a temporary card you might just look for a used
9800 Pro

Replacing a 9700pro with a 9800pro

rms

get a 6800GT, resale in a year should still be fairly high

Thanks, just gotta find somewhere in the UK that'll get me one before the
weekend!! Any where you recommend that'll have stock?

Cheers,


"Carl" wrote in message
...
get a 6800GT, resale in a year should still be fairly high

Eoforheard wrote:
I have a 3 year old P4/2.4 GHz (2.6 GHz O/C), AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1GB
PC2700 RAM, 2 x 1600x1200 CRT monitors. Funds permitting, and depending on
how ****ed off I get with my current system, I hope to replace it in maybe
9-12 months with a close to high end Socket M2/dual-core AMD CPU and a close
to high end PCI-Express video card depending on M2 availability and prices
of new technology stabilizing.

I am unhappy with the performance of my system in Doom3, HL2, and Riddick.
Even though I play 3D shooters badly, I need all the help I can get. I am
thinking of getting another video card to tide me over until I build the new
system that I would expect to last me for a few years, unless there are
major technology changes. I am making the possibly rash assumption that a
faster video card could be worthwhile and I can leave the CPU alone. There
seems to be nothing faster than a 2.8GHz/533 available anyway that is
suitable for my early rev Asus P4PE motherboard.

It would be cool to have a 16 pipeline card and I can get a 6800 GT or
X850XT AGP for around $300 from ZipZoomFly when they have them back in
stock. I would appreciate some advice on what¹s best to do. Here area
few thoughts I have:

1. Am I wasting my money on one of those cards as my CPU is so underpowered
and I should settle for a 6600GT, X800GTO, or X800XL (alas, no 6800GS AGP)
or some other card not that there is much to choose from with AGP?
2. Whatever I buy, will I be dissatisfied so I should just put the $300
towards the new system and get it as early as possible?
3. I am not a quietness fanatic as I have three PCs and a Mac running inmy
study, but I am rather turned off the Sapphire X800GTO which is supposed to
be particularly loud and it makes me wonder about the 2 slot X850XT.
4. I do watch DVDs on my PC and the nVidia MPEG2 is much better for image
quality than ATI according to Maximum PC, but I think the X850XT would give
me a better chance to try out AA and AF at 1600x1200. I run at 1024x768 no
AA/AF now as I cannot afford the performance hit.

My biggest fear is that I blow $300 on a new card and I cannot tell the
difference.

Thanks for any advice on these questions and any questions I should have
asked instead.

Clive

Clive,

From the sound of it I was running almost the exact same configuration
as you, P4/2.6/800 OC'd to 3.12, with a Radeon 9700 with a gig of RAM
and a 21" monitor.

Long story short; if you intend to upgrade everything in the near
future, you'll be wasting your money. I went with a BFG 6800GT (AGP)
that I found on Ebay for $250 and while the card itself allows me to up
the resolution on Doom3 and Battlefield 2 the framerates are not what
you'll find on the online testing sites. Quite simply, the processor
is the bottleneck, but I was not willing to do a wholesale upgrade of
my system at this time. The BFG 6800 GT is a great card and I have
been able to up the details and res to a certain extent, but the
difference is not revolutionary.

Save your cash and do it properly in the new year.