Re: Getting a new video card
 

The Albratron 5700 Ultra is right now available for below 200$ and is probably one of the best at this level.

But still I would wait. In 3 months the whole thing looks different.

Re: Getting a new video card
 

Stay away from Powercolour! I've had friends burned by them very recently! Some cards come with fast Ram, some come with slooooooww ass Ram.

Also their cards tend to crap out in 1/2 the time that the retail version do! If you're getting an ATI card from a 3rd party get it from Sapphire! They use really really nice Ram on their high-end cards!

Re: Getting a new video card
 

You know I just heard that same story. Apparently their are two different memory configurations. The L shaped arrangement is the best. The memory arranged straight across the top is the bad ram setup.

Re: Getting a new video card
 

Ive upped my price range. How about a 9600 XT or a 9600 AIW?

Re: Getting a new video card
 

Just wait! Right now there is too much movement in prices.
They will get a lot cheaper alltogether within the next 3 months.

Re: Getting a new video card
 

3 months.pffft. Thats too long. Anyways.I've made a FINAL decision.Im getting the ATI 9800 Pro.

Re: Getting a new video card
 

Well, if you wanna loose more money than you need.
Right now cards lose more value (in percentage) than a mercedes benz during the same timespan.

Re: Getting a new video card
 

a 9800 pro is about 150 above your price range.... what was the whole point of this post? i got mine for $280 and i heard thats pretty low.

Re: Getting a new video card
 

9600 AIW is rather excessively pointless if you don't use your PC to watch TV. I'd go for the 9600XT, personally. Not that there's anything wrong with the AIW; I'd just never make full use of it's features. I think that the AIW might also be a little less desirable for gaming, but I'm not sure on that.

Addendum, re Mazz: ATI-built Radeon 9800 Pro's are down to under $250 for the full retail version now. It's fairly recent, too. Makes me wonder if ATI is perhaps gearing up to release a new flagship core... it's about time for one.

Re: Getting a new video card
 

I think that it's more of a "we can sell our high-end cards that much cheaper than Nvidia".

ATI sort of has Nvidia over a barrell with their faster and cheaper cards. I think that they're trying to move that much more of their high-end AGP cards so that people who only buy one every 2 years with get a 9800 and skip the next generation of cards all together (a generation that Nvidia might dominate). This way a person will "hop" from ATI card - to ATI card without needing to rest on an Nvidia one.