Getting a new video card

[Froggin_Ashole42]

Alright, I'm getting a new video card probally tommorrow. What's a good video card(I currently have Gf4 Ti4200 64mb card) for about 100-150 dollars with 256 mb RAM. Do I need to do anything special to switch from a NVIDIA to an ATI card?

[SimonS.]

ATI Radeon 9600xt

[InsaneJakester]

the only thing new u need to switch are drivers thich come with the card

[Josey Wales]

Howdy...


First up, you dont need 256 Ram.Get a Radeon 9800 Pro with 128 MB and you´re way better off than with the 9600.

If you change from Nvidia to ATI, youll have to delete all the old Nvidia drivers.


JW

[Oberst Topgun]

got a new geforce fx 5900 ultra from gainward last week. it has 256mb ddr ram and u can play fh with 8x AA and 8x AF with all details maxed very smooth. i ahve payed 299€ for this baby and it was all worth it.

but if u only wnat to pay 100-150 dollars then get a 9800 pro ati (like JW said), cheaper and better than the 5700 nvidia.

[Anlushac11]

My recommendations

1) Click on this link, scroll to bottom of first post and click on the .jpg

2) Find your card on the list. Compare to the other cards on the list.

3) Go to newegg.com and see what the cards you are interested in sell for.

The game used to achieve these benchmarks was BF1942:SWOWW2 so yes I do think its relevant.

I am looking at a Powercolor 9800SE with 256 bit 128MB .

Others will say dont get that SE's suck. But look at the chart, the 9800 SE scores within 4fps of the 9600 XT. You can get a 9800SE w/256bit data path for around $158.00. The 9600XT sells for about $163.00

Not sure where you can find a 9800Pro for $100-150, everywhere I looked they go for between $215 to $300

From here is just conjecture, speculation, and personnel opinion.

There are several guys that have installed a softmod that turns on the other 4 of the branch pipelines giviing a boost in performance, then overclocked it. The benchmark scores were within 2,000 points of the 9800 XT.

This entirely depends on whether you want to overclock. It is not advised unless you know what you are doing and understand the risks involved.

[The Jackalx2k]

What link, Anlushac?

If the 9800SE is beating the 9600XT and it's 256bit(not MB...that's different) then that's a good buy...

I wish 9700Pro's were on newegg. Does anyone know what is the equivalent of the 9700Pro? Is it the 9800SE?

[C38368]

1) Go ATI. nVidia is making the same mistakes the 3dfx was making a few years back.
2) Changing gfx card manufacturers only requires changing drivers. I recommend unloading old drivers first, though (this isn't actually necessary, but it makes life somewhat easier once the new card is installed.
3) For that price range, I recommend the Radeon 9600XT, which range in price (depending on manufacturer) from about $160 to $210.
4) Sapphire offers the 9800 Pro 128 in OEM trim for about $240; it's damn near identical to ATI's reference card, if you're willing to indulge.
5) Currently, the 9800 Pro 256 and 9800XT are overpriced and really only suitable for spoiled children and people with far too much idle cash.
6) Last, but certainly not least, ATI's 'Pro' and 'XT' variants are generally better suited for gaming purposes than 'All-In-Wonder' or 'SE' variants.
Those are, of course, my opinions. Take twice daily with salt.

[Froggin_Ashole42]

Well I'm either going for 9800 pro or (if it is cheap enough) geforce fx 5900 ultra like Topgun said. I have 512 RAM and 1.5 ghz processor,would the card still help?I only get like 58 or 60 fps on BF,and like 40 in FH. I also want this card so if I get BF:V,it won't be laggy.

[Anlushac11]

DOHHHHH!!!!

Forgot to post the link.

http://www.gamingforums.com/showthread.php?t=115579

And ordinarily I would agree that the ATI SE cards are not as good but the 9800SE with the 128MB of 256 bit memory is not giving up a whole lot other than 4 of the 8 pipelines are shut off in software. The softmod turns them back on.

I do not advise getting the 128 bit memory version. I have passed on the 9600SE as a replacement for my GF2MX400 in my 2nd system exactly because it is crippled with 64 bit memory.