Graphics Cards

Author
Discussion

UncleDave

Original Poster:

7,155 posts

238 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
Have posted on the Computing forum and decided my G Card is knackered.

But found this card: Is it any good?

I would move to PCI-e but it would be very expensive I think for an equivalent card, new motherboard etc.

Any advice?
Dave.

_VTEC_

2,434 posts

252 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
Dave, is it an AGP interface you've got? What's your budget? Really, you'll want a card that costs over 100 notes if you want a good 'un.

Have a look at this topic here as some kind people posted some graphics card reviews.

xiphias

5,888 posts

234 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
Whats the proc as well? No point buying too big as your performance may then be limited by cpu.

UncleDave

Original Poster:

7,155 posts

238 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
Rest of my system:

XP3000+ 512MB RAM running XP Pro

I'll look at that thread, similar situation and budget.

Cheers




>> Edited by UncleDave on Sunday 11th December 18:11

FourWheelDrift

89,649 posts

291 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
Try looking at the 6600GT, I've just got the 256mb version. I got fed up one Sunday afternoon and bought one from SleazyWorld for £129 so you should be able to find one on t'internet for less.

UncleDave

Original Poster:

7,155 posts

238 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
What kind of FPS do you get on GTL with that? And what is the rest of your system spec, it sounds interesting....

Dave.

TimW

3,848 posts

254 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
You get what you pay for with graphic cards (you cant really get an amazing cheap one), its a middle range card which is good for nearlly all modern games to run on full if you have a good pc to go with it...

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Sunday 11th December 2005
quotequote all
6200 regardless of memory aint that powerfull, try a ATI 9600 AGP they will be the same price and kick the 6200's ass, mabe try and find a 9800 or 9800pro, they are still a very good card.

I mention the ATI cards as they are now a good deal and not a great deal of money even though performance is still very good (better than 6600GT in most applications and 1/3rd less the price)

Hope it helps

lockstock2sb

2,855 posts

250 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
I think if you are on a budget you tend to get more bang for your buck with ATI's. Get a XT model though for the extra speed.

>> Edited by lockstock2sb on Monday 12th December 13:43

UncleDave

Original Poster:

7,155 posts

238 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
Just had a quick look. Worrabout an X800?

Any good?
Dave.

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
x800 are good too and the prices for the AGP variant are falling right now.

6800GS is due out but not before christmas on AGP.

there are also deals to be had on the x850 too but now we are entering the £150+ arena.

you get what you pay for I suppose.. .. ..

UncleDave

Original Poster:

7,155 posts

238 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
Just been looking at the specs of my current card. It is bloody slow to say the least... clock speed is next to nothing, I used to think it was all about the memory etc for Graphics Cards.. but have since become a bit wiser

Dave.

Zod

35,295 posts

265 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
That 6200 is a terrible card. The 9600 mentioned above is ancient, as is the 9800 (though it is reasonably quick still). Get a 6800GS or an X800GTO for a value card. If you want to spend money, go for a 7800GT.

pvapour

8,981 posts

260 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
I also went to PC world and got the 6600 GT, runs GTL and GTR at full chat without any problems (FWD coppied me by the way, as I am a leading IT expert )

UncleDave

Original Poster:

7,155 posts

238 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
What kind of FPS and you got all details up high too?

And what is the spec of the rest of your comp

Dave.

pvapour

8,981 posts

260 months

Monday 12th December 2005
quotequote all
UncleDave said:
What kind of FPS and you got all details up high too?

And what is the spec of the rest of your comp

Dave.


50 -60 fps / 1024 x 768 / 32 bit / 60hz / direct x 9

System: P4 / 512 ram / XP home

i think you can clock the card as well, but dont know how

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Tuesday 13th December 2005
quotequote all
Zod said:
That 6200 is a terrible card. The 9600 mentioned above is ancient, as is the 9800 (though it is reasonably quick still). Get a 6800GS or an X800GTO for a value card. If you want to spend money, go for a 7800GT.


yes all obvious choices, the reason for the "ancient" pointers was becuase AGP is the important part here, 6800GS is not yet out in AGP, although rumoured to be a week or 2 away will be way out of the budget, 7800gt PCIe only with no plans to make a bridged version for AGP, X800GTO, possible but the full blown x800 or 850 is actually more powerfull on AGP and although they may be in tight supply the sellers with them are taking a hit to move the stocks.

the GTO is the new kid but its really just a cut down x800pro.. .. ..

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Tuesday 13th December 2005
quotequote all
clocking cards is simple, you can even download tools to do it for you nowadays (try www.guru3d.com) only problem, if you push it too far and fry the card, you are on your own.

Mr Whippy

29,950 posts

248 months

Wednesday 14th December 2005
quotequote all
I wouldn't waste too much money on a fast gfx card in AGP, since it's days are over, and you'll not be able to carry it over to your next system.

I'd purchase a 9800 Pro or 9800 XT or similar (XT has 256mb and the R380 core or something or other)...

You'll get a 9800 Pro on Ebay for £55-60 and it's a proper DX9 card. It has trouble with lots of AA and AF, but it's quick enough for most games with most of the goodies turned on. Make sure it's a 128bit memory one though, some are 64bit and are alot slower for it...

If you get an XT, it's the best 9800 all round with 256 meg, the faster core, and can be overclocked happily by 10-15%... More than enough power unless your a geeky type gamer, and it's well matched to your system then.


I run a 9800 pro with the XT core (r380 or whatnot), and it's clocked to XT speeds and runs GT Legends in 1600x1200 smoothly in medium detail with a few things turned upto high even with 24 car grids etc. Rest of my system is similar to yours except 512meg ram, wheras I have a gig.

Was tempted by upgrading my GFX, but it's just a waste of money getting AGP card for more than £60 these days, as PCI-E is the next gen and your paying for essentially out-dated tech. It's already bad enough with PC components being worthless in no time, so buying a NEW AGP card is just daft imho!

Dave

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Wednesday 14th December 2005
quotequote all
there is no noticable speed diff from AGP to PCIe in like for like cards.

if you get a 9800 check out the memory speeds, and avoid the atlantis Pro versions (cut down) if you get one with a decent memory speed you will be able to clock it to near or at XT speeds anyways as they are all the same chips. memory is usually the deciding factor.

AGP is not dead yet, only 22% of the systems bought in the past 2 years have PCIe, the Nvidias and ATIs of this world will bring out AGP offerings again I gaurantee you.