Graphics Card/Memory Choice

subway_ie

I'm looking to get a graphics card for a new system I'm building - originally I was planning to get a PowerColor Radeon 9600XT at €156.09, but now Komplett are offering the Sapphire Radeon 9600XT 256MB for €166. Both are retail versions (not too sure what the retail versions include apart from the fancy boxes...) and the onyl other difference I can see is the 128MB vs 256MB - is the 256MB version a big advantage? I've heard some conflicting views on this, some say it is, others say it doesn't make any difference. Which would you recommend?

RE*AC*TOR

the retail versions usually include a game or two. if you can squeeze out an extra €30 - jes.de have the 128MB Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro Lite-RTL for €195 - much better card - don't get any free games though - but most likely they'd be crap games anyway.

on the memory issue its not a big advantage - and it often happens that the cards with 256mb have a slower memory speed - so you actually get a reduction in performance. At this stage 256mb ram on a mid-range card is unnecessary imho.

subway_ie

I was thinking about the 9800... but it is a bit too expensive (plus, isn't that one of the "crippled" cards?). As well as that, I'm going to be ordering from Komplett mid-July, and I'd prefer to keep it in one big order rather than split it between JES and Komplett and pay an extra €20 postage. I'm not going to be using it as a gaming system so the "free" games with the retail versions wouldn't make any difference.

Mac daddy

Originally posted by subway_ie
(plus, isn't that one of the "crippled" cards?).

???You mean the 128bit version

RE*AC*TOR

its not a crippled version the "lite" refers to the absence of games in the box. its a full 9800pro. But as you said if you're not using it for games then there's no need for the 9800pro - in fact i'd go as far as to say there's no need for the 9600xt either. Unless you're doing some serious graphics work or 3dmax or something like that - a budget card would be more than adequate for a non gaming machine.
Perhaps a fx5200 or a radeon 9200. Really, they will be MORE than adequate.

subway_ie

I will be doing a lot of graphics work... so it does kind of justify something around the 9600XT mark; the 9600XT is about €155 - the 9200 is about €70... big saving, but I'm not sure that the 9200 would be adequate. Right now I'm using a GeForce 3 Ti200.

RE*AC*TOR

Geforce3ti200 is a good card. Wouldn't bother uprgading to 9200 or FX5200. If you need something with a higher clock speed for graphics work - then go for the 9600xt. But bear in mind RAM and processor speed are probably more important - and the GF3ti200 is a fine card.

Col_Loki

The "crippled" version of the 9800pro is the 128bit memory interface version NOT the lite version there two different things.

The "Lite" version as said above is the version with no games.

The regular 9800pro has a 256bit memory interface , ATI have recently came out with a downgraded "crippled" 128bit version. Avoid this if possible.....

The one on www.jes-computer.de for €195 is the decent standard 9800pro.

Komplett stock both so watch out there.

Ohh and 256mb Ram wont make any difference on a card like a 9600XT, 128mb is perfect.

subway_ie

This doesn't really deserve a separate thread so... would there be any (major) loss in performance if I was to install 4 sticks of 256MB PC400 RAM instead of just putting in two sticks of 512MB? I'm trying to keep initial costs down, and it'd reduce the bill I have to pay right away by about €100 if I go for the 4 sticks option (2 now and 2 in a few months time). But would I be better off just waiting until I can afford the 2*512 and buy them then?

unkel

Depends on a few things. With 4*256 your mobo is full, no further upgrade possible, but probably not required anyway. Also depends on your platform. From tests I've seen that 4*256 (2 matched pairs of double sided memory) in a P4 is faster than 2*512 (1 matched pair)

subway_ie

Well, it'll be matched pairs, probably on an Abit IC7-G board with a 2.8 P4. I can't see myself upgrading beyond 1GB though... even if I needed the extra performance, I wouldn't be able to afford it.

unkel

If it's the P4C or P4E make sure you get at least PC4000 memory, preferably CAS2.5 latency. With a little bit of luck you should be able to go to 3.5Ghz or beyond

subway_ie

Well, it'll probably be a Northwood (not too sure about the "new" classifications... could be a P4C or P4E or just a regular P4...), the Prescott's the same price, but apparently only offers marginal performance increases and a major increase in heat output.

OHP

I just got the game Halo and brought it home and offered it up to my computer. Needless to say it won’t work on the old Graphics Card I have. So would a Sapphire Radeon 9600XT Atlantis 256MB DD AGP,ATI9600XT,DVI-I,VIVO, Full-Retail, fix this problem? It is €181.50 from Komplett.

OHP

grimloch

id say so however the atlantis version may only be a 128-bit version try to get a 256-bit version, also id be less likely to get a bad 256mb than a good 128mb like the 9800pro which is about 210 its a much better card if you can afford it but the card you mentioned would run it yeah

OHP

jes.de have the 128MB Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro Lite-RTL for €195 - much better card

and

also id be less likely to get a bad 256mb than a good 128mb like the 9800pro which is about 210

Sounds good to me. So does it come with the latest drivers or do you have to go online to get them like some Cards? Also are they easy to install.


OHP

BloodBath

You get the latest drivers off ati's site like any other card, be it Nvidia or Ati.


Are the drivers easy to install or the card? Both are easy anyway. If your replacing an Nvidia card you will have to get a program that completely removes it's drivers. Just uninstalling them will not work. I'd even recomend a format. If it's an ati card you should be fine. Just install the new drivers over the old ones.


BloodBath

Col_Loki

If your putting a 9800pro into an older machine you might want to post specs of that machine.

It might not support 4x or 8x AGP , the PSU might be too weak, the CPU might be too slow to take advantage of the 9800pro .........

BloodBath

We're both blind Loki

I'm looking to get a graphics card for a new system I'm building

:rolleyes:


BloodBath

NeoSlicerZ

Small suggestion here,

Why not get the 256bit 9800 SE and softmod it to a pro?
The SE's only 145 euro or so..

BloodBath

Make sure it's 256bit or it won't work.


BloodBath

Col_Loki

Even still , there SE's for a reason. Theyve failed in some area of the testing and have had there pipelines chopped in half.

Sometimes it works fine as a 9800pro sometimes not. Its a risk and for €50 more your guarenteed performance . Im not sure what the Softmod figures are with the cards, remember Herc ones were softmodding like crazy at one stage.

Doh i missed that whole building himself thing!!

Mac daddy

Originally posted by unkel
If it's the P4C or P4E make sure you get at least PC4000 memory, preferably CAS2.5 latency. With a little bit of luck you should be able to go to 3.5Ghz or beyond

True

I have hit 3.6 with a P4 2.8 using PC4000 CAS 2.5 gold 2x256MB- running very slck timmings

netman

You'll actually find it faster with a lower latency memory (CAS2) running at a lower speed. Not by much, you might get a few FPS more in games, but on the other hand why should you pay more to get less? This does involve running the memory asynchonously.