graphic card advice please..

seph

hi all, ok i have a dell p4. 2.4 ghz, 756 ddr ram, gf 420 mx vido card. I do a lot of gaming and I want to upgrade my video card.I think the 9800 pro is best for my price range...( 200 to 250 euros ). and my system. I have several questions though...

1. Only some 9800 pros can be clocked, how do I know which ?
2. Is the 256mb version that much better than the 128mb ( there is a big price differential )
2. Some say that the 6600gt is a better choice for me but am not sure my sys can take it.. my psu is 350 watt. Any thoughts ?
3. Which brands are better and which to advoid ?

Thanks for any advice / suggestions
seph.

marco murphy

Iam in the same posistion mate,aparently the PSU doesnt power the card,not sure though.

garthv

1. all cards can be overcloked,you just gotta know how to do it
2. 256mb version is better as it has 256mb of video memory compared to 128mb
3. at a qucik guess id say your system wont run the 6600gt because of your motherboard,not because of your power supply,youll have to check that yourself ,also afaik the 6600gt is dearer

I have the 9800 pro(sapphire i think) and its taken everything ive thrown at it so im pretty happy

Simi

Get a 9800pro or XT if you can afford it. 256mb Ram makes little difference atm but in the near future it will be much more important.

marco murphy

grath,what do you do checkint he mobo?

duridian

If you have got €200 to €250 to spend forget the 9800Pro or the XT(which is ridiculously overpriced everywhere anyway) and get a 6600GT. There's info all over the net saying the 6600GT is better at most everything and there is very little price difference, in fact the Leadtek 6600GT which is getting the most praise is on offer here for about €205 this week.
If you need more convincing, give a look back through the past weeks postings on this forum and you'll find heaps more discussion on this issue 9800Pro vs 6600GT, all of which eventually points to the 6600GT being the better purchase.
You might just about make it on a 350Watt if there aren't too many other things like extra drives drawing power in your Dell.

Hylios

Is the 6600GT on overclockers.co.uk the cheapest you'll get one? I think it works out at about 225 incl. delivery. I'm just really kicking myself after missing that PC World offer for a 6600GT for 150, and I only have about 150 to spend, I could only push that to 200 max.

marco murphy

Yep,the PC world job is real annoying....argh

I hope iam not hijacking the thread,but it might help everyone.

What about a Geforce FX5700
I have on ordered :P are they good?

vishal

i am not sure but i think the 6600gt would require less power than a 9800pro

RicardoSmith

Poblachtach wrote:

Yep,the PC world job is real annoying....argh

I hope iam not hijacking the thread,but it might help everyone.

What about a Geforce FX5700
I have on ordered :P are they good?

Cancel the fx5700. There are really only a Dx8 card.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2281&p=3

Don't bother with a 256mb if you are short on funds. Stretch to a 6600GT. Its the only card worth getting, unless you can't afford it. In which case get a 9800pro cheap which would be around 100-120 ish. Don't pay more for it.

marco murphy

Oh no so a 9800 pro?

RicardoSmith

Poblachtach wrote:

Oh no so a 9800 pro?

Would slap a 5700 around especially in Dx9. The price of a 9800pro is very close to a 6600gt and thats better.

marco murphy

180 is what i have,i cant wait :(

RicardoSmith

Hylios wrote:

Is the 6600GT on overclockers.co.uk the cheapest you'll get one? I think it works out at about 225 incl. delivery. ...

€40 in it...

duridian

Poblachtach man, surely you can beg, steal or borrow the 40 odd quid somewhere and get the Leadtek 6600GT. You've got about a week before the offer runs out on OcUK, they usually change the offers on Thursday but I'd say since this one started after xmas it will be next week before it ends. A 5700 would be a bad spend, especially for a new one coz they are severely overpriced for what they can do.

marco murphy

Yeh ok,what about a 9800 pro,just wondering.Cant buy online really

duridian

Surely you know someone with a credit card that would order for you. 9800 Pro would nearly cost the same as the 6600GT unless you bought 2nd hand. If you could get about €25-30 for that MX440 you have, you'd nearly be there, but barring the bargain at PC World the other day there's nowhere that I can think of in a bricks 'n mortar shop that will have them at the same price as the online deals.

marco murphy

Bricks n mortar,lol.

Well if i get it second hand,is it a good card.
If not,or if something happens ill aim for the 6600,if i tryed hard enough ill probably get the 6600.it 215 i think on komplett.Thanks,your a real help around here