New video card... Comments?

Now, I know this has popped up previously, but never quite the same question I wanted to ask. (Such as here )

Here's my scenario. I want a new graphics card, and I'm not one of those folks who absolutely needs everything to look photorealistic.

Base system:
512mb RAM (PC2100)
AMD 2100+ XP processor
AN78X mobo (AGP slot.)

This happened to me the last time I wanted a video card, getting caught up in the great battl of very-many-choices. I'm looking for something AGP between $100 to $145 or so, and my main concern right now is future-proofing---My Geforce2 GTS doesn't support some of the pixel shaders etc. some games require now.

Dual-headed/dual-display support is something I'd like to have as well.

Right now I'm leaning towards an ATI solution, hearing better things from them in the DX support department. Maybe a ATI 9800 SE 128mb. I'm not sure how that stacks up to a 9700 Pro, however.

Anybody have any suggestions? I don't plan to run very much in full AA/AF in max resolution--If I can get a tradeoff towards better performance in more utilitarian modes, I'd probably take it.

If you do not mind me being "blunt" and to the point................the memory is a bit ancient?...........I would look for DDR, and faster?

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AMD 2100+ XP processor

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OK, this is a 1900+, but I do not use it for anything serious..................

I guess you need a new computer mate.................but you know that,. don't you?

;)

EDIT:

I am using 1024 of PC 2100 on this...PC2700 would give you a noticeable difference if the MoBo can handle it

There is so much video card out that getting lost is just easy. You should go with Ati over Nvidia because the 5*** card of Nvidia just pain suck compare to the 9*** card of ATI. And with your budget, you won't be able to afford you one of the latest generations of video card (They run on PCI-Express anyway).

Personally, I suggest more an ATI Radeon 9600. I don't know the prices in US but it should match your budget.

pick up the hercules 3d prophet game card

http://gear.ign.com/articles/424/424414p1.html
http://www.ocprices.com/index.php?re...iews&cat_id=64

it can crunch quite a impressive number.

and O ,nihil is rite get a new computer too.
(i've a 64mb ram, amd k6 ,i cannot afford a new one, but i bet you can)

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[i]

Personally, I suggest more an ATI Radeon 9600. I don't know the prices in US but it should match your budget. [/B]

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I agree ATI Radeon 9600 is a very good video card and it is just matching you budget! 9600 PRO is a very good choice, you will not make a mistake with it!

I found some 9800 PRO cards in my budget range, but they're all refurbished from NewEgg. Which means probably no warranty beyond a 15-day return--I'm not going to risk it.

Right now I'm thinking a 9600 XT 128mb for around $140 or so. I *appears* that it may outbench the 9800SE. Adding to that it appears that there are four 9800 lines, the XT, Pro, SE, and the 'blank'--I was assuming "SE" was default. But at any rate, it seems nobody sells the blank version on pricewatch :)

Hm I don't understand very well, but here in Bulgaria I find GB RADEON 9600PRO for 121$ and you have 2 years warranty. Whare is the problem?

About the refurbished thing, I found a 9800 PRO. For a 9600 PRO, I also see similar prices.

Terr: I Have a 9800 Pro 128 MB and it seems to work well in all the cases that I have put it through.

My setup is similar to yours except I have and AMD XP 2500.

Morrowind
CounterStrike Original and Source
Doom 3
Halo
Final Fantasy XI

I spent a little over $200 for one with a bigger fan and heatsink since I had problems with my old Geforce 2 and heat.

Right now I'm thinking of a Sapphire 9600 XT 128mb for around $140, or spending $15 more for the 256mb version. My impression is that 128mb is fine for the significant future...?

And I'll get a Half Life 2 voucher, it seems :)

The fan on my current GF2 started to fail or sound odd, so I removed it---but it was sort of just-the-right-size-and-shape to work with the heatsink... So I got a 45mm fan--which is being held on with a mix of well-insulated bent wire. Definitely no resale value anymore :)

I heared that the 256MB card is slower than the 128MB, but I'm not sure! oh, good not slower but that they have nearly the same points in the tests.

9800 SE is a low version of 9800. Less working pixel piplines, less working vertex engines, low vpu frequency, low ddr frequency and sometime smaller bus.

Hmm.

Sapphire 9600 XT 128mb: ~$140
Sapphire 9800 (blank designation, non-SE) 'Atlantis' 128mb: ~$140
Sapphire 9600 XT 256mb: ~$155
Sapphire 9800 (blank designation, non-SE) 'Atlantis' 256mb: ~$170

So there's the toss-up. Anybody wanna be the tiebreaker? I need to choose between the two listed 128mb choices. According to ATi's comparison thingy, here are the main differences in the chipsets:

PHP Code:

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Product Name            RADEON 9800 128MB       RADEON 9600 XT  
ASIC                    RADEON 9800             RADEON 9600     

Technology Features
SMARTSHADER™            2.1                     2       

Specifications
Memory Interface        256-bit                 128-bit 
Memory Clock (MHz)      290                     300     
Engine Clock (MHz)      325                     500     
Pipelines               8                       4       
Pixel Fillrate          2.6 Gpixels/sec         2.0 Gpixels/sec 
Geometry Rate           325 MTriangles          250 MTriangles 


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Since I doubt I can overclock the 9600XT enough to make it match the vanilla 9800, I'll probably be going with that.

Edit:

Aw fiddlesticks! It seems that Sapphire DOES NOT include the HL2 voucher except in 9800XT and 9600XT ULTIMATE types. Hmmmmmm. That was a real draw and hidden-benefit for me too. I'll do what I did the last time Valve (I'm pleasantly surprised that they are not a one-trick pony) made a game... I'll buy it later when it's cheaper.

Interesting---it seems some folks mistake the vanilla 9800 from sapphire for a Pro version, or did a while back--some broo-hah-hah and apologies by sapphire for confusing labels...

Odds are I'll be sticking with the non-pro vanilla 9800 128mb then :/ And getting it from NewEgg rather than one of the minisculely cheaper places which don't show you their warranty policies.

So in the end--is $30 or so worth 256mb ram up from 128?

Take this:
Sapphire 9800 (blank designation, non-SE) 'Atlantis' 128mb: ~$140

You'll be able to over cloak the CPU/Memory to a 9800 Pro and maybe XT without problem. 9800 performances are better that a 9600 XT.

Take 128MB. The 256MB is just marketing and doesn't really help in game except the latest game.