On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 15:03:40 -0500, "ftran999" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I've had a Radeon 9800 pro (128mb) for the past two years which up until now
>has served me pretty well. However, after downloading and trying some of
>the newer gam demos such as Quake 4 and Timeshift it is apparent my current
>card is struggling to keep up. Obvious it probably time for an upgrade but
>I'm confused about the latest offerings from ATI that have come out since
>the 9800 pro. Since my MB supports AGP 8X, PCI-E is out of the question.
>Compusa is advertising a VisionTek x1300 (256MB) for $119.99 after rebates.
>http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...459&pfp=BROWSE
>For this price is there enough difference to warrant switching cards. ON
>PAPER the x1300 seems like the superior card, but I was wondering about real
>life differences.
>If it is not worth the difference than what card should I be looking at that
>will give me the "best bang for the buck" upgrade? I'd like to keep it under
>$200.
>FWIW my system: Asus p4c800-e deluxe MB, P4 3.0C processor, 1GB Corsair
>Extreme pc3700 memory, monitor is a 17" Dell Trinitron CRT and OS is WinXP
>sp2.
>
>T.I.A. for your comments
>
A thing to check is the pixel fillrate. The 9800pro has 3.04GP/s and
the x1300 has 1.8GP/s witch is the amount of pixel that it can render
per second.

http://apps.ati.com/ATIcompare/result.asp

I've purchase a x800 card from a x700pro and the difference was
noticeable. the pixel fillrate was 3.4 Gpixels (x700pro) And the Peak
Pixel Fill Rate for the x800 from msi was : 4.7GB/s.

In 3dmark05 the difference was about 900 (IE: 3050 x700pro to 3900
x800) so it was a good choice to me. getting a x800xl would be even
better like 1800 more in 3dm05 because of the 16 pipeline vs 12
pipeline that i own in the x800 one.

If you want to spend a few extra dollar you should check like other
are telling you the x850 or the x800xl witch is a real improvement in
FPS.

You can't go wrong with that...

Have fun.

I've had a Radeon 9800 pro (128mb) for the past two years which up until now
has served me pretty well. However, after downloading and trying some of
the newer gam demos such as Quake 4 and Timeshift it is apparent my current
card is struggling to keep up. Obvious it probably time for an upgrade but
I'm confused about the latest offerings from ATI that have come out since
the 9800 pro. Since my MB supports AGP 8X, PCI-E is out of the question.
Compusa is advertising a VisionTek x1300 (256MB) for $119.99 after rebates.
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...459&pfp=BROWSE
For this price is there enough difference to warrant switching cards. ON
PAPER the x1300 seems like the superior card, but I was wondering about real
life differences.
If it is not worth the difference than what card should I be looking at that
will give me the "best bang for the buck" upgrade? I'd like to keep it under
$200.
FWIW my system: Asus p4c800-e deluxe MB, P4 3.0C processor, 1GB Corsair
Extreme pc3700 memory, monitor is a 17" Dell Trinitron CRT and OS is WinXP
sp2.

T.I.A. for your comments

"ftran999" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:yOidneqz_fYBCXLeRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've had a Radeon 9800 pro (128mb) for the past two years which up until now
> has served me pretty well. However, after downloading and trying some of
> the newer gam demos such as Quake 4 and Timeshift it is apparent my current
> card is struggling to keep up. Obvious it probably time for an upgrade but
> I'm confused about the latest offerings from ATI that have come out since
> the 9800 pro. Since my MB supports AGP 8X, PCI-E is out of the question.
> Compusa is advertising a VisionTek x1300 (256MB) for $119.99 after rebates.
> http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...459&pfp=BROWSE
> For this price is there enough difference to warrant switching cards. ON
> PAPER the x1300 seems like the superior card, but I was wondering about real
> life differences.
> If it is not worth the difference than what card should I be looking at that
> will give me the "best bang for the buck" upgrade? I'd like to keep it under
> $200.
> FWIW my system: Asus p4c800-e deluxe MB, P4 3.0C processor, 1GB Corsair
> Extreme pc3700 memory, monitor is a 17" Dell Trinitron CRT and OS is WinXP
> sp2.
>
> T.I.A. for your comments

$200 is an awkward price point. For $100 more you can get
a very substantial upgrade, e.g. X800 XT or X850 XT (if you
can find a deal), or better yet, the new Nvidia-based 7800GS.
But from benchmarks I've seen nothing in that immediate price
range is worth an upgrade from a 9800 Pro. Even with an
X1600 or 6600/6800 you won't see /that/ much of a difference.

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you (P4 Northwood
3.8GHz, AGP/Radeon 9700 Pro, Abit IC7-G MB etc) and
have decided to wait a few months until prices come down a
little on the 7800GS cards, to $250 or lower.

The 9800 Pro is a good but dated card.
The X1300 (4 pipelines) has only half the pipelines of the 9800 Pro (8
pipelines).
The X1300 uses 128 bit memory access, the 9800 Pro 256 bit.
But X1300 is two generations later in design.
But the new X1600 has 12 pipelines and all the new stuff as the X1300.
The X1600 has 128 bit memory access, but 256 bit internal bus ring.
You can get the X1600 256MB AGP card for $140 at newegg.
only $20 more for 3 times the pipelines.
I just bought a used X700 256MB AGP for $100.
Now I wish I had just spent the extra $40 for the X1600.

"ftran999" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:yOidneqz_fYBCXLeRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've had a Radeon 9800 pro (128mb) for the past two years which up until
> now has served me pretty well. However, after downloading and trying some
> of the newer gam demos such as Quake 4 and Timeshift it is apparent my
> current card is struggling to keep up. Obvious it probably time for an
> upgrade but I'm confused about the latest offerings from ATI that have
> come out since the 9800 pro. Since my MB supports AGP 8X, PCI-E is out of
> the question.
> Compusa is advertising a VisionTek x1300 (256MB) for $119.99 after
> rebates.
> http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...459&pfp=BROWSE
> For this price is there enough difference to warrant switching cards. ON
> PAPER the x1300 seems like the superior card, but I was wondering about
> real life differences.
> If it is not worth the difference than what card should I be looking at
> that will give me the "best bang for the buck" upgrade? I'd like to keep
> it under $200.
> FWIW my system: Asus p4c800-e deluxe MB, P4 3.0C processor, 1GB Corsair
> Extreme pc3700 memory, monitor is a 17" Dell Trinitron CRT and OS is WinXP
> sp2.
>
> T.I.A. for your comments
>
>

If you are using on board sound, try adding a Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS
card.
I just picked up a refurbished for $57 off EBay, 30 day warranty
With its built in DSP, it will take some work load off the CPU.
You could maybe wait a little for a new graphics card, With S3 coming out
with low cost
mid range graphics cards, NVIDIA and ATI might start dropping prices?

Have you tried overclocking your 9800 Pro
try using ATI tool tray from www.guru3d.com


"ftran999" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:yOidneqz_fYBCXLeRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've had a Radeon 9800 pro (128mb) for the past two years which up until
> now has served me pretty well. However, after downloading and trying some
> of the newer gam demos such as Quake 4 and Timeshift it is apparent my
> current card is struggling to keep up. Obvious it probably time for an
> upgrade but I'm confused about the latest offerings from ATI that have
> come out since the 9800 pro. Since my MB supports AGP 8X, PCI-E is out of
> the question.
> Compusa is advertising a VisionTek x1300 (256MB) for $119.99 after
> rebates.
> http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...459&pfp=BROWSE
> For this price is there enough difference to warrant switching cards. ON
> PAPER the x1300 seems like the superior card, but I was wondering about
> real life differences.
> If it is not worth the difference than what card should I be looking at
> that will give me the "best bang for the buck" upgrade? I'd like to keep
> it under $200.
> FWIW my system: Asus p4c800-e deluxe MB, P4 3.0C processor, 1GB Corsair
> Extreme pc3700 memory, monitor is a 17" Dell Trinitron CRT and OS is WinXP
> sp2.
>
> T.I.A. for your comments
>
>

"tod" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:w2OHf.1150$(E-Mail Removed)...
> The 9800 Pro is a good but dated card.
> The X1300 (4 pipelines) has only half the pipelines of the 9800 Pro (8
> pipelines).
> The X1300 uses 128 bit memory access, the 9800 Pro 256 bit.
> But X1300 is two generations later in design.
> But the new X1600 has 12 pipelines and all the new stuff as the X1300.
> The X1600 has 128 bit memory access, but 256 bit internal bus ring.
> You can get the X1600 256MB AGP card for $140 at newegg.
> only $20 more for 3 times the pipelines.
> I just bought a used X700 256MB AGP for $100.
> Now I wish I had just spent the extra $40 for the X1600.

From benchmarks I've seen the X1600 is very disappointing.

As it's a newer design, I thing it would take them a little time
to perfect the drivers.

"Mark C." <Mark_invalid_spamblock_@rsii.net> wrote in message
news:skOHf.14506$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "tod" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:w2OHf.1150$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> The 9800 Pro is a good but dated card.
>> The X1300 (4 pipelines) has only half the pipelines of the 9800 Pro (8
>> pipelines).
>> The X1300 uses 128 bit memory access, the 9800 Pro 256 bit.
>> But X1300 is two generations later in design.
>> But the new X1600 has 12 pipelines and all the new stuff as the X1300.
>> The X1600 has 128 bit memory access, but 256 bit internal bus ring.
>> You can get the X1600 256MB AGP card for $140 at newegg.
>> only $20 more for 3 times the pipelines.
>> I just bought a used X700 256MB AGP for $100.
>> Now I wish I had just spent the extra $40 for the X1600.
>
> From benchmarks I've seen the X1600 is very disappointing.
>
>
>

"Mark C." <Mark_invalid_spamblock_@rsii.net> wrote in message
news:FxNHf.17778$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "ftran999" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:yOidneqz_fYBCXLeRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I've had a Radeon 9800 pro (128mb) for the past two years which up until
>> now
>> has served me pretty well. However, after downloading and trying some of
>> the newer gam demos such as Quake 4 and Timeshift it is apparent my
>> current
>> card is struggling to keep up. Obvious it probably time for an upgrade
>> but
>> I'm confused about the latest offerings from ATI that have come out since
>> the 9800 pro. Since my MB supports AGP 8X, PCI-E is out of the question.
>> Compusa is advertising a VisionTek x1300 (256MB) for $119.99 after
>> rebates.
>> http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...459&pfp=BROWSE
>> For this price is there enough difference to warrant switching cards. ON
>> PAPER the x1300 seems like the superior card, but I was wondering about
>> real
>> life differences.
>> If it is not worth the difference than what card should I be looking at
>> that
>> will give me the "best bang for the buck" upgrade? I'd like to keep it
>> under
>> $200.
>> FWIW my system: Asus p4c800-e deluxe MB, P4 3.0C processor, 1GB Corsair
>> Extreme pc3700 memory, monitor is a 17" Dell Trinitron CRT and OS is
>> WinXP
>> sp2.
>>
>> T.I.A. for your comments
>
> $200 is an awkward price point. For $100 more you can get
> a very substantial upgrade, e.g. X800 XT or X850 XT (if you
> can find a deal), or better yet, the new Nvidia-based 7800GS.
> But from benchmarks I've seen nothing in that immediate price
> range is worth an upgrade from a 9800 Pro. Even with an
> X1600 or 6600/6800 you won't see /that/ much of a difference.
>
> I'm pretty much in the same boat as you (P4 Northwood
> 3.8GHz, AGP/Radeon 9700 Pro, Abit IC7-G MB etc) and
> have decided to wait a few months until prices come down a
> little on the 7800GS cards, to $250 or lower.

OK, how about this?: Non gamer, use systems for business, video, TV on a 24"
wide screen display. Looking for an AIW card to replace an AIW 9000 Pro.
Can't seem to find a reasonably priced AGP AIW card with DVI output.
Obviously, since AGP is passing technology, I'd rather not spend a bundle on
the card. The AIW9800 pro new is only about $70 cheaper than the AIW x800xt,
but again, $300 on a card I may relegate to a lesser system in a year is a
bit much. ANy suggestions?

Thanks,
mxh

"mxh" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:JPUHf.55799$bF.8599@dukeread07...
>
><snip>
>
> OK, how about this?: Non gamer, use systems for business, video, TV on a
> 24" wide screen display. Looking for an AIW card to replace an AIW 9000
> Pro. Can't seem to find a reasonably priced AGP AIW card with DVI output.
> Obviously, since AGP is passing technology, I'd rather not spend a bundle
> on the card. The AIW9800 pro new is only about $70 cheaper than the AIW
> x800xt, but again, $300 on a card I may relegate to a lesser system in a
> year is a bit much. ANy suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> mxh

Oh, and also Photo editing via Photoshop CS2, and other operations that may
be forgotten at the moment, but none of them 3D.

> OK, how about this?: Non gamer, use systems for business, video, TV on a
> 24" wide screen display. Looking for an AIW card to replace an AIW 9000
> Pro. Can't seem to find a reasonably priced AGP AIW card with DVI output.
> Obviously, since AGP is passing technology, I'd rather not spend a bundle
> on the card. The AIW9800 pro new is only about $70 cheaper than the AIW
> x800xt, but again, $300 on a card I may relegate to a lesser system in a
> year is a bit much. ANy suggestions?

As I said in another thread, my brand new, never-been-out-of-the-box
AIW 9800 Pro is only $175 USD + shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=8762671998

Tom Lake