Gfx Cards

[Consoles_Suck]

Hi, im goin 2 a computer fair tomorrow w/£120 pounds. Quick question, will a 256mb ati radeon 9600pro run doom 3 at 30fps? or shud i hagle for a 9800pro 128 mb?

 

[ChristopherP]

the 9800pro would struggle to run Doom 3 at 30 fps constant...

I doubt the 9600pro would be any good for high end gaming - D3 is a next gen game really only really able to be run at max eye candy with the X800/6800 series of cards...

Get the 9800 pro if you can, it's still a good card. If you see a 6600GT, get that! its better than the 9800pro at the same price... ask Imrie. It will get near 10,000 on 3DM03, the 9800Pro will get around 6,800.

Thats a fair difference

 

[floppybootstomp]

I know someone who's quite happily running Doom 3 with a 9600XT at it's lowest resolution, no stutters.

If budget is a limiting factor, try to hang out for at least a 9600XT, I don't think the Pro model would cut it.

Obviously, a 9800 Pro is a better option, I'm running Doom 3 with one of those OK, you may be able to pick up one for £120.00, but you may have to haggle a little.

And if it's a Computer Fair, I probably don't have to say this, but get the dealer's details, including a phone number.

Doom 3 is one of those games that still looks great even at low res.

For £120.00, you're probably not going to get better than a 9600XT or 9800 Pro.

Actually, Crucial do a 9600XT for £105.74, including VAT & postage, may be an option.

It's also worth mentioning that all the models I've mentioned above have 128Mb, not 256, and no, they won't run Doom 3 at a constant 30fps. But that's not really that important if all you want to do is play Doom 3.

 

[Reefsmoka]

Dont buy a graphics card because of how much memory it has. A 128MB 9800pro will out-perform a 256MB 9600pro in every game and synthetic benchmark under the sun. Its all to do with how fast the memory runs and what the GPU is .

I ran Doom 3 at over 30fps (average about 45) constantly with my old 9800pro, but it was backed up by (then) a high end system. You should really have a gig of memory (1024mb to be specific ) to be playing the high end games like Doom 3. Also Doom 3 is based on the OpenGL graphics engine, which Ati have yet to master as well as Nvidia. Though the newer drivers have increased Ati's performance in OpenGL games, there still miles behind Nvidia.

So if you can get a 6600GT (make sure its AGP, not PCI-Express) get that, but the 9800Pro isnt that far behind the 6600GT and will be a more than competent card if backed up by a good system. You will be hard pushed to get a 6600GT for less than £140 though.

 

[Consoles_Suck]

Are fx5900xt's any good? i just wanny play doom 3 and hl2. Oh and 1 problem, my Monitor is a 20inch SONY multiscan lol, will that effect games?. I can play return to castle wolfeinstein with my fx5200 but it only looks any good at 1280x1024 lol

 

[floppybootstomp]

Are fx5900xt's any good?

No.

The FX5900 is almost on level pegging with a 9800 Pro though. And it overclocks well.

 

[Consoles_Suck]

So a 5900xt wud b as good as a 9800pro?. Do u think i shud wait and save 4 a bit?

 

[floppybootstomp]

So a 5900xt wud b as good as a 9800pro?. Do u think i shud wait and save 4 a bit?

No, an FX 5900 is almost as good as a 9800 Pro, the FX5900XT is a downgraded FX5900.

But really, if you're going to wait, try and get a little more cash and go for the 6600GT.

Other than that, stick with a 9800 Pro. For the money you have, it's the best option, in my opinion, considering the available budget.

 

[Consoles_Suck]

Yay, i am now the owner of a shiny new 6600gt . Ty for all the help, when i got it it was running at 500/900 and i think 6600gt's are meant to be 500/1000 so i overclocked it a little. Now theres one big problem, my 350w stock psu smells like fire and my pc keeps reseting due to it being to hot, my processor was running at 67oc the other day!

Please can u reccommend an appropriate psu and cooling equiptment

 

[crazylegs]

Congrats on buying the 6600gt that card is the business, and i think you made the right decision, and as for the psu something like an aerocool 450w would be more than adequate for your setup now, they are super reliable and can punch out stated wattage consistantly which is what your setup now needs with that gfx card.....
By the way how much were you able to get the 6600gt for at the fair...

 

[Consoles_Suck]

Thx man i think i gotta pretty sweet rig now, ill get one of them psu's as soon as i can.

My card was £145 which i think is pretty good for a full retail version and they had 9800pro's for £115 and 5900xt's for £118

Do u know anything about water cooling? is it safe?

 

[floppybootstomp]

For cooling, check out the Gigabyte Pro 3D cooler, costs about £30.00, see my review on this Forum.

Best cooler I've ever used.

For PSU's, consider Antec, Tagan & Enermax, not less than 400 watts.

A little pricier than some, but all well worth it.

 

[Consoles_Suck]

So i dont needs water cooling, i looked at ur review looks great. Are Hiper psu's any good there is a 525w Psu from Hiper on Ocuk for £50 would that b any good?

 

[floppybootstomp]

So i dont needs water cooling, i looked at ur review looks great. Are Hiper psu's any good there is a 525w Psu from Hiper on Ocuk for £50 would that b any good?

I'm not familiar with Hiper PSU's, tbh, never heard of them.

Try doing a Google for some reviews.

 

[Reefsmoka]

From what ive read, seen and heard Hiper are up there with Antec, Enermax and OCZ in the PSU world. I seen that 525w PSU, and its fully ATX 2.2 compatible, which is pretty new! Comes in a nice box too .

 

[ChristopherP]

Whats ATX 2.2?