Upgrade from my Radeon 9500

[Thomas Engler]

Hi!

I want to upgrade my 9500 to a faster Radeon-card. I will pay up to 200
Euro, so which card is the one I should get in terms of "most bang for
your buck"? From my researches it seems that three cards may be an
option here:

9600XT:
+ most current GPU
+ overclocking friendly
+ cheapest of the three cards
- it seems that it is not that much faster than the 9500
- only 4 pixel pipelines and 128Bit mem interface

9800 Pro:
+ solid in every category
+ 8 pixel pipelines and 256Bit mem interface
+ highest mem speed
- most expensive among the three cards
- most cards are a bit over 200 Euro so the choices are few

9700 Pro:
+ was by far the fastest card when it came out
+ seems to get a hold of most the 9800s except for the 9800XT
+ 8 pixel pipelines and 256Bit mem interface
- for an "old" card it's not that cheap

Which one would you prefer and why?

TIA.

Thomas

 

[Kai Robinson]

Well - which version of the 9500 do you have, pro, or non-pro? How much
memory? Currently i'm running a 9500 non-pro 64mb with the extra pipelines
enabled via softmod, and it handles every game i throw at it with ease.

 

[borolad]

Well - which version of the 9500 do you have, pro, or non-pro? How much
memory? Currently i'm running a 9500 non-pro 64mb with the extra pipelines
enabled via softmod, and it handles every game i throw at it with ease.

9500np's came in 64/128 usually red PCB and always ' L ' shaped memory
if you have this type of card follow kai's advice and use the '
Omega's ' to pre-select the xtra pipe's.

BoroLad

 

[Kai Robinson]

You dont have to have the Omega's - just the regular cracked Cat 4.3's work
fine for me, i had some trouble with the omega's and custom settings in
games via shortcuts.

 

[borolad]

You dont have to have the Omega's - just the regular cracked Cat 4.3's work
fine for me, i had some trouble with the omega's and custom settings in
games via shortcuts.

Fair comment kai, several different ways to get there. You were right
to get the O/P to check his old 9500, I've come across people who
never knew they were sitting on [ 9500np ] old gold.

BoroLad

 

[Kai Robinson]

Yeah pity mine wont do the 256 bit memory interface - i could only afford
the 64mb version, the 128 L shapes went for more than 9700's

You dont have to have the Omega's - just the regular cracked Cat 4.3's work
fine for me, i had some trouble with the omega's and custom settings in
games via shortcuts.

Fair comment kai, several different ways to get there. You were right
to get the O/P to check his old 9500, I've come across people who
never knew they were sitting on [ 9500np ] old gold.

BoroLad

 

[Dark Avenger]

Hi!

I want to upgrade my 9500 to a faster Radeon-card. I will pay up to 200
Euro, so which card is the one I should get in terms of "most bang for
your buck"? From my researches it seems that three cards may be an
option here:

9600XT:
+ most current GPU
+ overclocking friendly
+ cheapest of the three cards
- it seems that it is not that much faster than the 9500
- only 4 pixel pipelines and 128Bit mem interface

9800 Pro:
+ solid in every category
+ 8 pixel pipelines and 256Bit mem interface
+ highest mem speed
- most expensive among the three cards
- most cards are a bit over 200 Euro so the choices are few

9700 Pro:
+ was by far the fastest card when it came out
+ seems to get a hold of most the 9800s except for the 9800XT
+ 8 pixel pipelines and 256Bit mem interface
- for an "old" card it's not that cheap

Which one would you prefer and why?

TIA.

Thomas

9800 Pro, sure it asks quite the budget..but it's considerable cheap
for an Ex-King. The 9800 Pro will surely purr in your system for the
coming time..and cheaper then that they are now they won't come!