Upgrading an ATI 9600 Pro

[Bobby]

I have an Athlon 64 3000+ CPU with 512MB RAM (PC3200) and an ATI 9600 Pro
gfx card which (I presume) will be fine for games (including Half Life 2).

But my son is a keen gamer and needs to upgrade his gfx card to play HL2 (he
is currently using a GeForce 3 card). I am thinking of giving him my 9600
Pro.

So, what card should I buy to replace it (on my system)? Money is tight and
I have an AGP slot (only) so I can't afford a top of the range card. Would a
9600 XT be much better than what I have? What about a low-end 9800?

Suggestions appreciated.

Cheers.

Bobby

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Visit http://www.newegg.com/app/manufact.asp?catalog=48&DEPA=1
and read the buyer's reviews.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have an Athlon 64 3000+ CPU with 512MB RAM (PC3200) and an ATI 9600 Pro
| gfx card which (I presume) will be fine for games (including Half Life 2).
|
| But my son is a keen gamer and needs to upgrade his gfx card to play HL2 (he
| is currently using a GeForce 3 card). I am thinking of giving him my 9600
| Pro.
|
| So, what card should I buy to replace it (on my system)? Money is tight and
| I have an AGP slot (only) so I can't afford a top of the range card. Would a
| 9600 XT be much better than what I have? What about a low-end 9800?
|
| Suggestions appreciated.
|
| Cheers.
|
| Bobby

 

[Shawk]

I have an Athlon 64 3000+ CPU with 512MB RAM (PC3200) and an ATI 9600 Pro
gfx card which (I presume) will be fine for games (including Half Life 2).

But my son is a keen gamer and needs to upgrade his gfx card to play HL2 (he
is currently using a GeForce 3 card). I am thinking of giving him my 9600
Pro.

So, what card should I buy to replace it (on my system)? Money is tight and
I have an AGP slot (only) so I can't afford a top of the range card. Would a
9600 XT be much better than what I have? What about a low-end 9800?

Suggestions appreciated.

Cheers.

Bobby

Look at a 9800Pro (128meg, 256 bit) for around £140 UKP. You'll notice
the difference (which you wouldnt really with the 9600XT). Dont go for
the cheaper 128meg, 128bit 9800. Shaun

 

[Frodoh]

Seems like the 128 meg, 256BIT Geforce 5900 XT and Radeon 9800 Pro are the
current "sweet spot" for anybody looking for a powerful budget card. Just
make sure you ivest in the 256bit versions and don't be fooled by the 128bit
versions. Also, don't get a Sapphire brand card because supposedly ... umm
... no good. Not sure why.

I am basically waiting until the 256 Bit 9800 Pro w/ 128 megs of ram is
around $170 and then I will throw it into my AMD 1800XP machine and hope for
the best.

I have no problem letting Doom 3 and Half Life 2 wait - and I refuse to
build another damn system to play them! And I refuse to buy a $400 video
card!!

Grumble ...

;(

 

[S.Sengupta]

Good review here:-
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030306/

regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[Les Herrman]

Good luck finding the 256 mb version of the 9800 pro. Not that many
of them were made it seems and finding one is almost impossible.
Especially now that ATI is getting ready to come out with the X800.

 

[Frodoh]

I said 128 meg version, 256BIT

Not the 256 meg version

 

[Ctal]

Seems like the 128 meg, 256BIT Geforce 5900 XT and Radeon 9800 Pro are the
current "sweet spot" for anybody looking for a powerful budget card. Just
make sure you ivest in the 256bit versions and don't be fooled by the
128bit versions. Also, don't get a Sapphire brand card because supposedly
... umm .. no good. Not sure why.

I am basically waiting until the 256 Bit 9800 Pro w/ 128 megs of ram is
around $170 and then I will throw it into my AMD 1800XP machine and hope
for the best.

I have no problem letting Doom 3 and Half Life 2 wait - and I refuse to
build another damn system to play them! And I refuse to buy a $400 video
card!!

Sounds like good advice and about what I'm waiting on. Best deal on newegg
atm is $189 and it's been around there for over a month. I expected this
card to drop a little more with the introduction of the 9800xt and x800
models. Maybe as we get a little closer to Christmas.

My 9600Pro runs Doom3 Ok but I will wait on the 9800Pro to pick up HL2.

 

[Frodoh]

I assume you mean this card for $189

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-164-025&depa=1

yeah looks like a decent deal, if you can find one. Doesn't seem like
they're in stock, because I am sure ATI wants to push their $300 - $400
offerings.

I wouldn't be suprised if ATI and Nvidia start discontinuing older product
lines in the next few months.

 

[kony]

Sounds like good advice and about what I'm waiting on. Best deal on newegg
atm is $189 and it's been around there for over a month. I expected this
card to drop a little more with the introduction of the 9800xt and x800
models. Maybe as we get a little closer to Christmas.

My 9600Pro runs Doom3 Ok but I will wait on the 9800Pro to pick up HL2.

HL2 is more forgiving than Doom3, simply run it in DX8 or
DX7 codepath till you have a better card, a 9600Pro
shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Shawk]

Sounds like good advice and about what I'm waiting on. Best deal on newegg
atm is $189 and it's been around there for over a month. I expected this
card to drop a little more with the introduction of the 9800xt and x800
models. Maybe as we get a little closer to Christmas.

My 9600Pro runs Doom3 Ok but I will wait on the 9800Pro to pick up HL2.

Do you know that the 9600Pro will run HL2 with no probs whatsoever? HL2
is much less resource hungry than D3. Shaun

 

[Ctal]

Do you know that the 9600Pro will run HL2 with no probs whatsoever? HL2
is much less resource hungry than D3. Shaun

Yeah, I had heard that, I've even seen a non tech site review done with a
Nvidia 5200 and they talked about the graphics Still gonnna wait though,
the other thing I've been holding out for is a 5.1 sound setup. I'm sure to
be missing some of Doom3 now and I read that 5.1 is almost a must with HL2.

 

[SteveK]

I have an Athlon 64 3000+ CPU with 512MB RAM (PC3200) and an ATI 9600 Pro
gfx card which (I presume) will be fine for games (including Half Life 2).

But my son is a keen gamer and needs to upgrade his gfx card to play HL2
(he is currently using a GeForce 3 card). I am thinking of giving him my
9600 Pro.

So, what card should I buy to replace it (on my system)? Money is tight
and I have an AGP slot (only) so I can't afford a top of the range card.
Would a 9600 XT be much better than what I have? What about a low-end
9800?
Suggestions appreciated.

running here a Gecube 9600Pro 256MB - Doom3 runs absolutely smooth in
1024x768x32 high-detail mode. I think this card is best bang for bux...

 

[Bobby]

Yes, it's a great (and cheap) card.

I wouldn't think about changing it if it wasn't for my son wanting a better
card.

Maybe I should just upgrade to a 256Mb 9600 Pro? They're exceptionally cheap
right now.

 

[Zuke]

Hello,
From what I've read, the new PCI bus will make no difference in game
performance for either HL2 or DOOM3. AGP is fine. Your Athlon 64 is the best
upgrade already.

Pundits in the game rags say more RAM for those huge outdoor maps in Far Cry
and HL2, not so much for the indoor DOOM3.

ATI's product is best for HL2, by 20%, per the tech sites and game rags.

So, splurge on the latest GPU with 256MB of RAM.

FYI: Tom's Hardware or ExtremeTech did a comparison of 128MB versus 256MB
cards on the 9600 and lower GPU's and found there to be little gain in
performance. This did not include ATI's X800 card, whose bus apparently was
designed with the 256MB in mind.