What Should Upgrade should get?

[Etenral_Oz]

Hey guys, last year i purchased a full system in component form and build it up, it was brilliant. but unfortunaly for me it was right before the new wave of new gen GFX cards a came on the go.

 

anyway im after a new one now. but im not sure which one i should get.

 

currently im with ATi's Radeon 9800XT

 

and as the "New wave" of GFX cards is on its way, pretty soon the X800/X850 and 6800 series cards will be reduced in price a little,

 

i only have an AGP bus, not PCX so which one do you guys think

 

im looking for

 

Reliability, my current cards frequently needing a refresh in drivers becasue they become currupt on a monthly asis.

 

Speed, i want really good speed but ive read they are both a close call

 

 

Value, i want a card which is fast but a resonably priced, not like 400 quid or something.

 

 

 

ive seen that San Andreas recomments the 6800 Series as does Doom 3 and Far Cry (especially SM3.0)

 

but at the same time ATi titles like Half Life2 like the ATi cards.

 

which is an overall winner

 

im not really too botherd about a 1 or 2 fps gain here or there, on average which one in your experience seems better?

 

 

 

for example: is there any1 who has a 6800 series card who can give me some light on them?

same for X800/850

[Evan05]

I'm currently running a nVidia GeForce 6600 GT AGP Edition and I couldn't be happier with my in-game performance. I can play Half Life 2, CS: Source, Doom III, Doom III: ROE and GTA: San Andreas all with the graphics completely maxed out with 60+ FPS. Although I must also add the rest of my PC backs my graphics card up, I recommend it, it's an excellent card, the graphics are astonishing!

[darknyt6]

I just went from a 9700 Pro to a 6800 GT. The difference in games has been astounding, but ONLY at higher resolutions and AA/AF. At 1024x768 I actually got lower fps in HL2.

 

But now I can play HL2 at 1600x1200, max detail, and 4xAA/8XAF perfectly smooth. Sames goes for Doom 3 at 1600x1200 Ultra Quality. GTA:SA runs great at 1600x1200, max detail, and 3 AA.

 

And that's with me being pretty CPU bottlenecked by my 2800+ XP Barton.

 

It does depend on what CPU you have - some research would be in order. Try the usual suspects: [H]ard|OCP, Anandtech, etc.

 

 

Evan05: I'm currently running a nVidia GeForce 6600 GT AGP Edition and I couldn't be happier with my in-game performance. I can play Half Life 2, CS: Source, Doom III, Doom III: ROE and GTA: San Andreas all with the graphics completely maxed out with 60+ FPS. Although I must also add the rest of my PC backs my graphics card up, I recommend it, it's an excellent card, the graphics are astonishing! wink.gif

 

I'm assuming you don't mean 1600x1200 or high AA/AF since benchmarks don't really bear out what you're saying about the 6600 GT. The results you point to are more typical of a 6800 GT.

Edited June 11, 2005 by darknyt6

[Neo-K 182]

this is for SAN ANDREAS PC CHAT ONLY.

 

if you have any PC questions please use the PC Chat.

 

*reported*

[greengiant]

 

I'm assuming you don't mean 1600x1200 or high AA/AF since benchmarks don't really bear out what you're saying about the 6600 GT. The results you point to are more typical of a 6800 GT.

 

well I have the same card I get about the same performance but I only use 1024X768 or 1280X1024, and 2X or 4X AA depending on the game AF dosent change performance much so I just leave it at 16X. anything over 1280X1024 it struggles

[Majestic]

I say skip a generation and get a new card when next gen cards come out (i.e. soon)

[Bond996]

I say skip a generation and get a new card when next gen cards come out (i.e. soon)

Whens the next gen batch due out from nVidia and ATI? I just ordered a new computer with a 6600GT in it today, so don't make me regret that already.

[darknyt6]

I say skip a generation and get a new card when next gen cards come out (i.e. soon)

Whens the next gen batch due out from nVidia and ATI? I just ordered a new computer with a 6600GT in it today, so don't make me regret that already.

If 6600 GT is more your price range, then the new cards won't really be an option. They would only serve to lower the price of the installed card base. A 6800 series card is really where the Nvidia sweet spot is at right now, whereas 6600 GT is a nice mid-range budget card.

 

If you're shopping budget, no need to have buyers remorse when the new cards come out.

[Bond996]

I say skip a generation and get a new card when next gen cards come out (i.e. soon)

Whens the next gen batch due out from nVidia and ATI? I just ordered a new computer with a 6600GT in it today, so don't make me regret that already.

If 6600 GT is more your price range, then the new cards won't really be an option. They would only serve to lower the price of the installed card base. A 6800 series card is really where the Nvidia sweet spot is at right now, whereas 6600 GT is a nice mid-range budget card.

 

If you're shopping budget, no need to have buyers remorse when the new cards come out.

Yea I did some research and found that the G70 is coming out end of June/July as the 7800 Series. The $550 pricepoint doesn't interest me however. Keeping upgrades in mind with my new rig I did configure it SLI-ready, so I've got the board, a good card for it, and WAY more then enough power, so when my performance drops too much in the future, I can pop in another by tehn, $100 6600GT, or consider a new cheap SLI card that might overpower a 6600GT.

[Majestic]

1-2 months i guess