Think I want a 9700 but when!???

[h0mersimps0n]

I read somewhere the ATI 9700's are hitting the shelves Aug 19th. Anyone confirm this? I can't believe it but I think I might actually change religions and go ATI. My first EVER card was an ATI Xpert 98, then I had a tnt2 ultra, gf2 ultra and here I am... I've enjoyed my nvidia cards and SPECIALLY because nvidia works so hard on improving their drivers. I hope ATI can match up... anyone want to instill some confidence and hold my hand through this religion change ;-)

[PreservedSwine]

As I understand it, ATI is shipping the R9700 to vendors on the 19th. The vendors should have the cards on their own shelves within a few days to maybe 10 days? I'm not to sure how long it takes to get a new product on the shlef, I guess it just depends on the particular retailer.

My best bet, they will be available no later than the end of this month.:burn:

[Coolio]

Originally posted by PreservedSwine
As I understand it, ATI is shipping the R9700 to vendors on the 19th. The vendors should have the cards on their own shelves within a few days to maybe 10 days? I'm not to sure how long it takes to get a new product on the shlef, I guess it just depends on the particular retailer.

My best bet, they will be available no later than the end of this month.:burn:

THat card is gonna cost big bucks though, $399 US...

[new_novice]

i truly doubt if you can see a different between the new ATI and Ge4 4200, frame rates yeah, but visually, games are max out.

[skid]

Dude convert to ATI, you will be pleased. That new 9700 Pro has 256 bit DDR, 128 bit color, dual 400 Mhz ramdacs, clocked at 325/620, 8 pipeline, AGP 8x, fully directx 9 compatible,etc,etc,etc

nVidia is behind they won't have there new gpu out till prolly first of next year. They prolly didn't count on ATI 's new r300 being so awsome...

As for games they just keep requireing more and more video card power, and fancy effects. A 9700 will give you that for good long while where as the GF4 series will not.

[Jimingle10]

ge4 and the new ati are both great cards, but no game on the market currently uses the full potential of a ge4...i think i would wait till those prices fall a bit from 399 as it is almost pointless to grab one now, cant even use that technology yet =/

[GoldenTiger]

Originally posted by Jimingle10
ge4 and the new ati are both great cards, but no game on the market currently uses the full potential of a ge4...i think i would wait till those prices fall a bit from 399 as it is almost pointless to grab one now, cant even use that technology yet =/


Actually yeah they do. Turn up aniso and fsaa to full, maxed options, 1600x1200 and the games will CRAWL even on an R9700 or Ti4600. It is NOT pointless to get top of the line. Aniso is like taking away vaseline from the screen and fsaa takes away the ripped-paper edges from all over the screen.

[Coolio]

Here are some sumbers for ya, I got them from an article form Toms hardware where ATI was running a GF4 Ti4600 and a Rad 9700 prototype for comparison on 3dmark 2001 SE on a P4 2.5 ghz machine..

Without Antialiasing etc:

GF4ti4600: 11 400 marks

Rad 9700: 14 000 marks


With Anti-aliasing and filtering:

GF4Ti 4600: 4500

Rad 9700: 10 000


SO it seems that the Radeon may not seem as good with all the features off but when you turn on all the quality enhancing features, the Radeon 9700 seems to perform twice as well.

Well, this was form the article but I ain't sure weather or not to believe them.

here is the article (http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/02q3/020718/radeon9700-12.html)