Best video card in the 200-250 range?

[MikeHovey]

I was gonna stick to the basics and maybe get a ATI 9800 Pro 128mb but is there something in that category with better performance?

[Dc5e]

there was a 9800 pro for $190, saw this off techbargains.com

Radeon 9800 Pro $189.95, Mar 6
Limited quantities. Gateway Accessory Store has the ATI Radeon 9800 pro 128MB for only $189.95 after rebate, free shipping using code: NOSHIPA Item 6612750

$30 rebate Exp 3/31/04

http://accessories.gateway.com/AccessoryStore/PC+Accessories_316441/Graphics+_A1_+Video_381951/Graphics+Cards_316685/AGP+Graphics+Cards_316688/2154967_proddetail.htm?ref=merch

I'd grab it while they still have them

[theoneinventor]

EVGA GeForce FX 5900 128MB DDR AGP8X w/ CRT TVO DVI $181

Gainward Nvidia GeForce FX 5900 8X AGP 256MB CRT/DVI/TV $303

i found this on pricewatch.com. what's funny is that a geforce fx 5800 is $396 on pricewatch. I didn't see anything in-between 2 and 3 hundred dollars because going from 128 mb to 256 ussually almost doubled the price. you could check newegg.com

[tom10167]

Originally posted by MikeHovey
I was gonna stick to the basics and maybe get a ATI 9800 Pro 128mb but is there something in that category with better performance?


No.

[Evnas]

9800 Pro is the best in that range. Not till you get up the the 9800XT is there anything better

[eMpAtHy112]

Originally posted by Evnas
9800 Pro is the best in that range. Not till you get up the the 9800XT is there anything better

i also say 9800pro. and since its 200ish..u can get a vga silencer..lap it..pull off copper shim..throw on some artic silver 5 or ceramique..and overclock it..and if u have extra money..u can invest in ram sinks..people get like 5mhz oc on average..some have gotten upwards of 20mhz..

[Overclocker550]

9800 pro for sure. owns any fx card baaaaaaaadly

[LogRus]

Get THIS ATi Radeon 9800 Pro from NewEgg.com!! (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&catalog=48&depa=1). It's only $210!

You won't be dissapointed, thats for sure! Unless your motherboard would be Abit VT7 :)

[TruckyJ]

Originally posted by LogRus
Get THIS ATi Radeon 9800 Pro from NewEgg.com!! (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&catalog=48&depa=1). It's only $210!

You won't be dissapointed, thats for sure! Unless your motherboard would be Abit VT7 :)


Right on, its a great buy. Thats the card to buy right now.

[Black_Paladin]

Originally posted by Evnas
9800 Pro is the best in that range. Not till you get up the the 9800XT is there anything better

I second this.

[Falcon-K]

Originally posted by Black_Paladin


I second this.


and i third what evnas said. you cant beat a 9800 pro for under 200

[Overclocker550]

yea its a good deal as is, but I already have a nice card so no need for me to upgrade

[Black_Paladin]

Originally posted by Overclocker550
yea its a good deal as is, but I already have a nice card so no need for me to upgrade

Our posts were directed at MikeHovey's question and we were not suggesting a card to YOU!

But seriously, you should get that 9500 non-pro, mod it to a 9700 pro and enjoy some of the *current* (not 5 years old) games. :)

[Overclocker550]

his card is a 9500 pro, about half the speed of a 9800 pro. I wont compare to a ti4200 as not to elict flames but I just dont want a 9500 pro

[TruckyJ]

Originally posted by Overclocker550
his card is a 9500 pro, about half the speed of a 9800 pro. I wont compare to a ti4200 as not to elict flames but I just dont want a 9500 pro


I can't agree with that statement whatsoever. I've owned a 9500pro, and I have a 9700pro running at slightly over 9800pro speeds, and I tell you the truth when I say it isn't double the speed. It is without question a faster card but the difference in speed results from double the memory bandwidth rather than double the speed.

This extra memory bandwidth is not always utilized. The 9500pro I had was not half the speed of my OC'd 9700 in far cry (demo), unreal tournament, halo, kotor....blah blah blah. Anyways, Would I rather have a 9700/9800 level card? You bet. Does this result in "double the speed"? Not at all.

Be careful with the blanket statements.

[Evnas]

Originally posted by Overclocker550
his card is a 9500 pro, about half the speed of a 9800 pro. I wont compare to a ti4200 as not to elict flames but I just dont want a 9500 pro

Double the bandwidth does not mean double the speed :rolleyes: Toss in the fact that memory bandwidth is losing the sway it once had as games use more and more pixel/vertex shaders to do the job, and the lessens the gap even more