Best card for $150??????????????

NcBaller1985 · Aug 30, 2003

What is the best graphics card I could get for $150??? Not for me, but my friend is searching around and can't decide. Thanks.

kfunk · Aug 31, 2003

Save $50 and get TI-4200. Overclock it ofcos

Zork · Aug 31, 2003

I would recommend a radeon 9500np, and if he would get lucky enough to get one that softmodded to 9700 that would be a plus, other wise just overclock the heck out of it. Either way its a great all around card.

treepop · Aug 31, 2003

if I am not mistaken.....alot of the radeon9500np's can be softmodded into 9500pro's.....anyone know the chance of hitting 9500pro witha 9500np?

Damian · Aug 31, 2003

It depends on which 9500np you're talking about. Most 9500nps have 128-bit RAM (not arranged in an "L"-shape) and can only be modded to 9500pros. The rarer, older ones have 256-bit ones (in an "L"-shape) and those can be modded to 9700nps. There is no 9500np that can mod to either because that is logically impossible. I'd say the chance of modding a 128-bit 9500np to a 9500pro is exactly the same as the chance of modding a 256-bit 9500np to a 9700pro. Which is, I think, is about 50%, maybe less. Of course, percentages are impossible to determine, so don't go looking for any.

I would recommend a radeon 9500np, and if he would get lucky enough to get one that softmodded to 9700 that would be a plus, other wise just overclock the heck out of it. Either way its a great all around card.

256-bit 9500nps are EXTREMELY rare nowadays; and if you can get one, usually you'll have to pay $190+ for it. They're more of a collector's item now. 128-bit 9500nps perform very badly and can't be modded to 9700s. Unless you're feeling VERY lucky and don't mind buying a card that's easily beaten by a ti4200 in almost every way (except, of course, for FSAA/aniso) in case the mod doesn't work, I'd say stay away.

$150 is not a good price point for video cards. Either save $70 and get a ti4200, or spend $70 more and get a Radeon 9700np.

TheGr8s1 · Aug 31, 2003

For that price I would agree that u don't have much to chose from. There are great cards in the budget category. ATI 8500, 9000, 9100, and 9200. Nvidia Ti4200 and Geforce 3 Ti500. All those cards I believe are slight improvements over that POS 5200 u have in your signature. My .02.

Overclocker550 · Aug 31, 2003

a ti4200 cant be beat and for about half the price. save your friend good money and get that. Im gonna break 15k on my ti4200 once my new ram arrives. avoid anything other than an 8500 or 9800 in radeon terms

snyper1982 · Sep 1, 2003

what about the 9600 pro? it may be a little slower than a 9500pro at stock, but i hear it overclocks VERY well, and it will definately be faster than a ti4200. especialy with aniso and aa. which is really the ony reasons to spend money on the newer cards.

Overclocker550 · Sep 1, 2003

an oced ti4200 will eat an oced 9600 pro. however not with aa/af on

tuskenraider · Sep 1, 2003

^^^ Exactly, you want raw power get a Ti4200 and OC it. You want pretty good power but much better visuals get an 9600Pro.
I've personally had a 4200 and a 9500 Pro and the Ati card will beat it all around, 9600's are not as fast, I'd still go with it, but I think you could find a 9500Pro somewhere for $150 if you look hard enough.

snyper1982 · Sep 2, 2003

Overclocker550 said:
an oced ti4200 will eat an oced 9600 pro. however not with aa/af on

you might want to rethink you reasoning here on this one here is a link to some benchies, and i dont consider 10 fps in ut2003 at 1024x768 "eating" it, but i DO consider getting nearly TWICE the framerates of the ti4200 with fsaa and aniso on to be "eating" it. lol here is the linkies, the ti4200 never pulls to far ahead of the 9600, but there are MANY times when the 9600 pulls FAR ahead of the ti4200 http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030416/radeon_9600-07.html

funko · Sep 2, 2003

another vote for getting a 9600pro and o/cing it to the max, and maybe throing in an improved heatsink/fan combo if it fits in...

it doesnt get destroyed by 4200's, maybe edged out here and tehre, but once the games of this fall/winter come out, you'll likely be able to turn on more visual effects than the 4200 which would take a bigger hit with thnose effects, and i'm not talking about only aa and as filtering, espeically next year.

but then again the 4200 can be had for under $100 and can o/c nicely if you get one with 3.3ns chips its a win/win situation

Overclocker550 · Sep 2, 2003

i still am not paying double the price for a 9600 pro, I can get a ti4200 for half the price and without aa/af the ti4200 wins. I dont use aa/af so its a moot point

snyper1982 · Sep 3, 2003

its not a moot point, did you look at the beches? the ti4200 does not WIN. and im not asking you to pay twice the price for it, i was giving an option. the ti4200 and the 9600pro are pretty much neck and neck, until aa and aniso are turned on, then the 9600 trounces it. and the REASON you dont use aa and aniso is because the card you use you really dont have an option. you cant really get playable framerates with it, i know i have owned ti4200s in the past. im not trying to convince you of anything, im helping someone who asked a question, and im giving him some simple facts, and letting him make up his mind on his own, im not just saying the 9600 is better, because i LIKE TO play with eye candy, im backing it up with facts.

dropadrop · Sep 3, 2003

If they are that close at stock speeds, would'nt the 9600 stomp all over the 4200 once both are overclocked? I've understood that the 9600pro overclocks alot.

Captain Hilts · Sep 3, 2003

Get a 9500 Pro if you can find one, otherwise get a 9600 Pro. Both are FAR better than a Ti4200, since you'll be playing with quality settings on most of the time anyway (why wouldn't you?). Furthermore, they should be good enough for a fair amount of DX9 titles, which the Ti4200 will obviously not be.

Overclocker550 · Sep 3, 2003

I wont argue, to each its own. and yes ive seen aa/af and I cant really tell the difference except the edges are blurry

and when dx9 titles come out and my ti4200 doesnt cut it, id just go strait for a 9800 when prices on them drop more. Its so much faster than a 9600 pro, even without aa/af

snyper1982 · Sep 3, 2003

your not getting it though, he is asking for which card is better RIGHT NOW, not what card you are using, or what card you would buy when the prices drop. he asked what the best card is for 150. and from what i have seen, the ti4200 is a good card and cheaper, but for tomorrows games, the 9600 is better but more expensive. now he can choose what he wants to do. when you just say get a ti4200, that doesnt help.

NcBaller1985 · Sep 3, 2003

snyper1982 has a point...but thanks everyone. He went with a 9600...just thought you might want to know the final decsion.

nauqneyugn · Sep 3, 2003

Good, it was the right choice.

Best card for $150??????????????

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