ComPuterFreak90
Disabled
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2004
Video Card Guide
MY VIDEO CARD GUIDE
If you are having are hard time deciding on a video card to buy
replacing an old one, especially something like a ,"Ti4200," then your in luck.
This post will help you.
1.- What to consider
How much performance do I need and what for
How much can I spend?
Is it worth it to get a little lower end card to do something like a ram
upgrade etc?
How long do I plan on keeping the card?
Will I overclock it and if so, how much?
Am I for Nvidia,Ati, or even Matrox?
2.- Take your time!
If a site like newegg has something like a, "ONE DAY SALE," and the price is l
owered dramatically, don't believe it. About a week ago, Newegg droped the
9800PRO AIW 128MB from I think $245 to $239 and it said, " One day sale."
Its still the same price now. Keep in mind that things that say, " One day
sale," means the distributor has a hard time selling it item. Also, RESEARCH
before you buy. Trust me, you don't research and ask people about the card
who are owners and own it how the card is, then you are taking a SERIOUS
gamble.
3.- My video card helper
Perhaps, this will help everyone on the site on which video card to choose for
them whether upgrading or building a new system
ATI CARDS
9200- A ok card but doesn't support Direct X 9 to begin with. You can't
have that. Get a 5200 or 5200 ULTRA instead. This card just doesn't have
enough pep but the 5200 isnt a great choice either.
9500-9700- Preety good cards, and, support direct x 9. Not a bad deal for
the money, especially the 9700PRO. Those are nice cards but not high-end
like they first were when they came out almost 3 years ago I believe. The
9600 Series is the middle of ATI's lineup offering fair performance at an
excellence price. It crushes Nvidia's FX series.
9800 series- This is the card everyone is talking about. 2 years ago it was
$500 and now, sub $200. These are very nice cards but don't support
Pixelshader 3.0 which is bad for future games if you plan on keeping the
card. Also, these cards get HOT, so make sure you have plenty of cooling.
Adding a VGA silencer to one of these cards isnt a bad idea. If PS 3.0
doesn't bother you, go for it, but keep in mind you are getting old
archetecture but not yet ancient. Pixel shader 3.0 won't be activated for a while but when it is if you plan on keeping the card, it will come in handy with that extra support. Also be advised that if you get a 9800PRO or 9800NP and you have proper cooling, its preety easy to flash it to a 9800XT.
x800-x850- The x800 is also a great deal with 12-16 pipelines, but, where is
PS3. All that money and no PS3 support? Cmon, I think the 6800 series that
Nvidia makes is certainly a much better choice. But, the cards also get VERY
Hot but are top top of the line. Phenomenal image quality and super fast.
ATI though please note addressed the PS3 problem when the will release the
x850 series. Basically from what I've heard, the x850 is a supercharged x800
with PS3 support. I think that the x850 beats the 6800 series preety badly
but these babys get HOTT! So becareful, have lots of cooling
Nvidia
Mx-5200- run of the mill, not so great but a bang for buck. Depends on what you're doing.
5500-5900 Same image quality as 5200, just faster and faster and faster
after each model in the FX series.
6200-6600 series- GREAT cards! Bang for buck, image quality. Great middle-
highend cards (the 6600GT and on atleast). Keep in mind that the 6600GT
AGP or PCI-E are EXCELLENT choices.
6800 - The 6800 is gonna be replaced with the 6600GT but still not a bad
card if all you are looking for is image quality. the 6800GT is phenomenal with
image quality and speed. Also gets very HOT! The 6800 Ultra no offence
but in my opinion is a waste of $. Its like a overclocked 6800GT. A 6800LE can be unlocked with the extra pipes to make it to a 6800NU sometimes depending on the manufacturer and a 6800NU can also unlock pipes very easily to make it like a 6800GT.
OVERCLOCKING TIPS
Tip Number 1- Don't overclock a card more than over 65 Megahertz. I
learned the lesson when I had a 5200 Ultra and it fryed.
Tip Number 2- Make sure your card can overclock. ATI cards have a
tendency to softmod really easily like a 9800NP or a 9800PRO into XT but d
don't overclock nearly as well as Nvidia cards. Nvidia cards can't be
softmodded to my intelligence but I know the 5900XT or a 5900 sometimes
will softmod to a 5950 Ultra but doesn't always work.
Tip Number 3- Use Coolbits 3. Best overclocking software and most reliable.
Lets you test your settings to see if it will work or not but be aware that it is not always 100% accurate.
GOOD MANUFACTURERS
Sapphire
EVGA
Chaintech
Asus
Abit
XFX
ATI
BFG
AOPEN
ALTABARTON
CONNECT 3D
ELSA
GAINWARD
GIGABYTE
HIGHTECH
INFOTEK (they are ok but not the best)
LEADTEK
MSI
PROLINK
PNY (Ok but for the highest price in mediocore quality its not worth it)
Chelistica
Powercolor is ok. They softmod very easily be advised though.
BAD MANUFACTURERS
Jaton
Jetway
Amigo
Biostar
Transcend
Visiontek (But not the worst)
I hoped I helped you with my guide.
MY VIDEO CARD GUIDE
If you are having are hard time deciding on a video card to buy
replacing an old one, especially something like a ,"Ti4200," then your in luck.
This post will help you.
1.- What to consider
How much performance do I need and what for
How much can I spend?
Is it worth it to get a little lower end card to do something like a ram
upgrade etc?
How long do I plan on keeping the card?
Will I overclock it and if so, how much?
Am I for Nvidia,Ati, or even Matrox?
2.- Take your time!
If a site like newegg has something like a, "ONE DAY SALE," and the price is l
owered dramatically, don't believe it. About a week ago, Newegg droped the
9800PRO AIW 128MB from I think $245 to $239 and it said, " One day sale."
Its still the same price now. Keep in mind that things that say, " One day
sale," means the distributor has a hard time selling it item. Also, RESEARCH
before you buy. Trust me, you don't research and ask people about the card
who are owners and own it how the card is, then you are taking a SERIOUS
gamble.
3.- My video card helper
Perhaps, this will help everyone on the site on which video card to choose for
them whether upgrading or building a new system
ATI CARDS
9200- A ok card but doesn't support Direct X 9 to begin with. You can't
have that. Get a 5200 or 5200 ULTRA instead. This card just doesn't have
enough pep but the 5200 isnt a great choice either.
9500-9700- Preety good cards, and, support direct x 9. Not a bad deal for
the money, especially the 9700PRO. Those are nice cards but not high-end
like they first were when they came out almost 3 years ago I believe. The
9600 Series is the middle of ATI's lineup offering fair performance at an
excellence price. It crushes Nvidia's FX series.
9800 series- This is the card everyone is talking about. 2 years ago it was
$500 and now, sub $200. These are very nice cards but don't support
Pixelshader 3.0 which is bad for future games if you plan on keeping the
card. Also, these cards get HOT, so make sure you have plenty of cooling.
Adding a VGA silencer to one of these cards isnt a bad idea. If PS 3.0
doesn't bother you, go for it, but keep in mind you are getting old
archetecture but not yet ancient. Pixel shader 3.0 won't be activated for a while but when it is if you plan on keeping the card, it will come in handy with that extra support. Also be advised that if you get a 9800PRO or 9800NP and you have proper cooling, its preety easy to flash it to a 9800XT.
x800-x850- The x800 is also a great deal with 12-16 pipelines, but, where is
PS3. All that money and no PS3 support? Cmon, I think the 6800 series that
Nvidia makes is certainly a much better choice. But, the cards also get VERY
Hot but are top top of the line. Phenomenal image quality and super fast.
ATI though please note addressed the PS3 problem when the will release the
x850 series. Basically from what I've heard, the x850 is a supercharged x800
with PS3 support. I think that the x850 beats the 6800 series preety badly
but these babys get HOTT! So becareful, have lots of cooling
Nvidia
Mx-5200- run of the mill, not so great but a bang for buck. Depends on what you're doing.
5500-5900 Same image quality as 5200, just faster and faster and faster
after each model in the FX series.
6200-6600 series- GREAT cards! Bang for buck, image quality. Great middle-
highend cards (the 6600GT and on atleast). Keep in mind that the 6600GT
AGP or PCI-E are EXCELLENT choices.
6800 - The 6800 is gonna be replaced with the 6600GT but still not a bad
card if all you are looking for is image quality. the 6800GT is phenomenal with
image quality and speed. Also gets very HOT! The 6800 Ultra no offence
but in my opinion is a waste of $. Its like a overclocked 6800GT. A 6800LE can be unlocked with the extra pipes to make it to a 6800NU sometimes depending on the manufacturer and a 6800NU can also unlock pipes very easily to make it like a 6800GT.
OVERCLOCKING TIPS
Tip Number 1- Don't overclock a card more than over 65 Megahertz. I
learned the lesson when I had a 5200 Ultra and it fryed.
Tip Number 2- Make sure your card can overclock. ATI cards have a
tendency to softmod really easily like a 9800NP or a 9800PRO into XT but d
don't overclock nearly as well as Nvidia cards. Nvidia cards can't be
softmodded to my intelligence but I know the 5900XT or a 5900 sometimes
will softmod to a 5950 Ultra but doesn't always work.
Tip Number 3- Use Coolbits 3. Best overclocking software and most reliable.
Lets you test your settings to see if it will work or not but be aware that it is not always 100% accurate.
GOOD MANUFACTURERS
Sapphire
EVGA
Chaintech
Asus
Abit
XFX
ATI
BFG
AOPEN
ALTABARTON
CONNECT 3D
ELSA
GAINWARD
GIGABYTE
HIGHTECH
INFOTEK (they are ok but not the best)
LEADTEK
MSI
PROLINK
PNY (Ok but for the highest price in mediocore quality its not worth it)
Chelistica
Powercolor is ok. They softmod very easily be advised though.
BAD MANUFACTURERS
Jaton
Jetway
Amigo
Biostar
Transcend
Visiontek (But not the worst)
I hoped I helped you with my guide.
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