doom3 and a new video card

[kpiciulo]

Much like most of you i've been eagerly awaiting doom3s release. I've come to accept that i probably won't be able to play, even with low settings, with the card in my sig. Now i don't want to spend a lot of money preferably around $150 or less. This card only needs to last me till next summer, since sometime between now and then i will be doing a major upgrade including PCI-express, maybe DDR2, and a high-end card. I just want something to let me play doom3 and nother games at fairly good settings. So what do you guys suggest? Maybe an ATI 9600 pro or XT, or a nvidia FX5700? Or will my card suffice(ti4200)? Also if you suggest a GPU could you recommend a good company for the card? Thanks a lot guys.
Kevin

 

[Drec]

you could get a 9800se for 150, and with luck softmod to a 9800pro, or you can
get a 9700pro.

512mb of ram is gonna hold you back too.

 

[Radical]

Either a 9600XT or a 9800 Pro would be good. The 9800 would be better than the 9600, but the 9600 isn't a bad card for the price, either.

 

[kpiciulo]

thanks a lot guys, i've heard the se's aren't very good, but you said it can softmod to a pro Are there chances that mod won't work, or is that guaranteed? If for some reason it won't softmod would i be better off with the 9600pro, or the 9800se? Thanks a lot guys.
Kevin

 

[Nandro]

In that range a 9700pro would probably be the best bet.

 

[kpiciulo]

would i be better off buying a 256mb 9600pro, or a 128mb 9800se? and which brand?
thanks
Kevin

 

[12am]

Well, to add to the mix you can pick up a FX5900XT for $20 more than a 9600XT and overclock it like mad, should perform like a 9700Pro, and rumor has it nvidia cards with thier better opengl drivers will run doom3 faster than there ati bretherin.

 

[kpiciulo]

just saw that post nandro, what brand for a 9700pro?

 

[kpiciulo]

also where would i get a 9700 pro, newegg only has a AIW card and that's $245, i don't need that.

 

[Yuriman]

I picked up my 9700 for $130, and its much faster than any 9600. Look in the classifieds on different forums. Btw with the 9800se's, they are only worth buying if they have 256bit memory.

 

[Nandro]

I had a 9700pro I got off ebay. It was a system pull from a gateway. Shipped for $99. The 9700pro's have come way down in price. I think they may be the best cost/performance card out there right now. Sapphire makes a good one, along with the made by ati. There is probably a few in the classifieds here and I think I saw one on the NV News forums for $135.

 

[kpiciulo]

what about a 9600xt, would the 9700pro still be better, also this may be a dumb question, but where is the classified section on these forums? thanks
Kevin

 

[dreIU]

what about a 9600xt, would the 9700pro still be better, also this may be a dumb question, but where is the classified section on these forums? thanks
Kevin

I would favor the 9700pro over hte 9600xt. For the classifieds, last time I checked, you must have at least 100 posts to view it, so you have a little bit to go. If you are on the main page, then it is at the very bottom.

 

[Shuzzy]

i would not go with the 9800se, as they have 128bit memory, and that just wont cut it. i would say either a 9700pro or an nvidia 5900xt.

 

[Nandro]

Yea, the 9600XT is a 4 pipe card compared to the 9700's 8 pipes. The 9600 regardless of clock speed is at a huge disadvantage. I agree the 5900XT is a much better choice as well.

 

[kpiciulo]

What do you guys think, says 256-bit http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-248&depa=0

is the sofmod hard, i wouldn't think so but this would be my first time doing any sort of mod to a video card.

 

[kpiciulo]

the 5900xt is a little more than i wanted to spend, i was hoping to keep it below 150, but if it will be sufficiently better i'll go for it

 

[austinbmxnig]

you might have to spend more money to get it to last till next year, quite frankly i was hesitant about my 9800pro that was oc'd like crazy to have it last till next year

 

[DamienKC]

Definetly 9700pro out of the two. If you want to spend a *tad* more, then go with the 9800PRO or the 5900XT

 

[ShaftedTwice]

I say go with the 9800Pro (about $195), either that or 9700.