Graphics card reccomendations ?

[Kneebs]

Howdy Peeps,

Can anyone reccomend a half decent graphics card, for around £100-£150. I think its about time i put my pc to good use and started playing some games on it - I've recently upgraded just about everything else, but the graphics sadly got left behind...

So, its gotta be OK for games, tv-out is preferrable, and, well, thats about it really.

My PC is amd 2800+ barton, MSI K7N2 delta, half a gig of memory (although this may go up to a gig, I aint decided yet...), 2 80gb hds, and an old GeForce 2 mx/mx400

Thanks,
Mick

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by Kneebs

Howdy Peeps,

Can anyone reccomend a half decent graphics card, for around £100-£150. I think its about time i put my pc to good use and started playing some games on it - I've recently upgraded just about everything else, but the graphics sadly got left behind...

So, its gotta be OK for games, tv-out is preferrable, and, well, thats about it really.

My PC is amd 2800+ barton, MSI K7N2 delta, half a gig of memory (although this may go up to a gig, I aint decided yet...), 2 80gb hds, and an old GeForce 2 mx/mx400

Thanks,
Mick

You could always go to the nvidia or ATI site and have a look around and then go to your local computer store.

[TheBlueRaja]

I would really recommend the Radeon 9600XT at that price range - its an awesome card, fully DX9 compatible and will last you a while too.

Also it sits right in the middle of your price range.

You can find a review here...

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTMz

Not to mention that you also get a free coupon with this card that will get you Half-Life 2 when it comes out for nothing, nada, squat.

Tell me that aint a good deal?

[erol]

I would look at the Ati 9800se. This is a good card in it's own right. However there is also a 50/50 chance that you can run it as a full 9800 card, with just a small driver change.

Basically 9800se's are normal 9800 that did not quite make the scatch, so they disable 4 of the 8 rendering pipelines and sell them as 9800se's. However many of them (about 50%) will run fine with all 8 pipeline enabled - thus you have a chance of getting 9800 performance for 9800se prices.

Have a look here for more info.
http://softmod.ocfaq.com/http://softmod.ocfaq.com/

I personaly got a
Hercules 3D Prophet 9800SE All-in-Wonder 128MB DDR - Retail
from here (look near end of list)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...ics_cards.html

A great card imo, plus you get TV card and video and full 'PVR' (personal video recorder - pause live tv etc) and remote control. The only thing it does not have is dual LCD screeb output (you can output to LCD or monitor and TV at same time but not to two LCD screens or Two monitors)

hth

[TheBlueRaja]

^^

Spies a good call...

[Steve H]

For a tad over 150 you can get the 9800pro.. check the Overclockers website, its about £153 I think.

[TheBlueRaja]

Exc or Inc the Vat tho?

[The_real_dj]

erol i have exactly the same card as you!! (very happy with it as well!!) have you actually hacked yours so it works as a full 9800 pro???

[erol]

Originally Posted by The_real_dj

erol i have exactly the same card as you!! (very happy with it as well!!) have you actually hacked yours so it works as a full 9800 pro???

Yes I have. It's not really a hack - just alternative drivers.

My card works fine with the 'softmod' drivers in games etc and I get about 30-40% increase in speed. Unfortunately it does produce 'artefacts' with the softmod drivers on video capture - which is one of the main uses I use it for (PVR stuff etc) So I run it with the normal drivers. However if a game comes along that really needs the speed boost then I can change drivers to play it and change them back after. Bit of a pain but an option at least.

As I understand it there is no risk involved in trying the softmod drivers. The ocfaq site has run a poll re softmods of the 9800se and about 50% of respondents claim to be able to softmod without any artefacts at all. Its just down to luck really. You might have a card that softmods fine, you might not. Give it a go and lets us know how you get on

[TheBlueRaja]

I think a point to make here is that there really is no cast iron guarantee this is going to work.

[erol]

Originally Posted by theblueraja

I think a point to make here is that there really is no cast iron guarantee this is going to work.

Quite so there is no cast iron gurantee* that the card will work as a 9800(pro) - however you are only paying for a 9800se and it is guaranteed to work as a 9800se

* There is a company in Germany that is selling 'guaranteed' softmodable 9800se cards. There are details on the ocfaq site. I am not sure how much they are charging for this though and you will have to add shipping etc which may well bring the price near to a real 9800(pro).

For me the 9800se (esp the AIW) is a great card and good value. If yours does softmod then it is a great card at unbelievable value. Either way you should be happy (I know I am)

[keithwalton]

Although there is a 5900xt on ocuk for a bargain £130, its not the cheapest 8 pipeline video card on there for £123 inc vat you can get a power colour ati 9800 (non pro) which is really a good card, once in the highend braket but is slipping down due to new cards coming, for as little as £151 (inc vat) they've got a 9800pro too. Same as the non pro just higher clockspeed.

I wouldnt bother with the SE's and other 4 pipe cards there just not worth it when you can get an 8 pipe card so cheeply.

K

[Dave Stones]

i currently have a geforce fx5200 128mb card. cost me £90 when i got it... but oh well. it will be replaced with a 3d labs wildcat vp990 pro soon 512mb ddr memory *drool*

i would go with a radeon 9800 for your price though

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Dave Stones

it will be replaced with a 3d labs wildcat vp990 pro soon 512mb ddr memory *drool*

I take it you do some form of graphics work? (after all, it's hardly useful for gaming)

[keithwalton]

A look at http://www.digital-daily.com/video/vga-roundup/ might help you out abit to see what all these cut down cards can do
Btw the wildcat is good for cad and 3d modelling but for gaming its useless not much better than your fx5200 if at all
Note also the 9800 non pro is a smidge quicker than the 9700 pro
K