Which graphics card do I buy? please help

[Bman]

Which graphics card should I buy? I'm looking at RAD 9600 PRO but it says that you need AGP version 3.0
My current stats are:
Intel Pentium 3 Processor 1.1 GHZ
and Intel Celeron Processor ata 1.1 GHZ

Bus TypesPCI (version 2.2) and AGP (version2.0) Bus speed AGP is: 66MHZ.

I have a "card connectorsone universal connector" that supports AGP4X cards

348MB SDRAM
40GB of Harddrive
and currently a Rage 128 Ultra (craap!):o

MY question is even though it says AGP 4x compatible- some sites have said I need a AGP version 3.0 ( i.e. the RAD 9600 PRO) Does the 4x compatibility cover that or am I out of luck.

If someone could pleae bring me some light onto my next step on buying a card without 3.0 or if i'm alright with my AGP status a decent card I could buy. If you could please include cards ranging from high end to low end that would really help me.

:afro:

[digitalwanderer]

What is the motherboard? I'm running a 9700 Pro on a TUSL2-C which I THINK is a 4xAGP(version2) without any trouble. :hmm:

[Bman]

how do I tell what kind of motherboard it is?

More info:
Dell Dimension 4100 Series

[deejaya]

According to this Visiontek page (http://www.visiontek.com/9600_pro.html) their 9600 Pro recommends an AGP 2.0 socket or higher. AGP 2.0 supports 1x, 2x, and 4x and my 9700 Pro supports 4x, 8x, so I'd be very surprised if any 9600 Pro supported 8x only.

[Bman]

that helps a lot! thank you ver much

would love any other info anyone has or card recomondations
thanks
:)

[Bman]

System Requirements
Intel® Pentium® 4/III/II/Celeron™, AMD® K6/Duron™/Athlon®/Athlon XP® or compatible with AGP 4X (1.5V), 8X (0.8v) or Universal AGP 3.0 bus configuration (4X/8X).

is 3.0 bus configuration the same thing as me being AGP 4x compatible or?

[saturnotaku]

I was going to say (before the thread got moved) that if you have a 4x AGP slot, any recent video card should work just fine. I had an Abit KR7A which was 4x AGP running an 8x Radeon 9500 and it was perfectly fine.

Long as you know your motherboard is AGP 4x comptiable, you should have no trouble.

[deejaya]

ATi have a pretty good page here (http://mirror.ati.com/support/faq/agpchart.html) which should have all you need to know. It doesn't list the 9600 but it should be similar to the 9500, it should be a universal 4x, 8x card anyway, which is all you need.

[Bman]

By the way- I want to thank you all for this help. This is my first time on a forum and I can't believe the great responces i've gotten.

My question now is should I go with the RAD 9500 where I know it supports 2x 4x and 8x or should I take a chance with the RAD 9600. I ask this because the specifcations posted above are for every 9X series except 9500 (posted on the ati/com site). If it's all the same i'll go with 9600 Pro.
Thank you again!
:angel:

[Bman]

Ok I did some research and found out that the RAD 9500 PRO out performed the RAD 9600 PRO in a few areas. The only saving grace that the 9600 had over the 9500 was its Direct X 9 feature and Overclocking which all would help for future gaming.

Ok I hope this makes sense, but my question is:
Should I buy the 9500 or 9600?
Both virtually the same price.
Which will last me longer?

[deejaya]

If you can get a 9500 Pro, I would go for that. I think it's better than the 9600 Pro.

Oops, just saw your post, the 9500 is Directx 9 hardware also. I'd say go for the 9700 Pro but if you're on a budget go for the 9500 Pro.

[IISquintsII]

If you can find the 9500pro and 9600pro at the same price then go for the 9500 pro. But if your on a budget the 9600 pro can be found for $150 at newegg.com (9500 pro is at $185!)