I need some advice on a second card purchase

[RoachMojo]

Guys, could you help me out, please? I just need some input.

Now that I have my Flickermaster eVga FX5900U in my primary system, I need to replace the Elsa Geforce 2 32mb card in my secondary system, but I am sorta stuck between ordering a TI4200 128mb 4x agp card for $109(my other system will only do 4x agp), and a Gainward Ultra/760 FX5600 128mb for $126.

I have searched the boards looking for comparisons, but...do I really need Dx9 capability or just stick with the TI4200 speeds? From what I have read, the TI4200 is a somewhat faster that the FX5600U, but the 5600 does Dx9...

Such a tough decision...

Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback, thanks!

[The Baron]

what are the specs of the second system?

[RoachMojo]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that...

Here:

Asus P4T-E 1007 w/ 1Gb Samsung Rdram
P4-2.6 with Enermax 350W
2-40gb Seagate Barracuda
Elsa Geforce 2 32mb 44.67
Creative SB Audigy Gamer
XP Home

I don't know...maybe I should wait for HL2 to come out and see how the 5900U performs. I might then go to a 9800 Pro if the shader performance really is that much better, and put the 5900U in this machine, but man, I really have misgivings about switching to a Radeon. I have used Nvidia cards forever, it seems...

[EDIT] I am just a compulsive gamer and want the best, whichever card it may be. :)

[The Baron]

I don't know...maybe I should wait for HL2 to come out and see how the 5900U performs. I might then go to a 9800 Pro if the shader performance really is that much better, and put the 5900U in this machine, but man, I really have misgivings about switching to a Radeon. I have used Nvidia cards forever, it seems...
Good plan. Trying to predict the performance of future games is near impossible, and since HL2 is so close, I would say just wait.

[RoachMojo]

Yeah, I'm with you, Baron.

It's really not THAT important that this machine have a screaming card anyway, but I was playing Tron2 on it...and the lack of AA is really noticable, plus I had to drop to medium detail.

Thanks, dude. HL2 will decide for me. :)

[ricercar]

Originally posted by RoachMojo
From what I have read, the TI4200 is a somewhat faster that the FX5900U, but the 5900 does Dx9...

I hope that is a typo for 5600 Ultra. If anyone really said "TI4200 is a somewhat faster that the FX5900U," that person is smoking the good stuff.:) No way a NV25/28 can keep up with NV35.

[Rogozhin]

HL2 is going to bring all the pseudo DX9 NV35 to its knees-while the radeon will glide through with it's true dx9 support and higher level shader operations that aren't emulated.

rogo

[RoachMojo]

Originally posted by ricercar
I hope that is a typo for 5600 Ultra. If anyone really said "TI4200 is a somewhat faster that the FX5900U," that person is smoking the good stuff.:) No way a NV25/28 can keep up with NV35.

Oh hell, you're right. I meant 5600U, duh. :) Edit!

[Dazz]

The Ultra however it's the 350/700 model.

[aapo]

Originally posted by Dazz
The Ultra however it's the 350/700 model.

I suppose you tried to say the Ultra in "Gainward Ultra/760 FX5600 128mb" means that the PowerPack (ie. bundled stuff) is Ultra, not the card. The FX5600 in question is regular, and therefore it's a bad deal IMHO.

[RipItup]

I have compared a gf4 4800SE at 4600 speeds ( 300/650) and a 5600U at 400/800 speeds and there is no clear winner. I am unsure whether driver optimisations are helping out.

I would put a crap card in your second system, then wait. Then buy a great card for your primary system and move that first down to your secondary.

Regards

Andy

[Dazz]

Originally posted by aapo
I suppose you tried to say the Ultra in "Gainward Ultra/760 FX5600 128mb" means that the PowerPack (ie. bundled stuff) is Ultra, not the card. The FX5600 in question is regular, and therefore it's a bad deal IMHO. Ah right i get yeah, it must be the Ultra 760XP 128MB must be the ultra one, Gainwards naming suck big time with them using ultra on everything :rolleyes:

[Spiritwalker]

IF you can wait a couple of more weeks for the newer cards to be announced and the HL2 dx9 demo bench to come out. Then you will have a better idea of which midrange card to buy, the 9600Pro or the 5600Ultra.

With all the talk the last week my money would be on the 9600Pro

[rokzy]

Originally posted by Rogozhin
HL2 is going to bring all the pseudo DX9 NV35 to its knees-while the radeon will glide through with it's true dx9 support and higher level shader operations that aren't emulated.

rogo

[RoachMojo]

Originally posted by aapo
I suppose you tried to say the Ultra in "Gainward Ultra/760 FX5600 128mb" means that the PowerPack (ie. bundled stuff) is Ultra, not the card. The FX5600 in question is regular, and therefore it's a bad deal IMHO.

Oh...that IS tricky.