Which brand?

[Aitrus]

It's official, there's too many models of the SAME GRAPHICS CARD running around out there. I don't understand why on earth there needs to be a difference between BFG, Inno3D, PNY, etc. But such is life and such I need to research the different kinds.

I think I'm going to want an nVidia GeForce FX 5600 Ultra. (Sorry Ati folks - had too many compatibility issues with my current one, and I'm looking for a card a bit more stable: thus, nVidia.) I am also looking for something with overclocking in mind...should the 5600 Ultra OC well or no? The 5700 *really* didn't look like it was worth the extra cost, and for the price I think (though may be wrong) that the 5600 does beat out the 5200 substantially.

I have basically come down to two choices:

the MSI card click (http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/vga/vga/pro_vga_detail.php?UID=480)

or the Pixelview one click (http://www.prolink.com.tw/2003/english/products/vga/FX/Geforcefx%205600.htm)

Can anyone give me some advice on which I should get? Or should I go with a different card altogether? Both of these are rather difficult to find. Is one more OC friendly (especially newbie friendly); does one outperform the other in other ways (I know that the MSI is extremely quiet - I like quiet :)? I'm really looking for a reccommendation here as I enter the big beautiful world of 128-bit AGP. Thanks; these boards have always been very helpful to me.

--Aitrus

P.S. Tom's Hardware has a pretty good comprehensive review at this site (http://www17.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030714/index.html), which I used as a main source of information.

P.P.S. I'm going to need a CPU/RAM upgrade in the near future as well (Celeron 2.5/128MB) - which one will improve graphic quality the most dramatically, processor power or memory?

[RobHague]

The 5700 is the one to go for, over the 5600. The brands dont really matter, the only thing to pick between them is mostly the software/extras bundle you prefer. The 5700 Ultra is quite a bit better than the 5600 which will start disappearing soon.

Saying that the best band-for-buck card at the moment is the 5900 NU/LX/SE. You can find them for around $200/£160 from various sites, and they fall within the prices of the 5600's/5700's. I'm sure people will provide you with simular info but basically its a big improvement over both those cards.

As for the sys upgrade question, definatley CPU. More CPU power means you will get more out of your graphics card, the celerons (although clocked high) are very slow compared to the full blown P4's, the small L2 cache really hurts the performance. The best P4 to go for at the moment is the 2.4C, but you need to have a Springdale/Canterwood mobo to support it.

[Aitrus]

Mobo is going to end up being the Abit IS7.

Brands, I am finding, do matter. For example, the 5900 on a quick New Egg search varies from $170-$400, and that is not all extras - it is in large part due to different brandnames. Fan quietness, even performance (the Pixelview 5600 is supposed to have a slight performance edge) can vary depending on who puts the card together. I could go for the 5700. I wasn't too sure about it. Definitely not the 5800 though. Thanks for the info about the processor. I have SDRAM (eek!) at the moment and wasn't sure which upgrade would make the biggest difference. Not any time soon, but down the road.

Anybody else have any tips on what card I should get?

--Aitrus

[Kev1]

But I agree if you can afford the 5700 Ultra that would be the one to get :) I think you can get a 5700 Ultra at NewEgg for $189 or so. Any brand would be fine. EVGA, PNY, MSI, Gainward, Albatron, BFG are all pretty good.

[DSC]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-179&catalog=48&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

eVGA FX5900SE for $189 with Call of Duty..... :D

Which is a better buy than a 5700 Ultra @ $189, the same price point......

[bkswaney]

Originally posted by DSC
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-179&catalog=48&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

eVGA FX5900SE for $189 with Call of Duty..... :D

Which is a better buy than a 5700 Ultra @ $189, the same price point......

That is the deal to get. 5900 all the way. :)

[Cotita]

If you look around, you may be able to get a 5900 (non ultra) for about 200 bucks

I got a BFG 5900 for 196dlls.

Still the 5900se cards are a good deal.

[kraigc]

I would go with the BFG 5900nu over any 5900SE any day.