I need opinions

[The Baron]

Well. I have to buy a video card/computer at some point, and I need opinions on when to buy the video card. There are basically only two options, so no flameage.

1. Since I'm going to build the computer in March or thereabouts, I can wait to see what kind of tasty video cards will come out between now and then and just buy a GFFX or a R350 (if they're out) or a higher-clocked R9700 Pro or something pretty good.

2. I can buy a R9500 Pro now, use it in place of my current stock GF3 (1.4 Athlon, 512 DDR, GF3, WinXP Pro), use it in the new computer once I build it, and then wait for R400 or NV35 or whatever.

So... thoughts?

[thcdru2k]

i'd go with 2..geforce 3 is getting old, that r9500 pro would make you very happy.

[Matthyahuw]

I'm still hapily gaming with my GF3...the only thing is I can't use AA...

[The Baron]

Having a few problems with morrowind (hah... more like "It goes at 2 FPS CONSTANTLY" and a friend with a similar box went from a Ti200 to a Ti4200 and said it made all the difference in the world) and some stuttering with UT2k3...

[saturnotaku]

Honestly I would wait. By the time March rolls around, you can get a GeForceFX or the price of the Radeon 9700's will have come down even more and you can snag one of those on the cheap. Plus that will have given ATI another 3 months to work out any further driver issues (ie stuttering in OpenGL that's been plaguing a lot of people).

[The Baron]

Hmmmm..... I don't know. :p

I'd probably save money in the long run by waiting, and since D3 won't be out until then... I'll probably just wait. Always good to wait until drivers mature (and they will by the time GFFX comes out).

but then what do I get for Christmas. :p Already getting the MX700.....

[StealthHawk]

i'm pretty much in the same boat as you, owning a gf3.

yes, FSAA kills performance in new games. yes, AF also kills performance in new games.

but, i have hope that Doom 3 will come out around May, as Carmack stated. i have a feeling it won't, but i'm going to hold out till Doom 3 comes out before i upgrade(choice 1).

if you have less patience than me, and find yourself constantly cursing at your monitor because of choppiness or lower than highest detail, then go the route of option 2.

[darkmiasma]

option 2 is definately your best bet ...

[saturnotaku]

Option 2 only makes sense if you're frustrated/not happy with your present card's performance. If you think you can get by, there's no sense in spending $200 for a Radeon 9500 now then another $300-500 for a better card in 4 months. Unless of course you can afford it which would change the scenario completely then. :D

[darkmiasma]

or you can go to BB and pick up a BFG Tech GF4Ti4200 for $89 today ...

[The Baron]

Nearest Best Buy is an hour away, and given my lack of car, I doubt it will happen.... :o

But yeah, I think I'm gonna wait till March.

[-=DVS=-]

Yeah option 2 is best , current DX9 cards are somewhat buggy :p
Wait for refreshes ;)

[thcdru2k]

yeah..option 2, it'll allow all games out today and soon coming to be perfectly playable at highest settings.

[StealthHawk]

Originally posted by darkmiasma
or you can go to BB and pick up a BFG Tech GF4Ti4200 for $89 today ...

oh, i'm pretty sure they ran out on the 29th.

[Kev1]

I guess seeing how fast the upgrades come out maybe, but as far as playing games I don't agree.

My Gainward GF3 Ti200, oc to beyond GF3 Ti500 speeds, plays MOHAA, Q3, UT, UT2003, NFS2HSP, NOLF, RTCW, even Morrowind fine. Using 40.72 dets at 1024 x 768, 32 bit color, no aa, 4x af in OGL, all the above games ROCK at max detail. I get no choppiness in any of them, not even Morrowind. I get 110 fps flyby, 49 fps botmatch in UT2003.

I know next year I will be upgrading my video card because of DOOM 3, but till then I have no reason to part with my GF3 Ti200.
When I do upgrade, It will be to GFFX or R300/R350, all depending on price vs performance. Current prices for all these cards are way too expensive in my opinion.

I think ATI/Nvidia marketing guys ought to get a medal (or a curse depending on your point of view), because of their ability to make you guys believe you need to buy a new $300 to $500 dollar video card every 6 months :rolleyes:

GG ATI/Nvidia!

All your computer are belong to us!

[thcdru2k]

but the cards in discussion or under $200 :)

the last time i paid $300 for a card is the original geforce. and, true it'll play games but, a ti4200 could handle those games could handle them with quincunx as well as 4x af. a r9500pro could handle them even better. if you got the money to upgrade, why not.

[The Baron]

Well, is the 9500 Pro even out?!

I can't find it at Newegg... haven't heard a peep about it being out anywhere else either...

[thcdru2k]

i think its beginning to ship already

[Kev1]

I love upgrading computers and tweaking the heck out of them. Its a lot of fun. I just wish stuff would have a longer useful life. My GF3 Ti200 has been in use less than 1 yr. When I got it last Xmas it was one of the fastest video cards. Now only 11 months later its considered antique :rolleyes:

Still, it works great. Go figure.

[StealthHawk]

Originally posted by Kev1
I guess seeing how fast the upgrades come out maybe, but as far as playing games I don't agree.

My Gainward GF3 Ti200, oc to beyond GF3 Ti500 speeds, plays MOHAA, Q3, UT, UT2003, NFS2HSP, NOLF, RTCW, even Morrowind fine. Using 40.72 dets at 1024 x 768, 32 bit color, no aa, 4x af in OGL, all the above games ROCK at max detail.

gf3 is fine as long as you don't expect to throw in FSAA or high level AF into the mix. once you do, the gf3 starts coughing up blood in new games.

[Kev1]

No arguments there :D

4x AF looks really good though with very little performance hit (In openGL anyway). Can't imagine what 16 AF looks like but I bet its pretty sweet :eek:

[legion88]

Originally posted by =SSC=The Baron
Well. I have to buy a video card/computer at some point, and I need opinions on when to buy the video card. There are basically only two options, so no flameage.

1. Since I'm going to build the computer in March or thereabouts, I can wait to see what kind of tasty video cards will come out between now and then and just buy a GFFX or a R350 (if they're out) or a higher-clocked R9700 Pro or something pretty good.

2. I can buy a R9500 Pro now, use it in place of my current stock GF3 (1.4 Athlon, 512 DDR, GF3, WinXP Pro), use it in the new computer once I build it, and then wait for R400 or NV35 or whatever.

So... thoughts?

I'll go with option 1. It is cheaper in the long run if you spend the money on the main system first (e.g. CPU, etc.), upgrade as high as you get, and then spend the rest on the video card. The price of the 9700Pro would have dropped by then and it's better than the 9500Pro.

[The Baron]

Yeah.... R9500 Pro still isn't listed on the ATI store. So I guess that kinda means Option 1 wins by default. :o

[StealthHawk]

Originally posted by =SSC=The Baron
Yeah.... R9500 Pro still isn't listed on the ATI store. So I guess that kinda means Option 1 wins by default. :o

hah, and people called me an nvidiot when i didn't think r9500 would be out in November.

[ASCI Blue]

632719 ATI RADEON 9500 PRO 128MB AGP (Retail) (NO STOCK - Estimate arrival on 12/5/02) $204.98 NO


http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/ProdVID-ATI.hmx?UID=&CID=&updepts=VID&DNAME=%3Cb%3EVideo+Cards%3C%2Fb%3E&back=ProdVID-ATI.hmx?

just a little infobit.