Good idea? Or waste of money?

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-20-2005, 01:11 AM

Hey everyone,

I've been kicking around the idea of getting a new graphics card. Currently, I have a ATI Radeon 9800PRO 128mb. However, I've been thinking of upgrading to an X800 XL. Would it be worth my while? Are the next gen cards coming out soon? Or should I just stick with what I have?

I would be getting an AGP card obviously.

Here are the other specs if you need them:
Pentium 4 w/HT 3.0GHz
1GB RAM (2x256 512)
160GB HD
Uhh.. I think that's all the pertinant info.

If this needs to be BF2 related, yes. I'm looking into not only making it run good, but look fa-bu-lous.

NOTE: I'm not interested in an nVidia card.

Thanks!

Y2JMatrix94

Cøyøte · 06-20-2005, 01:59 AM

Actually, thats the same family of cards Im looking at, while running the card your on as well,... Im thinking Ill go for something x800/850 pro or xt, and say thats it,.. 'cause the next upgrade beyond that, will be a whole new rig.
64 bit proc, PCI-e card, the whole 9 yards

Al_Capwn · 06-20-2005, 07:09 AM

how much are u willing to sell your 9800pro for? hehe

grim reaper · 06-20-2005, 09:00 AM

Quote:

NOTE: I'm not interested in an nVidia card.

Chop your nose off to spite the face.

Fanboys realy annoy me.

The x800xl is a fine card, for around the same price the 6800gt is allso good.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-20-2005, 10:19 AM

Dear assgrab,

I'm not a fan boy. I'm just familiar with ATI, and prefer their product.

grim reaper · 06-20-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Dear assgrab,

So you insult me when I try to help you?

I am mearly saying buying one particular brand of product for any reason is silly.

Take mid range cards, ATI have nothing the counter the 6600gt. So buying an ATI card there would be madness.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-20-2005, 10:31 AM

I know you were helping me, I was referring to the "fanboy" thing. Reminds me of those morons at GameFAQ's. REGARDLESS, thanks for the info.

Now, give me a hug and lets be friends.

In a non-weird-gay way of course.

grim reaper · 06-20-2005, 10:37 AM

I wouldnt call the people who browse GameFAQs fanboys. More like Retards who just got on to daddys PC after eating 12 concurrent packets of sugar and then drinking twelve gallons of sunny D the day after they just got a PS2 on mummys credit card.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-20-2005, 10:41 AM

Heh, spot on with that one.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-24-2005, 02:48 PM

So it looks like the 800XT is my definate front runner. Should I go AGP or PCI?

Mad Monk · 06-24-2005, 03:03 PM

Go PCI. If I were you I'd switch out your proc for a sweet new 486sx too.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-24-2005, 03:17 PM

Heh, the one thing I failed to mentioned (because this usually gets me flamed) Is that my computer is actually a Dell Dimension 4600. Which is why I can't run a 850XT or 6800 Ultra. There's just no room.

I don't really have a PCI slot open, aside from taking out the modem. Also, what's the difference between PCI and PCI-e? Also, I read that PCI cards are slow and inferior to AGP. That thread is around here somewhere...

grim reaper · 06-24-2005, 03:23 PM

PCI<AGP<PCI-E

You have a dell. Upgrades and dell just don't work.

Its time for a new PC.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-24-2005, 03:26 PM

I just bought the thing last year. Aside from the graphics card, I can't see the point of buying a whole new system when this one works just fine.

grim reaper · 06-24-2005, 03:27 PM

Dells are notorious for using proprietory parts. This makes them a bitch to upgrade.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-24-2005, 03:31 PM

So getting back to my original post, the 800XT would be a good fill in to my 9800PRO?

Grim: Are you sure you aren't thinking of Compaq? I've got parts in my Dell from Newegg that work fantastic.

Deathmaker · 06-24-2005, 05:53 PM

The x800xl is a damn fine card and will give you a nice boost over your old raddy. I really cant see why it should give any probs going in a Dell box as long as there's nothing encroaching into the agp slot area, even then with a little jiggerypokery (and maybe a dremmel

) you should be ok.

<edit> An agp version might take a bit of hunting down as they're predominantly pci-e, afaik.

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-25-2005, 12:22 AM

http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2624224

It's a little bit more then the PCI, but it looks like this would do the trick. Let me know if you guys have any other thoughts.

Thanks!

Y2JMatrix94 · 06-25-2005, 02:59 AM

Gentlemen,

I've noticed something interesting while going through EAsyInfo. I noticed, that when it shows my grahpics card, it says under "LOCAL MEMORY" 256. Does this mean I have a Radeon 9800 256 and NOT a Radeon 9800 128? If so, that means Dell got their paperwork wrong or something.

grim reaper · 06-25-2005, 09:55 AM

The difference between the two cards is very minimal.

Sometimes the 128 is quicker because of the lower latency RAM.

06-20-2005, 01:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	Good idea? Or waste of money? Hey everyone, I've been kicking around the idea of getting a new graphics card. Currently, I have a ATI Radeon 9800PRO 128mb. However, I've been thinking of upgrading to an X800 XL. Would it be worth my while? Are the next gen cards coming out soon? Or should I just stick with what I have? I would be getting an AGP card obviously. Here are the other specs if you need them: Pentium 4 w/HT 3.0GHz 1GB RAM (2x256 512) 160GB HD Uhh.. I think that's all the pertinant info. If this needs to be BF2 related, yes. I'm looking into not only making it run good, but look fa-bu-lous. NOTE: I'm not interested in an nVidia card. Thanks! Y2JMatrix94 __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-20-2005, 01:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cøyøte Second Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,424	Actually, thats the same family of cards Im looking at, while running the card your on as well,... Im thinking Ill go for something x800/850 pro or xt, and say thats it,.. 'cause the next upgrade beyond that, will be a whole new rig. 64 bit proc, PCI-e card, the whole 9 yards __________________ "We are Dyslexia of Borg. All your ass will be laminated" Don't call your ISP when your computer breaks. You dont call the Dept. of roads when your car breaks down, nor the power company when a lightbulb burns out. They dont want to hear it, and neither do we."-Coyote

06-20-2005, 10:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	Dear assgrab, I'm not a fan boy. I'm just familiar with ATI, and prefer their product. __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-20-2005, 10:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	I know you were helping me, I was referring to the "fanboy" thing. Reminds me of those morons at GameFAQ's. REGARDLESS, thanks for the info. Now, give me a hug and lets be friends. In a non-weird-gay way of course. __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-20-2005, 10:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	Heh, spot on with that one. __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-20-2005, 07:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Al_Capwn Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 55	how much are u willing to sell your 9800pro for? hehe

06-20-2005, 10:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,255	I wouldnt call the people who browse GameFAQs fanboys. More like Retards who just got on to daddys PC after eating 12 concurrent packets of sugar and then drinking twelve gallons of sunny D the day after they just got a PS2 on mummys credit card.

06-24-2005, 02:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	So it looks like the 800XT is my definate front runner. Should I go AGP or PCI? __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-24-2005, 03:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mad Monk Major Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: O-O-O-O-Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain. Posts: 3,004	Go PCI. If I were you I'd switch out your proc for a sweet new 486sx too. __________________

06-24-2005, 03:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	Heh, the one thing I failed to mentioned (because this usually gets me flamed) Is that my computer is actually a Dell Dimension 4600. Which is why I can't run a 850XT or 6800 Ultra. There's just no room. I don't really have a PCI slot open, aside from taking out the modem. Also, what's the difference between PCI and PCI-e? Also, I read that PCI cards are slow and inferior to AGP. That thread is around here somewhere... __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-24-2005, 03:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,255	PCI<AGP<PCI-E You have a dell. Upgrades and dell just don't work. Its time for a new PC.

06-24-2005, 03:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	I just bought the thing last year. Aside from the graphics card, I can't see the point of buying a whole new system when this one works just fine. __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-24-2005, 03:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,255	Dells are notorious for using proprietory parts. This makes them a bitch to upgrade.

06-24-2005, 03:31 PM	#16 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	So getting back to my original post, the 800XT would be a good fill in to my 9800PRO? Grim: Are you sure you aren't thinking of Compaq? I've got parts in my Dell from Newegg that work fantastic. __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-24-2005, 05:53 PM	#17 (permalink)
Deathmaker Sergeant Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 346	The x800xl is a damn fine card and will give you a nice boost over your old raddy. I really cant see why it should give any probs going in a Dell box as long as there's nothing encroaching into the agp slot area, even then with a little jiggerypokery (and maybe a dremmel ) you should be ok. <edit> An agp version might take a bit of hunting down as they're predominantly pci-e, afaik.

06-25-2005, 12:22 AM	#18 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2624224 It's a little bit more then the PCI, but it looks like this would do the trick. Let me know if you guys have any other thoughts. Thanks! __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-25-2005, 02:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
Y2JMatrix94 Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Berkley, MI Posts: 41	Gentlemen, I've noticed something interesting while going through EAsyInfo. I noticed, that when it shows my grahpics card, it says under "LOCAL MEMORY" 256. Does this mean I have a Radeon 9800 256 and NOT a Radeon 9800 128? If so, that means Dell got their paperwork wrong or something. __________________ <img src=http://bf2.slawed.net/sig/43388141/sig.png> Rig: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/ HT, ATI Radeon X800 XL 256, 160 gig HD, 1 gig RAM

06-25-2005, 09:55 AM	#20 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,255	The difference between the two cards is very minimal. Sometimes the 128 is quicker because of the lower latency RAM.