What video card? (again)

[joker_927]

I know you have heard it a thousand times, but I need you to recommend me a video card.

It's for my friend. He will be doing nothing but gaming.

I have never delt with any other video card name except Nvidia. No experience with ATI.

We can spend up to ~$230, although I don't know if we REALLY want to spend that much.

I was thinking a GeForceFX 5200 until I found out they are horrible. I thought about a GeForce 4200 also.

What kind of radeons can be purchased in this price range and what do they compare to in GeForce's?

Thanks

[Redwolf]

Okay, here's the deal.

If he REALLY wants a GOOD gaming card, he's gonna have to shell out $300 or so. However, I gather that's what you DON'T want to do, so let's continue.

The Radeons are probalby gonna be a good choice for you. The Radeon 9600 is comparable to the 5200, but much faster (not as fast as the 5800, but it can be overclocked to be faster), and avaliable on Newegg for about $130. The PRO version, which is faster, is about $180. The 9700 Pro, which is a GREAT card BTW (not faster than the 5800, but roughly the same speed and with great image quality). It's avaliable for $267. It's cousin, the 9700 standard, is $240. I reccomend the 9600 personally, since it seems to be more in your price range.

Oh, and if you decide to go ATI, be warned that their drivers are good, but not as good as nVidia's. I highly suggest getting unofficial drivers from www.omegacorner.com . He has nVidia drivers too, but he discontinued those a short time ago. His drivers are very stable and gives quite good image quality w/out much in the way of sacrificing speed.

[joker_927]

Thx.

So you recommend the Radeon 9600.

My friend wants to buy the card tomorrow and the only store we have is Fry's. They sell the 9600 PRO for 199.99 but it's his money. I'm just trying to make sure he doesn't get a bad card.


They also have the FX 5600 for the exact same price as the Radeon 9600 PRO. the 5600 has 128 or 256MB for the same price; Radeon = 128mb only.

They don't have the 4200's-4600's on the Fry's website, but I know they have them in the stores. What GeForce4 card is the 9600 PRO comparable to?

The GeForceFX 5600, Radeon 9600 PRO, and Geforce 4 ti 4600 are about the same price. The 4600 is about $20 more.

Which of these would you buy?

Thanx

[Omardeth]

this link might help some
http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic...120/index.html

fry's is a great place to buy stuff but ONLY when it is onsale . you can almost AWAYS find it cheaper somewhere else . if he doesn't want to order online then wait till monday or tuesday , if you live in the bay area seems like the bay area gets special add prices in the sj merc news on tuesday we don't for the frys up here in sac , to buy at frys. the friday add prices run till tuesday and you can see all that is onsale . only problem is if they have a killer deal it will sell out fast . like the 69$ ti4200 last week went really fast .

i would say hunt down a 9500 pro if you can online . they are better than the 9600 . if he wants to get the best VALUE i say ti 4200 . for 100$ he can get one online and it will play anything he wants with good quality and good speed .

good luck

[joker_927]

If they have a 4600, 9500PRO or 9600 PRO. We will just get one of those.

thx a lot

[Redwolf]

Your welcome! Anyway, I really reccomend buying from www.newegg.com instead of from Fry's. It's cheaper and they are an excellent store. I highly reccomend them.

[joker_927]

We have to have the card and a mobo buy this Friday for his birthday/LAN party. I know newegg's shipping is great, but here by Friday? Don't think they can pull that.

thx though

[DPA]

just for clarification, the radeon 9600pro is not comparable to the FX5200, it is comparable to the FX5600 [not sure if the ultra or not] 9600 Pro is a wonderful gaming card, and with its very small die process, you can overclock it like mad.

[Redwolf]

Ya, my bad. Hey, even I am not infaliable to ty[os/

[Urban_Squrill]

ATI radion 9700 $223