Decisions decisions

[Losin sux]

I have found (at the "egg") that there is not much difference in price between the 9500 pro and 9600 xt. There is a big (to me anyway) a big difference in the speeds 400/600 vs 275/540. Both are 128 versions. I want to start gaming now and want something decent. With that being said one could/would assume that whatever I see on the monitor would be awesome as I don't really have anything to compare to. My recent build (now pushing off on the wife) has a GF3 Ti450 w/64mb. On a K7S5a Pro with a 2000+ with 128 Crucial DDR. My new build will be the same board with a 2400+ 512 Crucial. I plan on getting into the likes of CofD, Bf 1942, Black Hawk Down, HL etc. Any thought provoking replies will be taken under great consideration. Oh and my cap is 190 USD. TIA

[stroyal]

thay look pretty close, they both seem to win there share of benchmarks. The 9600XT has an edge on fill rate.

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/...9600xt-01.html

This artical says the 9600XT is 500/600 and the 9500pro is400/600

[blubomber]

I would go with the 9600xt. First, the 9600xt does not require you to plug your Power Supply directly into the video card because the 9600xt core is 0.13 technology. And, the 9500 Pro would probably only give you a few more FPS in games than the 9600xt, nothing noticable in regular game play.

Most important to note, a retail version of the 9600xt, either built by ATI or another manufacturer, comes with a coupon for a free full version of HL2.

But remeber that the 9600xt OEM version do not come with the coupon. I believe newegg is selling a Retail version of the ATI 9600xt for $189. So it is IMO that the 9600xt is the way to go. You wont be disapointed.

[tony_j15]

You can flash a 9500 into a 9700Pro, but that doesnt always work. So unless you want to take the adventurous route, go with the XT.

[Losin sux]

Thanks for the replies. I am still trying to decide what to do. I also just learned/realized that my mobo is only 4x AGP. Is that really an issue as I see most cards list 1,2,4, and 8x bus capable? I am almost leaning toward the 9700 pro v. 9600xt just for the 8 pipeline feature. Its an extra 30 bucks. I have been running the CoD demo on my GF3 Ti 200 and think it looks pretty good. Of course that is taking into consideration that CoD is the first game I have played since I broke my Atari 2600. lol I did get CoD for Christmas and can't wait until I get back home to load it. Perhaps I should even consider a newer Nvidia card since I don't know what a good frame rate and ok frame rate looks like. If I can get away with spending 100 bucks for a decent gaming experience so be it, but if it requires 210 well ok then. I plan on getting into other FPS down the line. thanks all

[eagle1]

AGP tech is backward compatible so that card will work at AGP 8x, 4x, 2x etc.

I also recommend the 9600xt.
If you are sure that for only $30 more you can get the 9700PRO version, then by any means get it!
I think this is still one of the best cards out there but no Half Life 2 for free!

[Rand Dusing]

I'm pretty sure the 9600 XT can run at 4x and 8x and I know for a fact my 9800 can run at 4x and 8x. Your mobo will just run it at 4x. Also, you can hardly notice a diffrence between 4x and 8x. My 3dmark score actually went down when I enabled 8x but then again it varies a lot.

[Losin sux]

I ordered the Powercolor 9600Xt.

[Peter M]

Originally posted by eagle1
AGP tech is backward compatible so that card will work at AGP 8x, 4x, 2x etc.

That doesn't get any more true the more often it is repeated.

8x stuff must be backward compatible with 4x stuff - but that's where the MUST ends.

In particular, the Radeon 9600 series does NOT run on 1x/2x mainboards.

[eagle1]

Sorry about that Mr. M
You are right. :P