I need advice on a graphics card

Kunarick

I'm thinking of getting this one from newegg:

POWERCOLOR ATI RADEON 9600PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "R96A-C3N" -RETAIL

Model#R96A-C3N

Item # N82E16814131219

Specifications: Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9600PRO/400MHz Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/600MHz BUS: AGP 1X/2X/4X/8X Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video Out)+DVI connector Support 3D API: DirectX®9, OpenGL®2.0 Cable/Accessories: 3 Cables, 2 CD, Manual Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048x1536@85Hz Retail Box (See pics for details)

 

I've got 2 questions.

My first one is that it only has 128MB DDR, will this affect much, will it run well compared to a card with 256MB DDR?  Would i be better off getting a lower MHz card but have double the MB of DDR?  I really want to know this one.

My second is how do i figure out if it can run with my computer.  How do i find out if my computer is AGP and if its 1x/2x/4x/8x.  I'm assuming that when it lists all of those that anyone of those can use it.  Also, it says about ports, i also need someone to tell me how to find these and how to tell if it will work with this graphics card.  I really need help on this one.

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The True Oracle of all that is EverQuest!!

Kunarick

Opps forgot the font color was black.

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The True Oracle of all that is EverQuest!!

GaurdianKing

okay to help you out, the best place to get information like hatrdware specs and performance is tomshardware. they are an independent review site. there preaty good were I am conserned.

I have put a couple of links below for the hardware in question:

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030416/index.html

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/quickbyte/20040119/index.html

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030306/radeon9800pro-04.html

I recoment the first and last link. From what I understand there is no real difference in performance from the pro to the xt. Unless yopur really hardcore overclocker or a tech spec fan your eye's are not really going to notice the difference. HEHEHE.. but I don't own the modle you are asking about so you will have to refer to the review and testing for a detailed explianation of the pro's and con's

opps, forgot about the second question. okay about the knowlege of if can run on your computer well that depends completly on you. Okay. let me give you the run down.

first> depending on how new your how old you computer you may want a better grafics card or don't even need as good a grafics card.(this knowlege mainy goes with if your a tech head or not, you may be spending needless bucks on a component that would not be fully realized in the computer your are putting it in.)

second> You motherboard manaul will give you all your details you need, passing that if you bought your computer as a deal from some company, in there manaul or listing or web-page they will tell you what mothboard is in your computer. Get the model number and if you type it into google you will find a store or the company web-page listing all the specs of the motboard. On the list check if it is agp express or 1X/2X/4X/8X enabled. these are the speeds it can operat at, if the card can work at 8X but the moth bord can only work at 4X then in your really annaul you can look for a better suited grafics card to shave off a couplke of bucks.

Third> If you don't know what agp is for then you really should be asking a friend to install this card for you. If I recal it means Acellerated Grafics Port or something like that. It;'s a slot in your motherbord that is very old and in near all computer. It's like a pci slot but mainly used for just graficscards.

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DaShiz

If you are considering this video card because you would like to run EQ2 on it then I would suggest that you at least consider the XT over the Pro since the price difference is fairly minimal and the performance difference is significant. On most games you wouldn't really notice too much of a difference like GuardianKing said, but you would still notice a difference. Considering that Ram size and speed is at a higher level than the Pro and as well the core clock speed is minutely faster. I have read a few posts upon people complaining that the pro is faulty and doesnt live up to expectations, but those were pretty old and I believe that the newest drivers fixed most of the errors inherant with the Pro and XT. But all in all you should consider the XT over the Pro if you are makeing your choice because of EQ2 for an upgrade, because EQ2 seems as though it will be fairly taxing upon not only system memory but as well Gpu memory.

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GaurdianKing

That is debatable consideing that the game itself only need a 64 bit grafics card in the recomendation section. and usaully in the recomendation section of a game, that is the best ppossible grafics settings you can set them to or the maxiumim.

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Kunarick

Well i don't really need a super top of the line graphics card that will make everything look exactly like real life.   The computer i would be using it on is about 1 1/2 to 2 years old or so.  It still works fine.  I'm getting my brother's computer once he heads off to colleage next year and his computer is rather new.  So i only need a graphics card to hold me over until i get his computer, than i'll go crazy on upgrading that one.

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The True Oracle of all that is EverQuest!!

DaShiz

Then the pro would undoubtably hold you over, just as long as you consider the steps that guardianking described previously.

Your scathing wit and daring insight into the turbulent political crags of the internet are shining beacons of truth and purity for the slight remaining masses of visionless hypocriticial sheep who bleat at the thought of your glory

GaurdianKing

Well If a put it this way, the standard grafics card to have as average right now when I visit all the lan tornaments in England is the 9600 pro. They buy them on mass for above average computer because the card can handel near to all games on the market right now. And it will last for the next year or so. It is like the linked reviews say a good sturdy grafics card that will sort you out for the better part. But the XT versions of grafix cards that I would recoment would be the 9800 and the x800. These cards differ in performance by about 10-20 frame per sec from the pro's While trhe 9600pro and the xt only differ in about2-3 and in some games the pro actaully beats the xt if you look at the reciews and bechmarks.

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Kunarick

Thx, the graphics card that came with the computer i will be using Eq2 on is rather lacking in the graphics card department.  I had a geforce 4 MX 420......simple put: it sucked.

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The True Oracle of all that is EverQuest!!

GaurdianKing

Umm. I have that on one of my old computers. Low grade, very huge difference between the g4 mx 420 and the 9600pro. pro is so much better and they are in different leages. good chioce. The mx class is also the economy class, it was good a couple of years ago, about 1-2 but even then there we alot more chioces of better cards. the card was good value for it's hey day but did not compete to be one of the best. 

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Kunarick

I have 4 computers in my house.  Only 1 of which can run Eq2 without upgrading (my brother's), then i have the one in my room, the one downstairs, and the one in the guestroom, the one in the guestroom is the one closest to playing Eq2. (its behind on RAM and graphics card, i was going to upgrade RAM anyway to make it faster, but now i have to upgrade both)  I didn't choose the graphics card on that one, since i don't use it that much i don't really know how good the graphics card is, but it seems horible compared to alot of the others out here.   If i could have choosen the graphics card i would have gotten something much better.

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The True Oracle of all that is EverQuest!!

sidebuster

Could I suggest checking out the Nvidia Geforce 6800 128MB DDR? I just got that card, and it is possible to play DOOM3 on the highest settings! There is low framerate ever so often, but it is playable which i was suprised. I don't know much about cards, but I am a Nvidia guy myself..