Card recommendation for old PC

[Burglar]

Hello all this is my first post.
I want to purchase a new graphic card (AGP).
I googled a bit and came to this forum a few days ago.
I've read a lot through the threads and it's a great forum about oc and modding.
I think I will buy a x800 Pro or a x850 Pro.
I certainly want to get 16 Pipes with it. Any recommandation which card/manufacturer has the highest chance to be flashed? (Or is it better to get a XT version?)

My system specs are as follows:
AMD Athlon XP2400+
ASUS A7N8X (nforce2)
2x256 MB RAM ( I WILL upgrade to 1 GB have 1 free slot for one 512 MB free)
GeForce 3Ti eek: old stupid card so I MUST get a new one asap)
WinXP Pro SP2

Thanks in advance

 

[savor_of_filth]

I think you should get the XT version... X850XT PE from HIS with Ice-Q II, and oc like

heaven... but your CPU will hold you back (bottleneck)

 

[Burglar]

The HIS X850 XT IceQ II is certainly a great card, but I am from Germany and the card cost
nearly 400€ which is way too much. From geizhals.at I found only one shop that sells the card for the mentioned price.
And if my CPU bottlenecks isn't it better to get a x800 Pro? (one that could be flashed @ 16 Pipes)

 

[Tatty_Two]

If you are looking for value and performance you do not want a card that will be throttled too much by your CPU as you just wont be getting all the performance therefore it will not be value for money. I would look around for maybe the x800pro or xt version like you mentioned or consider the new 7600GS that has just come out. I would not advise just thinking in only terms of 16 pipes as there are cards with less but newer generation that will perform as well or near to for example 7600GS/7600Gt AGP will perform as well generally as some older generation 16 pipe cards like the 6800/x800 or even x850pro and in some tests better, just make sure you get at least 256MB. If you are looking for a really reasonable card now some of the x800 variants are really good value especially the 12 pipe ones and if you are very selective about your purchase then get a 12 pipe that has a good track record of unlocking to 16....the Nvidia 6800GS for example.

 

[savor_of_filth]

7600 GT runs better than X 800 PRO and 6800 GS also its cheaper...

but you can unlock 4 extra pipes 6800 GS or plain 6800...

 

[Burglar]

Hey. Thanks for the replies. I looked @ the 7600 GT, but in Germany it is not out yet
(It's supposed to be out mid August).
And I found only one from Leadtek, but no price known yet.

Edit: Question: Can you unlock all Geforce 6800 / GS ??

 

[savor_of_filth]

90 percent plain 6800 are unlockable

I dont know 'bout 6800 GS

X 800GTO2 cheaper though.. and its 100 percent unlockable...

(some of them came w/ stock 16 pp)

 

[Burglar]

Now I'm confused

In this link
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=5215
it says there is no GTO2 for AGP.

 

[savor_of_filth]

SORRY,, I forgot...

go for 6800 GS or plain 6800...runs great and stable while overclocking ...

X 800PRO > 6800GS > PLAIN 6800. all of it are unlockable...

and upgrade your CPU to athlon xp 2800+ (great for OC..)

-sorry for my crappy English...-

 

[bretts31344]

Now I'm confused

In this link
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=5215
it says there is no GTO2 for AGP.

I think they meant to say X800 GTO, get the Sapphire one, and it should be %100 unlockable if not already unlocked.

 

[savor_of_filth]

Performance = 7600gt

Best Bang 4 The Bucks = X800 Gto (get Sapphire Or Connect3d, Its 100%unlockable)

 

[x800professor]

Performance = 7600gt

Best Bang 4 The Bucks = X800 Gto (get Sapphire Or Connect3d, Its 100%unlockable)

7600GT isn't out for AGP yet...at least I can't find it anywhere.

 

[strick94u]

I am very happy with my 7800 gs seems to run everything quite well

 

[Tatty_Two]

I had two plain 6800's and neither were unlockable but almost every 6800GS is and it's outrageously overclockable, I think my choice would be either the 6800GS or a x800GTO with a good unlock track record, both will be fairly similar in performance unlocked but the 6800 has sm3.

 

[Tatty_Two]

I am very happy with my 7800 gs seems to run everything quite well

very good card but I think thats up a bracket in the price stakes and will be throttled by his cpu.

 

[Burglar]

thank you guys. I appreciate your help. I will compare the suggested cards and check the actual prices @ www.geizhals.at and look for some reviews on the net.
In the moment I also vote for a X800 GTO or 6800 GS. X850 or 7900 would probably be overkill for my CPU (even if I upgrade to 2800+ or 3000+ sometime). I think I should also wait for the 7600 GT to come out for AGP to compare prices.

On 8th of August I saw a ASUS X800 Pro/TVD on Alternate shop for 129€ whcih was a very nice price I think. I looked on the net, read some reviews and came here and saw that it was most likey unlockable...
Yesterday I wanted to buy the card, but it was gone
It was there only for 2 days. I think Alternate had only a very few, because on the 7th there hadn't been that offer.

 

[strick94u]

very good card but I think thats up a bracket in the price stakes and will be throttled by his cpu.

Yes I regret building a new AGP system talk about dumb
but it cooks for an agp system. I was saving to switch but I spent all that on a new 19 inch hd ready wide screen Flat panle last night. but ya know when I was looking for a 6800 ultra the price diff between it and the 7800 was about 80 bucks so I went for the 7800 and let tell you I hands down beats the crap out of the x800xt it replaced not just frame rates but more importantly visule quality though I am sure I would have gotten that with the 6800 also yet newer silicone smells better

 

[Burglar]

Hi once again. First of all thank you for your replies. At the moment I would go for a 7600 GS. The 7600 GT isn't out yet. So my question is which card?

I checked prices:
- ASUS N7600GS/HTD, GeForce 7600 GS, 256MB DDR, DVI, TV-out -> 108,29
- Club 3D GeForce 7600 GS, 256MB DDR2, DVI, TV-out -> 105,50 €
- EVGA GeForce 7600 GS, 256MB DDR2, DVI, TV-out -> 123,25 €
- Gainward BLISS GeForce 7600 GS, 256MB DDR2, DVI, TV-out -> 121,85 €
- MSI NX7600GS-TD256, GeForce 7600 GS, 256MB DDR2, DVI, TV-out -> 115,48 €
- MSI NX7600GS-TD512Z, GeForce 7600 GS, 512MB DDR2, DVI, TV-out -> 138,77 €
- PNY Verto GeForce 7600 GS, 256MB DDR2, DVI, TV-out -> 116,90 €
- XFX GeForce 7600 GS, 256MB DDR2, DVI, TV-out -> 139,00 €

I think the ASUS and XFX fall out, because they have lower tacts. All others have the same specs. So I would vote for Club 3D one.
Prices compared to 6800 GS and X800 or X850 ones are nearly less than 50€. So with my old PC I would tend for a 7600 GS and from the 50€ spared buy 512 MB RAM so I have 1GB altogether.

One further question: Just today there is another offer:
- Palit/XpertVision GeForce 6800 GS, 256MB GDDR3, DVI, TV-out -> 103,10 €
Would you go for this card or the Club 3D (keeping in mind my PC specs) ?

 

[Frick]

I'd go for the 6800GS. It's faster than the 7600GS, apparently.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?id=1856&cid=3&pg=1

 

[dertimaushh]

I think this would be a good choice.

[Sapphire] Radeon X800 GTO 256MB 16Pipes AGP 149€

http://www.mad-moxx.de/shop/articleDetail.jsf?articleId=1005.10426

Edit:
Palit/XpertVision GeForce 6800 GS, 256MB GDDR3, DVI, TV-out -> 103,10 € looks very good for your rig.

Edit2:
Palit/XpertVision Radeon X850 XT, 256MB GDDR3, DVI, TV-out, AGP -> 178,45€

http://www.geizhals.at/deutschland/a198950.html

 

[Tatty_Two]

I would take the 6800GS, it is faster than the 7600 mainly due to the 256bit bandwidth and thats without the potential of unlocking the extra 4 pipes so even if that fails you have the slightly faster card which, unlike the x800GTO has SM3.0 support also, looks like a very good buy!

 

[Burglar]

Hey - I looked at the deatails in the shops which offer the 6800 GS cards for 103€.
It seems that there are different version from the palit card. The cheaper ones
( http://www.geizhals.at/deutschland/a195791.html )
have only 128 Bit !! (the others got 256 Bit)
So I think the 7600 GS would be the best choice so far for that money.
Surely, the card dertimaushh suggested are superior. But I don't think spending 50 or 80 € more is worth it. For 40€ I can get 512 MB RAM and spending more money in my old system isn't worth it. I checked ASUS - the best CPU I could get for my A7N8X is Athlon 3200+ which cost too much compared to newer better CPUs...
I must get a new system anyway sooner or later whichever card I will buy...
Maybe I should overclock my Athlon 2400+. I heard it's possible.
But I think the cards dertimaushh suggested are superior to GeForce 6800 GS cards and would be the best choice if I would like to spend some more money.

 

[Burglar]

A further question: What do you think of this card?
http://www3.atelco.de/8A7rgGBv_6wo9V/1/articledetail.jsp?aid=5260&agid=279&ref=13

Is that better than
http://www.mad-moxx.de/shop/articleDetail.jsf?articleId=1005.10426
this one. Probably only if the first can be unlocked?!

 

[Tatty_Two]

A further question: What do you think of this card?
http://www3.atelco.de/8A7rgGBv_6wo9V/1/articledetail.jsp?aid=5260&agid=279&ref=13

Is that better than
http://www.mad-moxx.de/shop/articleDetail.jsf?articleId=1005.10426
this one. Probably only if the first can be unlocked?!

Personally I would go for the 850pro, it is highly likely that it will flash to XT giving you 16 pipes and much faster clocks but either are good, you may be able to flash the 800 also but with the 850 you are starting with the R480 core, whats the 800...is it the 423? Sorry missed the prices, what are they again?

Edit: Just looked at the prices....maybe go for the 800 with definate 16 pipes, get some decent aftermarket cooling and a flash and you will be flying for that price!

 

[cdawall]

im getting a x800GTO to myself this one to be exact http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102608
and i have been told i will either get 16pp stock or mod to it but it is supposed to be a good card (wont get it till after the 1st 6weeks of school but still) though only the r423 core it should do fine as an upgrade from my ti4200 coolest card ever 340/580 stock hsf