Preference on new Video Card.

[Zaxis]

I finally decided to buy a new vid card... I currently have this stock card:

NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200

-RAM- 128MB DDR
-Core Speed- 250MHz
-Mem Bus Speed- 400Mhz

The FPS currently with this vid card on Planetside is usually around 60 FPS with nothing going on (I customize the video settings as low as it can possibly get. And the target FPS I have set is around 85.) However, during a skirmish or large battle, I have an FPS of an almost unplayable 20 FPS.

I did some research and found some possibilities, there are 5. Each of these vid cards were tested for FPS at a screen resolution of 1,024 x 768 on UT2K3's always fun Anatalus level. (Keep in mind that I am an avid PC gamer, so I'll be buying other new releases soon enough.) I need the experts advice (you guys)!!! What card would probably be the most reasonable card for me to get?

PNY GeForce FX 5900 SE

-RAM- 128MB DDR
-Core Speed- 390MHz
-Mem Bus Speed- 700MHz
-Anatalus FPS- 181.2

Price: $200


Gigabyte ATI Radeon 9800 XT

-RAM- 256MB DDR
-Core Speed- 412 MHz
-Mem Bus Speed- 730 MHz
-Anatalus FPS- 201.5

Price: $428 (a tad expensive)


Leadtek GeForce FX 5950 Ultra

-RAM- 256MB DDR
-Core Speed- 475MHz
-Mem Bus Speed- 950 MHz
-Anatalus FPS- 209.7

Price: $380


Gainward GeForce FX 5900 Ultra

-RAM- 256MB DDR
-Core Speed- 450MHz
-Mem Bus Speed- 850MHz
-Anatalus FPS- 204.4

Price: $339


Sapphire ATI Radeon 9800 PRO

-RAM- 128MB DDR
-Core Speed- 380MHz
-Mem Bus Speed- 680MHz
-Anatalus FPS- 188.7

Price: $205

[Rbstr]

9800 pro is were it's at man

[I Hate Pants]

Sapphire ATI Radeon 9800 PRO

-RAM- 128MB DDR
-Core Speed- 380MHz
-Mem Bus Speed- 680MHz
-Anatalus FPS- 188.7

Price: $205
^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Zaxis]

I couldn't find any prices less than the one I gave for the 9800. If anyone finds a price lower than 205 dollars, please give me the link to it!!

[NoSurrender]

dude i have the 5900 SE the 9800pro would be a much better choice

[MattxMosh]

That 9800p is the same one I have, but I snagged it brand new on ebay for $175 months ago.

thats the "effective" memory clock by the way, actual clock is 338 on mine.

[Daleon]

Man, those prices are insane. You can do much better than that.

A 9800 Pro or 5900 Ultra should both go under $200 very easily. Try newegg, they are selling some refurbs for $150 and under. Either of these cards will do a good job in the $200 and under range. No reason to spend more unless your going to spend over $400.

[Zaxis]

Also, on my old computer, I had a much better vid card than the stock card on this computer. When I tried to replace the stock card with the old computer vid card, the old computer vid card wouldn't fit in my new computer. This is probably an incredibly stupid question, but how do you find out if the card will fit into your computer before you buy it? Is there a certain spec for that?

[Daleon]

There are 2 kinds of slots you are dealing with, more than likely unless something is really new or really old.

PCI and AGP

Its easy to tell what you got because AGP will be the very first expansion slot on your MB and it will look different than all the others. Its normally brown and farther over to the right.

Now if your old system had an AGP video card and your new computer doesn't have one, your going to be in rough waters. Hope that your old one just had PCI and your new one has the AGP. As none of the high end cards come in PCI.

[Zaxis]

Aye, I'll have to check that out next time I'm home... Thanks a bunch!!!

[Kuraltai]

May be a little late on this .. but here's a good card you may be interested in.

Gainward FX5700 Ultra (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-128-188&depa=1)

[Rbstr]

the 9800 beats it hands down and thast waht he should get i fhe can afford it, they're even nearly the same price

[Zaxis]

I actually looked at that card while during my research, however, for some apparent reason (I have not a clue why) it didn't seem to meet or exceed my standards (I have no clue what my standards are really (don't ask...))

-End of parentheses-

[HunterKiller]

forget the 9800 pro, save up and get an X800 or 6800.

[Rbstr]

in his case i say not, the 9800pro fits his system much better that fact is teh X800/680 will be limited by the rest of his specs

[HunterKiller]

^^^^

then he should save up and wait till he can upgrade his whole system.

[Electrofreak]

Sapphire Radeon 9800 PRO (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&depa=0) from www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com) for $197.00

Its a 1 day sale tho, only good until Sept. 2nd at 4:00 PST. You'll notice that shipping is FREE too :)

Many people have gotten R360 cores too, which basically means that this card is a 9800 XT in disquise, and you can flash up to a 9800 XT no problem.

[Rbstr]

^^^^

then he should save up and wait till he can upgrade his whole system.

no, he doesn't that system will still be adequate espicaly whit the 9800pro, i'm getting a 6800 gt and thats that for this comp, but i'll still be able to play games for 2 years or so at nice speeds, so i'm not worried(dx10 doens't come out untill much later with longhorn)