Video Card Upgrade

[STLRamsFan]

Hey guys, I've had my ol' ATI Radeon 9800 pro card for awhile and I'm considering a possible upgrade. I'm not interested in buying anything expensive and such, just want something better than what I have for the best deal.

So far I'm liking this: ATI Radeon X1800 GTO 256 MB NIB (Ebay) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-Technologies-ATI-Radeon-X1800-GTO-256-MB-NIB_W0QQitemZ130319805838QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCC_Vi deo_TV_Cards?hash=item1e57aa6d8e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1234%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50)
I have an Abit IC7-MAX3 Motherboard (http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/motherboards/ABIT_IC7_MAX3_1.html) so I would assume it would be fine...

[Ganon]

I can tell you that that card won't fit on your motherboard. you'll need either AGP or PCI. from what i've seen, both those formats are rather old and gfx cards aren't made for them anymore. most are all pci-express now...

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

The best agp card there is is the 3850 I think, but probably rediculously bottlenecked
6YK9dbwraDg
Crysis Very high on 3850

[InnerGoat]

You won't find many AGP cards any more. Not too many used ones either as most of them would have died off by now.

There are some AGP 6800GTs on ebay that would be nice though. :-3

[Limited]

I'm feeling your AGP pain too rams, although that agp in the video looks very sexi.

[Ganon]

I'm feeling your AGP pain too rams, although that agp in the video looks very sexi.

ehhh its actually pretty terrible looking lol... compared to what u can get with other cards

[Limited]

Not other AGP cards though, right?

[Ganon]

wouldn't know

[Warsaw]

Best AGP card on the market is indeed the HD3850. Best to go with that, or save up a little cash and completely overhaul the machine...which is actually a better idea, since you won't have to do that again for awhile. If you just get the AGP card, you will be even more obsolete in 6 months, to the point of needing a major upgrade anyways.

[Cojafoji]

uh, i see ati 4000 cards in the agp section at newegg...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201069609639%201305520549%20106792627&name=Radeon%20HD%204000%20series

[Varmint260]

But isn't a 3850 still more powerful than a 4650?

[Warsaw]

But do you see any 48x0 cards? :downs:

Performance between the 4670 and 3850 is pretty much identical. Might get better AA out of the 4670 though, and the 4670 has higher clocks, but nothing that a slight OC on the 3850 can't do.

[Cojafoji]

48x0
uh what? i see 4x/8x. both of which are supported by his current mobo.

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

He's talking about a 4800 series card such as the 4870 or 4850 >.>

[Cojafoji]

He's talking about a 4800 series card such as the 4870 or 4850 >.>
why i oughta...

it's 2 am.

[STLRamsFan]

Best AGP card on the market is indeed the HD3850. Best to go with that, or save up a little cash and completely overhaul the machine...which is actually a better idea, since you won't have to do that again for awhile. If you just get the AGP card, you will be even more obsolete in 6 months, to the point of needing a major upgrade anyways.

To be quite honest, this machine has been good for over 5 years and still is a darn good machine for my needs. Usually do some tweaking here and there to keep it going. Really have no desire to spend a bucket load on a different machine until this thing is COMPLETELY outdated to the point where it can't load up the newest word to perfection (haha). The two things that need to be addressed at the moment are the video card and RAM (only have a gig....) which won't be a problem. Did have a case problem but that was already addressed for like $30 awhile back.

As far as the HD3850, I'm sure you guys are talking about this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102730

Just want to be make sure cause I already know a few places where I can get that for a bit cheaper.

[InnerGoat]

Yeah that one. You'll enjoy it.

[Warsaw]

Or you can go with the 4670 if you don't want to mess with external power plugs for the video card. I'd probably switch my recommendation over to that one. Same performance, less hassle.

[Bhamid]

Do you get the 4670 in AGP?

[STLRamsFan]

Can't believe it's been this long... Well I finally ponied up some bucks and decided to get this video card. May not be the best and all that, but remember this computer is over 5 years old and I have a budget to keep so yeeea:

http://cgi.ebay.com/256MB-ATI-Radeon-256-MB-9800-PRO-AGP-8X-Video-Card-DVI_W0QQitemZ220490662250QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCC_Vi deo_TV_Cards?hash=item335644816a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Before I bid, just want to make sure that:
A. This is sure to be compatible with my motherboard (ABIT IC7-MAX3).
B. This is close, better, as good as, my previous graphic card (reason I ask this is because some graphic cards can be a *little* misleading).

[InnerGoat]

That's... basically the same card

:?

[STLRamsFan]

Yea I know, but I just need a "newer" one of the same video card... The one I have is basically fried. :|

[Amit]

Dude, throw together some more change and buy an AGP card that might actually do something for you. Unless you plan on playing Halo for the rest of that computer's life, that will do fine, but you'd be basically giving you money away.

This X1650 PRO AGP (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073) would do you a fuck load better for the same price. Read the ratings, you won't be disappointed.

[Warsaw]

HD3650 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102814)-$63

Open Box HD3850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102730R)-$67

And then 4650s run from $75 to $85, and it's bigger brother, the 4670, runs at ~$100.

If you buy that 9800 Pro, you are basically chucking money out the window.

[STLRamsFan]

To be quite honest, I don't have any plans on using it to play any of the later generation games at this point. To be honest, the only games I really even play on it is Halo and Battle for Dune (uninstalled at the moment). The 360 and Wii are good enough for me when it comes to some of the later games (besides the shooters, cannot stand the new ones at this point to be honest). Considering the computer was put together for $1000 and has run well all these years with a little bit of tweaking here and there, I'm taking it as far as it can go.

I actually just paid the money, pitching in a couple more dollars for some RAM and it should be good to go for another year or two. :)

[Amit]

Are you saying that you actually bought another 9800 PRO?

[STLRamsFan]

Yea, someone is giving me like a 50% discount for it. I really don't care, I just want to be able to actually play a game of Halo and view a video... :|

[Cortexian]

I could of sent you an old ATI X800 All-In-Wonder if you paid for the shipping... The TV tuner portion of it stopped working quite awhile ago but other than that it still performs great. And it's better than a 9800 Pro iirc.

[STLRamsFan]

Damn man you should have told me sooner, cause I would have totally took that offer. Oh well. :(