7600gt...do I need it?

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cfb2002

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Jan 3, 2007
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I'm a PC newb trying to figure out what video card I need. I am trying to squeeze about another year from my current system (AGP only). I'm running P4 2.8, 1g ram, WD 7400, Radeon 9600xt. I want it to last close to a year, then I'll upgrade the entire system. I'm considering the GeForce 7600gt, but I'm not sure if it's what I need. I want to get as much GPU power as my system can support, without going overboard.

I use the system primarily for gaming, mostly mmorpg or similar games, such as D&DO and WoW. Currently, D&DO is my main concern. I don't play any FPS or other games normally used in benchmark tests, like Half Life, Far Cry, etc., so the reviews I've found don't really tell me which card is best for me. Other than that, I use basic wp and spreadsheet programs, some basic mapping software, and occasional video editing of home movies.

Is the 7600gt right for me? I want to run D&DO on the highest settings possible with my system. I am also interested in the newer Total War: Medieval II, so I want something that will run it smoothly at high settings.
 
I played the beta of DDO on a FX5600 (with a 64bit memory interface to boot)... It was pretty bad but still playable with some frustration. If I were to try it now with my 7600GT I'm sure it would be plenty for moderate settings and resolutions. It's also a wise choice because anything more powerful would still be held back by your processor at this point. I've never played World of Warcraft but I do play Rappelz for a comparison and my 7600GT does quite well at 1280x960.
 
I would say youd be fine with a cheaper card if you dont wanna play the heavy FPS, RPGs like WoW run great on X800 cards which go for about $130 I think.
 
my buddy went from a radeon 9550 to a 7800 GS AGP. HUGE upgrade for him. he plays a lot of quake 4 recently, and wow big improvement. his details were pretty much medium, a couple high but he had to play at 800x600 for that....now he can crank the resolution to about 1200x1024 and all settings high i believe. if thats worth the cost for you, i'd give it a shot. as long as you can handle turning down settings on future games i don't see why you couldn't get another year our of the system or even possibly two if you push it.

i usually replace my vid card about once every 3 years....yes 3. i drop settings way down and live with some lag until i get the funds lol. usually the real decider is when i can't even start a game i want to play. edler scrolls did that to me twice! first morrowind killed off my voodoo 3 2000 and then oblivion killed off my radeon 9000 pro!
 
I think you will be fine with a 7600gt. It is a huge upgrade from a 9600.

If you want next step up you can get a 7900gs or 1900gt...
 
Marvelous said:
I think you will be fine with a 7600gt. It is a huge upgrade from a 9600.

If you want next step up you can get a 7900gs or 1900gt...
Click to expand...

He's looking for AGP, smart guy. ;)

I'd say a 7600GT will be a tremendous leap. Frankly, when I went from my 9550XT to a 6600GT, it was a huge leap at the time. You should be satisfied with the 7600GT, or, if you can spare the change, look at one of the new AGP Radeon X1950 Pros. They've become the monster of the slot who still has a long way to go. :D
 
I would guess you'll be fine with the 7600. I'm running a 6800 (plain jane) AGP in my system and it handles WoW and BF2 at 1680x1050 with about 1/2 the enhanced graphics items turned up. From what I understand, the 7600 should be a bit faster, plus I'm guessing you're not running it at nearly as a high resolution.
 
If you can find one at your local Best Buy, I would say get the ATi X1950 Pro AGP.
 
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