About video cards

[strab]

Hello,

My new computer will arrive soon, but the place i ordered it from, has a problem with video cards. I was originally going to get a Sapphire 9800 XT, but they will arrive on 30 April with other Sapphire cards. But i think I´d rather get a Pro 256.

Now I have to choose if i should wait till 30 and get a Sapphire 9800 pro 256 for 6400 kroons (500$) or buy aPowercolor 9600 pro 128 for 2000 kroons (150$) now and buy a high end next generation GPU in July/August.

As i understand, the nextgen GPU will require a lot of electricity, if ran on AGP, and cooling, does that mean I would have to buy a new PSU and case then too ? I read that the new nVidia card needs at least a 480w PSU.

The specs are : Intel Pentium 4 3,0 GHz HT 512KB L2 cache 800MHz Bus Socket 478
Abit Socket 478 IC7-G, Intel i875PE chipset
Sapphire RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR, TV-OUT & DVI-------
Samsung 17" LCD-TFT SyncMaster 172X
Logitech Speaker Z-640 5.1 50W RMS
Antec ATX miditower Sonata EC MT 380W
Antec 120mm Blue LED Case fan
2x Corsair DDRAM PC-3200 400MHz 512MB CL 2,0 Twinx ( dual channel )
Microsoft BLACK Multimedia Keyboard PS2 või Logitech Elite Keyboard
Logitech Mouse MX500
Pioneer DVD-ROM 16xDVD/40xCD Black
Lite-On CD-RW LTR-48246S 48/24/48
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 6Y120M0 120GB 7200rpm SATA 150 8MB

What do you think ?
Thank you

 

[waddles]

Don't bother with 256. No games are going to use it, they are all more or less coded to operate within the 128 limits. By the time games are coded to be optimized for 256, there will be far better vid cards out there.

 

[strab]

The Sapphire 9800 pro 128 is about 4000 kroons (300$).

 

[Maxx]

256 does have some advantages, but overall the 256 Pro is slower than the 128 Pro because it uses DDR2. DDR2 has higher innate latency than DDR1. But there are some circumstances in which 256 will be faster. If in doubt, wait for the XT. But if you're a bit strapped or impatient, get the 128 Pro. You will need a new PSU for the next-gen cards, but not necessarily a new case...although BTX is on the horizon and a full tower case would be nice.

 

[strab]

Thank you,

could someone else give me some feedback ?

Should I go with the Sapphire pro 128 or 256, or get the 9600 pro and wait for next gen cards ?
I think that maybe getting the Sapphire pro 9800 now is a better idea, because I´ll have to buy a new PSU and a case too, if I´m going to get the next gen cards ; /.

strab

 

[Maxx]

Many Sapphire Pro 128s use a R360 (XT) core these days, which isn't a big deal but might help you get some more performance out of the card. They're also quite inexpensive (relatively speaking). You won't necessarily need a new case for the next-gen cards, although having a larger case is definitely a bonus. But you will almost definitely need a new PSU. It's difficult for me to say what prices you will get, but over here you can get a good 480W for around 1000 or so kroons ($75). I suspect you'll pay some premium on it, probably closer to 1500. To give you an idea, you can get a Sapphie for as low as $210.

One option for you is to wait (9600 Pro) and get a mid-end next-gen card, like the 6800NU or the X800 SE. That might very well be your best bet, although it will end up costing you at least $200 more than the 9800 Pro route, and probably closer to $300 (for the 9600 Pro, a new PSU, and the price hike over the current 9800 Pro). I don't know your prices well enough to surmise that but...that's my guess. Would it be worth it? Maybe, but a 9800 Pro will carry you until at least the Fall/Winter releases and quite possibly a year from now. I won't shit you, it's a fantastic card, but really who knows how the lesser next-gen cards will do...