Recommend AGP Card for final upgrade

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Met-AL

Supreme [H]ardness
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Apr 9, 2002
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I am wanting a new video card for the system in my sig. It is AGP based NF2 with a Barton at 2.65Ghz. Currently I am using a 9700-pro that is OCed. It's starting to show it's age in games like BF2.

I looking at a X850-XTPE for $360 at NewEgg. Or should I go with a mid-range card like the X800XL for around $250? This will be the last upgrade for me on this old AGP based system. I want to try to squeeze another year out of it.

I play mostly Source based games, SOF2, and BF2. Looking forward to playing Q4 online..... I hope -depends on wether or not it sucks.

I need some opinions here and thanks ahead of time.
 
6800gt or ultra but they are from nvidia so i donno if u would like that
 
I agree with ALL4AMD, that'd be the best bet for that system...Also with the newest drivers from nVidia Twin View, and overclocking are easier...
 
If you don't mind taking a slight risk, and considering that insane OC on your barton I would say you're the adventurous type anyway, you might take a look at the refurbished x800pros on Newegg. I see a sweet looking Sapphire x800pro for $180 right now - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102380R That's $100 less than if you bought it new, and you might be able to unlock the other 4 pipes.
You have 15 days to return the refurbished stuff, so if you give it a good testing, you'll probably be safe.
[/2¢]
 
just a note only the x800 pro VIVO cards can be softmodded to 16pipes , the non vivos are lasercut.
now if you can get a vivo like i did then BANG you got a winner.
 
flynlr said:
just a note only the x800 pro VIVO cards can be softmodded to 16pipes , the non vivos are lasercut.
now if you can get a vivo like i did then BANG you got a winner.
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Be careful there too.. I have seen lasercut vivo cards too.
My 850pro is supposed to be softmodable to a 850xtpe bios but my pipes are cut.
 
I would say nothing above a 6800GT or X800 XL. It will be a waste of time. Since you want to keep the card for another year, a 6800GT makes more sense, since it contains more features and is hence, more future proofed. That's why you see a 6800GT in my sig too.
 
lloose said:
Be careful there too.. I have seen lasercut vivo cards too.
My 850pro is supposed to be softmodable to a 850xtpe bios but my pipes are cut.
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ahh but we are talking about the 800
 
Thanks for all the input. 6800GT or X800XL it is then. I am going to wait and see what Q4 does in benchmarks and pick one of the two then.

Good idea on the refurbished suggestion, but I am to chicken for that. From what I can tell, when something goes back to the Egg, it just get's stuck back on the shelf. Too many stories here about unhappy refurb buyers.

Much appreciated.
 
Another vote for the 6800GT, especially if you get a good deal like I did, maybe the FS/FT forums ? :D
 
Another vote for 6800GT as well... I think it will perform better with Q4 than the X800XL ;)
 
Met-AL said:
Thanks for all the input. 6800GT or X800XL it is then. I am going to wait and see what Q4 does in benchmarks and pick one of the two then.


Much appreciated.
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If your interested in Q4, its open gl, so the 6800gt will perform better. ATI has always lacked Nvidia in ogl.
 
nunyabiz said:
If your interested in Q4, its open gl, so the 6800gt will perform better. ATI has always lacked Nvidia in ogl.
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Yeah just look at Doom3 reviews, Quake4 is nothing but the Doom3 engine given to raven untouched for creating Quake4.
 
nunyabiz said:
If your interested in Q4, its open gl, so the 6800gt will perform better. ATI has always lacked Nvidia in ogl.
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The rumor is that Q4 will run better than D3, but yea, I am thinking the same thing.... nVidia for D3/Q4.
 
I am in the same boat and I bit on the refurb direct from ati. For $193 shipped you can get the x800 pro agp. Nothing spectacular but good enough for a final agp upgrade.

I'm not an ATI !!!!!! or employee but if I keep posting this link people are gonna think I am. :p

x800 pro 256mb agp

EDIT: LOL f4nb0y is censored. BTW .. this comes with a 3 yr mfg warranty. Not the 15 day stuff you get from NewEgg refurbs.
 
Yeah.. I would have to say the X800 series AGP cards are damn good for the price as mentioned above.
 
KickAssCop said:
AGP :rolleyes:
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ATI has at least preliminarily planned to make the X1600 available with a bridge chip, bridged AGP X1600s were mentioned in the X1000 series launch slide show. Not available yet, and we may never see them, but they have not been ruled out either.
 
I don't know about SOF2, but BF2 is not a Source-based game.
nVidia is better for BF2 and Quake4 engines.. ATI is better for HL2 (Source-based) and FarCry.. I don't know if they have an AGP version of the 7800, if not, you would probably be good with a 6800 Ultra for Q4 and BF2
 
dimmmy said:
I don't know about SOF2, but BF2 is not a Source-based game.
nVidia is better for BF2 and Quake4 engines.. ATI is better for HL2 (Source-based) and FarCry.. I don't know if they have an AGP version of the 7800, if not, you would probably be good with a 6800 Ultra for Q4 and BF2
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I think you miss read what I typed...I play mostly Source based games, SOF2, and BF2. Meaning I mostly play Source based games (HL2/CS:S/DOD:S), SOF2 (OpenGL), and BF2 (DX).

Anything can run SOF2 nowdays. It's BF2 that is a bugger and Q4 is gonna be also.
 
b1k3r4ck said:
I am in the same boat and I bit on the refurb direct from ati. For $193 shipped you can get the x800 pro agp. Nothing spectacular but good enough for a final agp upgrade.

I'm not an ATI !!!!!! or employee but if I keep posting this link people are gonna think I am. :p

x800 pro 256mb agp

EDIT: LOL f4nb0y is censored. BTW .. this comes with a 3 yr mfg warranty. Not the 15 day stuff you get from NewEgg refurbs.
Click to expand...

Holy cow its only $179. Now, I wouldn't have a problem buying a refurb from ATi. 3yr warranty. Thanks for the tip.
 
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