Video Card Buying

[Hired Goon]

So, I'm looking to buy a new Graphics Card for my PC. I just got Viet Cong, and cannot invoke terror on Charlie to my satisfaction cos my somewhat old Geforce 2 is too chunky.

Thus, I started looking for a new model. But, so many choices - that I can't decide. So, I was wondering if the wider community of zgeek can provide some recommendations. Here's what I'm tossing up with (ie in the $200-$400 range) :
Radeon ATI 9600 or Geforce 5600FX.

I have the following questions
Is it worth going the 256MB version of the ATI
Is either better suited to AMD/Intel configuration
Which brand name is better?
What's the best value I can get for money?

So much info out there on Video Cards that it's hard to find the answers to these questions. So what do YOU reckon?

[Bifrost]

OK...

ATI have apparently been steadily improving the compatability on their cards, but the fact is that nVidia and AMD are bum chums from way back (in the same way as Intel and Microsoft are).

If you have an AMD chip on your motherboard, then you're best bet in terms of long-lasting compatability is to go for an nVidia card.

The ATI fans out there may disagree, but even the later cards I've heard have some nasty little niggles which cause minor issues in games here and there with AMD chips.

[Glompbot]

I'd be interested to know which would be the better choice too...

I've been looking at buying a new video card and the Radeon ATI 9600 was one of the choices.

I've had a lot of people recommend that one to me, once they'd gotten over the whole drooling over the 9800 and once I'd insisted its just NOT within my price range...

I've got an AMD CPU. *nod*

[SmaSheD_CoW]

Originally posted by HiredGoon
So, I'm looking to buy a new Graphics Card for my PC. I just got Viet Cong, and cannot invoke terror on Charlie to my satisfaction cos my somewhat old Geforce 2 is too chunky.

Thus, I started looking for a new model. But, so many choices - that I can't decide. So, I was wondering if the wider community of zgeek can provide some recommendations. Here's what I'm tossing up with (ie in the $200-$400 range) :
Radeon ATI 9600 or Geforce 5600FX.

I have the following questions
Is it worth going the 256MB version of the ATI
Is either better suited to AMD/Intel configuration
Which brand name is better?
What's the best value I can get for money?

So much info out there on Video Cards that it's hard to find the answers to these questions. So what do YOU reckon?

Given that the 256MB version of the 9600pro is only about $40 extra, it's probably worth the investment.

If you do decide to go with the radeon, make sure it's compatible with your mobo. I've had several mates who've bought the 9700pro, suffered a tonne of problems, and then eventually been told that the card was incompatible with their mobo. I'm not sure if it's an issue with the 9600, but it's worth checking out.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the FX5600. The whole FX range has been, well, substandard. If you decide to go for an nVidia chip, you're probably best off looking for a GF 4 Ti4200 or 4600. The first result in my google search regarding this came up with http://www.digital-daily.com/video/nvidia-nv31/index02.htm - some benchmarking showing that the Ti4200 is better than the FX5600, and from what I know the Ti4800 performs slightly better than the Ti4200. The Ti4200 should be available for around $220ish (depending on where you shop). The Ti4800 will be $30-40 extra.

Anyhoo, that's just my opinion. Ditch any idea of getting an FX. Either go the radeon 9600pro, or the GF 4 Ti4200/4800, depending on your mobo, and the price difference :)

[sagit]

go with ati. 5600 = shite

[Hired Goon]

Originally posted by SmaSheD_CoW
If you do decide to go with the radeon, make sure it's compatible with your mobo.

Yeah, I have had the same reservations about the Radeon from what I have heard. I got AMD 1800XP at the mo, but planning to upgrade that in the coming months to a P4 3GHZ. Well, it's off to the swap meet to check out the merchandise.

Sounds like the 5600 is surely a no-go though, so I'll check out the Radeon and GF4.

[BlueBoy]

I run a FX5600. I've had no problems with it at all.
I don't really have many brand new games, but Jedi Knight 2 and Battlefield 1942 run fine with out any probs.

Plus they look pretty. :D

[DOGG]

Firstly, unless you're planning on playing at 2048 x 1536 with 4xFSAA or 1920 x 1200 with 6xFSAA, the extra 128m is totally useless.

I'd probably go for the 9600 (PRO) even though i've never had any experience with ATIs. Choosing between the GF4 TI range and the Radeon should depend on whether you are planning on using FSAA and high anisotropic filtering modes or not.

VGA Card Buyer's Guide 07/2003
http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030714/

Take notice that they compare the ULTRA FX rather than the normal model.

Other guides which you might wanna check out are

Strike Force: The new ATI Radeon 9800, 9600 and 9200 Series
http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030306/

VGA Charts, Part II
http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030120/

And finally, you can check what you should be paying here

www.razorprices.com

it searches australian online shops.

[Spingo]

Originally posted by SmaSheD_CoW
Personally, I wouldn't bother with the FX5600. The whole FX range has been, well, substandard. If you decide to go for an nVidia chip, you're probably best off looking for a GF 4 Ti4200 or 4600. The first result in my google search regarding this came up with http://www.digital-daily.com/video/nvidia-nv31/index02.htm - some benchmarking showing that the Ti4200 is better than the FX5600, and from what I know the Ti4800 performs slightly better than the Ti4200. The Ti4200 should be available for around $220ish (depending on where you shop). The Ti4800 will be $30-40 extra.

Ermmm.. It actually depends on the application you sue the graphics card for. nVidia's FX series is better for OpenGL than the Radeon cards - this is primarily as a result of the large amounts of work nVidia has done in regards to CG over the last 18 months. On the other hand, the DirectX performance of the ATi cards beats nVidia cards because ATi stick directly with the DirectX standard and renders everything in 24-bit colour, where the GeForce FX cards render in 32-bit colour, and then downsample. This was the main cause over the Futuremark debarcle of this time last year.

Aaaaanyway, I'd lean towards the Radeon 9600 because more games are DirectX based, so I'd personally see better performance.

[Hired Goon]

FYI, I bought a Powercolor Radeon 9600 Pro. Seems to do the job nicely for now. At $215, pretty reasonable pricing too.

And now for the final phase of my master plan - upgrade of my Mudda Board and CPU. AMD or P4? Now that's a whole other forum thread!

Thanks for your input zgeekers! :)