Just bought a new video card Options

[CheesyLobster]

Well, after buying HL2, I decided that it was time to stop running off of my intigrated mother board video, and finally get a real card. After lots of concideration, I just ordered a ATI Radeon 9800pro 128mb All-in-wonder. Even though they are just coming out with the 800X series, i figued that this was a better value (250 shipped from newegg.com).

I've heard not so good things about VIVO video cards, but it just sound so cool to me to be able to watch tv on the computer.

So did I make a good choice? I know I probably should have asked for advice before i bought it, but i couldnt wait.

Setup:
Asus motherboard
2.8ghz P4
80gb maxor hdd
768mb pc3200 400ddr
intigrated sound
ATI Radeon 9800pro 128mb All-in-wonder

[Blakout16]

i got the same thing.

[Ale_lock]

Well what you hear with computer parts are usually true, AIW's are known to perform worse than their counterparts cause of the added strain of the other features, its always better to get the video card & video capture card (& tuner card too if wanted) seperate but you won't suffer too badly.

edit: I have the 9800pro 128mb also running on 8x agp, it's a fairly old card by now but I haven't upgraded since it came out, its a good choice but you should of went with a tad bit better video card since the games that are soon to come out are gonna be more demanding of the card. I'm planning on upgrading within 3-6 months but don't know to what card yet, its going to be a ATI for sure though.

This post has been edited by Meonspeed: Nov 22, 2004 - 7:43 AM

[Uppitycracker]

Ya Im finding even with an x800 pro, it has trouble with doom3 on max graphics, setting the clock a tad higher fixes this, its amazing the detail in that game. Farcry and HL2 it has no problem with. Anti aliasing is a real killer of frame rates, aswell as anisotropic filtering. I usually have aa at x4 and ani at x8 or x16 which looks really good.

If your waiting a while for a card, maybe wait till ati comes out with its 512mb cards, whenever that may be. It might be long off in which case Id reccomend a x800xt, I wish I would have got that instead, it benchmarks significantly higher then my card.

But ya the 9800 isnt a bad card, and its half the price of a x800. Maybe look into some heavy cooling for it so you can OC it a bit if needed.I can get my x800 to 550/550 stable with stock cooler.

[celicarocker]

i got my 9800 pro for free... it was a major upgrade from my 9600 pro... ill prolly have it for a while....

[sinner96ST]

just picked up my 6600GT AGP today. awesome card, $220 out the door.

[Sev408]

I HATE ATI

NVIDIA ALL THE WAY- I would have bought a Geforce 6800 personally much better then the ati.

[celicarocker]

I HATE ATI 

NVIDIA ALL THE WAY- I would have bought a Geforce 6800 personally much better then the ati.
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what is your reasoning for that? do you have personall bad experiecne with ATi's cards? or are you just a biased person?

[CheesyLobster]

Yeah I know that the newer cards are better, but the 9800pro is still a big upgrade from having not video card at all. When I get it (probably on wed), I'll see if i'm satisfied.

Can you OC the 9800pro through bios? what is the easiest way to do that?

[Sev408]

the programs aquamist, coolbits, powerstrip

can all over clock vid cards

[Sev408]

I HATE ATI 

NVIDIA ALL THE WAY- I would have bought a Geforce 6800 personally much better then the ati.
[right][snapback]210626[/snapback][/right]

what is your reasoning for that? do you have personall bad experiecne with ATi's cards? or are you just a biased person?
[right][snapback]210629[/snapback][/right]

bad experiences and well my friends have had bad experiences. plus nvidia is a better card in terms of how its made and the chip that is used. IT OCs better also.

[jojobombiest]

I had a Radeon 9700 Pro All-In-Wonder, but it doesnt work now. it has a huge heatsink on it but it still decides to overheat when playing videogames... so now i have a geforce fx5700 ultra

[celicarocker]

Yeah I know that the newer cards are better, but the 9800pro is still a big upgrade from having not video card at all. When I get it (probably on wed), I'll see if i'm satisfied.

Can you OC the 9800pro through bios? what is the easiest way to do that?
[right][snapback]210630[/snapback][/right]

do a google search for "radlinker"

it installs to your properties page, and allows you to change the speeds of the card.... and what are these bad experiences sev? im just curious, ive never had bad experiences with an ati card... maybe its more of a user issue?

[Sev408]

Yeah I know that the newer cards are better, but the 9800pro is still a big upgrade from having not video card at all. When I get it (probably on wed), I'll see if i'm satisfied.

Can you OC the 9800pro through bios? what is the easiest way to do that?
[right][snapback]210630[/snapback][/right]

do a google search for "radlinker"

it installs to your properties page, and allows you to change the speeds of the card.... and what are these bad experiences sev? im just curious, ive never had bad experiences with an ati card... maybe its more of a user issue?
[right][snapback]210795[/snapback][/right]

hahaha user issue, definitly not a user issue. they werent even over clocked and the heat sinks failed on one and the other burned out and the heat sink was working fine. now on the other hand the nvidias ive never had a problem and they will hopefully stay that way.

[Uppitycracker]

I HATE ATI 

NVIDIA ALL THE WAY- I would have bought a Geforce 6800 personally much better then the ati.
[right][snapback]210626[/snapback][/right]

what is your reasoning for that? do you have personall bad experiecne with ATi's cards? or are you just a biased person?
[right][snapback]210629[/snapback][/right]

bad experiences and well my friends have had bad experiences. plus nvidia is a better card in terms of how its made and the chip that is used. IT OCs better also.
[right][snapback]210638[/snapback][/right]

Ive heard the exact opposite and my x800 pro overclocks awesome with a stock fan, I cant imagine what Ill get out of it when its being water cooled.....I have nothing against nvidia, but theres no reason to be biased against ati, they make good cards.

[Ale_lock]

Everyone's only putting in their personal preference.

[Uppitycracker]

Everyone's only putting in their personal preference.
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I had a nvidia card before, it was great, it was a gforce4 mx440, my previous card was a voodoo4 and the nvidia card stomped it! I went ati because thats what the reviews suggested. The new nvidia cards are awesome though, they benchmark very well.

[Blakout16]

the ATI vs Gforce is a funny thing reminds me of Toyota Vs Honda... lol sad.

[creis]

I personaly trust ATI more, just because i have never had a bad ATI card or ever known someone who has had one, wile they may not be the fastest there definatly reliable. Althogh now that I have xp my geforce fx 5700 LE OC 256mb does not over heat anymore and runs much better than i ever though posible, my opinon might change.

My geforce now runs hl2 at its highest video settings with absolutly now lag I have yet to move my doom3 files over from my other HD but when i do i can really put it to the test.

[coustoe]

I had a Radeon 9700 Pro All-In-Wonder, but it doesnt work now.    it has a huge heatsink on it but it still decides to overheat when playing videogames...    so now i have a geforce fx5700 ultra 
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overheats eh? i'll buy it for $10

This post has been edited by coustoe: Nov 23, 2004 - 9:54 PM

[Andason]

n3rd a13rt11!11!!!

haha. sorry i had to....

[x_itchy_b_x]

Radeon 9800 xt 256mb here. i love it to death. i play unreal and halo at the highest options for everyhting and res at no smaller than 1280 x 800. Mmmm

[Uppitycracker]

I had a Radeon 9700 Pro All-In-Wonder, but it doesnt work now.    it has a huge heatsink on it but it still decides to overheat when playing videogames...    so now i have a geforce fx5700 ultra 
[right][snapback]210657[/snapback][/right]

Sounds like maybe the heatsink isn't seated properly, or it could be a voltage issue.

[creis]

get some more silicone heatsink carp and try that, also you can do what i do, and put a reg 2.5 inch fan to put right next to it so that it gets plenty of air flow over it.