Videocards.. which to buy and whatnot.. simply videocards!

[Jopuma]

AGP is so crap now lol.

It still has decent capability. I've used AGP for a long time, but don't really notice a difference between my AGP and PCI-E cards. I guess its just a slightly faster data transfer rate.

[Jmac-]

I'd get the 512mb 8800 GT,imo its abit more extra than a 9600 GT and its better.
ZOMG, the 9800 GX2 is out xD, 50% faster than a 8800 ULTRA Z0mg

I'll agree w/ that ... The 8800 GT isn't much (if any) more these days than either of those cards ... although I find the reference fans of both the 9600 GT and 8800 GT to be very annoying. If you're going to get either one, get one that comes w/ an aftermarket cooler pre-installed.

[GINIX_2007]

http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Viper-Rad ... lectronics
I cant seem to find a review on this card. Can anyone give me a hand?

[Jmac-]

http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Viper-Rad ... lectronics
I cant seem to find a review on this card. Can anyone give me a hand?

It appears to be a reference design HD 3870 ... Basically every hardware review site on the planet has a review of it.

Google HD 3870 review and a bunch should pop up ...

[GINIX_2007]

thats the thing, its not a reference design it has a better cooler than the stock 3870. I cant find this one.

[Stereo]

I'm having trouble between choosing two GeForce 9600GT's or a Radeon 3870X2. My mobo doesn't have a PCI-E 2.0 slot. There's only 2 PCI-E x16 slots.
Do PCI-E 2.0 cards work in x16 slots? I read that they SHOULD, but I haven't ready any proof of it.

The 3870X2 is x16, so I know that should work fine. But if I would ever want to crossfire it, then it wouldn't work because my mobo is only SLI compatible. Although CrossFire is a lot better because the cards don't have to be the same for you to connect them.

So which one?

If I could use a 9600GT and SLI it, I would be really happy, cause it would be the same price as one 3870X2 and it would perform better. And would I get 1GB of memory when I SLi them? (would it virtually be ONE video card with 1GB of memory and 512-bit?)

[BrontoX]

I have a PCI-E 16x with a 9600GT and it works so it should work on your mobo, but what kind of chipset do you have cuz if it's a crossfire board you can't do SLI without hacked drivers and an SLI bridge.
Now, 2 9600GTs are better than 1 GTX and the 3870x2 has some driver bugs last i heard.

[Stereo]

I read the 3870x2 had come bugs in CoD4.
(and I mentioned my mobo was SLi compatible btw, nForce 4)

So I'll probably SLi two 9600's.

I'm also wondering if I should get a one-slot version of it or a two-slot version with good reviews and an actual FAN and heatsink. The problem is that if I choose the two-slot cards, I don't think there'd be enough space for the top card to have enough circulation, since it's so close to the other card. (Only one PCI Express x1 slot is between the two x16 slots)
The card I was looking at was This!!!!!
It has good reviews on NewEgg and on other sites. And they say the fan is very efficient and quiet, so that's good too. The thing I like about it is that it has holes on the sides for air ventilation. I'm no expert, but I think that the fan can get air through those holes, right?

Or should I just get a one-slot card like an EVGA or XFX?

BTW BrontoX how long is your card? I need to know if it's gonna get in the way of other stuff or not.

[BrontoX]

Mine is Gainward 9600GT with dual slot cooler solution and it's very good it even has a filter (doesn't let alot of dust get between the fan) and at 25% fan (you can't hear the fan at 25%) in idle i get 34-36C and in full load i get 55 (compared to 40+ in idle and 64+ in full load on the single slot).

About the length, i don't know, and i can't open the case because of the warranty. But when i saw the card inside the case (Cooler Master Centurion 5) it was about a fist of clearance, if you have a ATX case you should be fine.

[Stereo]

I'm having second thoughts. >_<

Should I buy a more powerful card for the money and not do SLi? Because the second PCI slot has a connector for my internal Card Reader next to it. And I can always disconnect it, but I dunno.

What's better. SLi two 9600's or get a 8800GT/GTS for the same money or less?

[BrontoX]

8800GTS G92 is less powerful than the GTX and 2 9600GTs are better than one GTX so better get 2 9600GTs also the 8800GT is only good in SLI.

[GINIX_2007]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/03/05/ ... page2.html
Maybe this will help.
I think its better you go with a 8800GT or a 3870. By the way what size monitor do you plan on running .

EDIT: 1000 posts!!!

[BrontoX]

Well if he want performance he should get either 2 8800GTs or 2 9600GTs, but if he wants to spend less money they he should in no way buy a 3870 over the 8800GT which is a bit more expensive (5-20$ depending on the shop, country etc.)

[GINIX_2007]

I must say, I have been an ATi fan for years now and i must say the 8800GT is a beauty to behold A friend of mine just purchased a XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog edition and i am very impressed with its build quality! I had the card in my hand for a good 10mins just taking it all in! I wonder if ATi and its board partners actually look at the cards from nvidia because ATi's current gen cards feel like toys compared to the GT. I must say nVidia, thumbs up.

[Stereo]

See that's the problem. I only have 9.5 inches for a card until it hits my HD disks (I don't know if I can move them).

Would the 9600GT's in SLi work with my 600W PSU?
Here are my specs:
Abit AN8 32X SLi (nForce 4) motherboard
XFX Nvidia 7900GS
AMD Athlon 64 4000+ 2.4GHz San Diego
2GB PC3200 RAM
3 Hard drives (almost 800GB)
Antec TruePower Trio 600W PSU

[GINIX_2007]

It should work fine.

[BrontoX]

Yes, it would.

[GINIX_2007]

Ok I just got my 3870 and trust me, it blows everything I have ever seen clear out of thr water. I can finaly run crysis on Max dx10 options @1280 X 1024 at about 35 fps!!! this thing rocks and I highly recomend it! ima gonna try overclocking it later and see if I can get a few more frames.
Pros: Sweet Performance
Dead silent on idle
Runs real cool at stock clocks
dropped my case temp by 5 degrees because of the 2 slot design
Cons: Fan gets reletivly loud under heavy load
thats about it realy.
Will post more info as I go along

[ImJ]

Nice, can you post some screens from crysis? never seen a ATI card maxxed out before on high. Wonder if it looks anything like a 8800

[PSZeTa]

There isn't going to be a significant difference, only in AA maybe.

[GINIX_2007]

Well WOW!!! These have got to be the must detailed character faces in the video game world to date!!!
I will post some outdoor pics later.

[Stereo]

Crysis, lol...

[Danyutz]

Seen that HD3870 supports PCIE 2.0, I wonder if it runs on normal PCIE?

Does it worth the upgrade, i got an x1600, want to change with an x1950 and 70euros difference from me?

[GINIX_2007]

The 3870 will work on a PCI-E 1.1 board so you dont have to worry.The 3870 is a huge step up from a X1600. I had a X1950Pro and it was a big step forward for me when i got my 3870

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pci ... ,1915.html
Some useful info about PCI-E

[donaldgladden]

I have some left over cash($50) and want to upgrade from my 6200. I just wanna get better gfx in world in conflict and max out in rFactor. I was looking at a ATI 2600 pro thats dirt cheap and brrand new. Should i go after it?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-VisionTek-HD-26 ... dZViewItem