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

skyline_350z · Post by **skyline_350z** » 02 Aug 2004, 22:53

GPU SM Clock Trans Proc PP Vertex Bandwidth
GeForce 6800 Ultra 3.0 400MHz 222M 0.13u 16x1 600M 35.2GB

In this table, what do each of the headers mean. (I know Sm=Shader Model.) Which are the most important and what affect do they have on performance.

^Sparco^ · Post by **^Sparco^** » 02 Aug 2004, 23:16

Sergio wrote:its so easy to sell some crap to 11 yeards kids who care only about speed of cpu, ram and size of hdd... (...)
you can sell like to themand they never will realise that they buyed junk...unitall they learn something

and not only kids... my father thinks in the same way. When I suggested to buy a new gfx card, he said "Why? Our 128mb gfx card is fast enough!". (ATI9200) He says a 9800XT would be similar (LOL). Then my mother came, and logically belive him and not mine (he is older, so more intelligent) grrrr....

The same story with 512mb RAM @ 166mhz and another @400mhz. The same with a 15" TFT with 450:1 contrast and another 17" with 300:1 contrast (he says the 17" one is better, because is bigger)... On the other hand, he consider there is a HUGE difference between a 2.8ghzHT and 3.0ghz HT (both pentium) and it is good to spend +200$ difference in the 3ghz.

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 03 Aug 2004, 02:22

WTF.

Nah, parents these days think they know more then their children.

marshallpre1 · Post by **marshallpre1** » 03 Aug 2004, 04:22

i have an Nvidia 5900xt overclocked...... it works AWESOME

MaxdBeast · Post by **MaxdBeast** » 03 Aug 2004, 06:32

i got a ti 4200... and was told they arnt making them anymore... does anyone know how this card rates to others??? and what will Half-life 2 run on this???

remaxos · Post by **remaxos** » 03 Aug 2004, 07:43

I don't know why are you talking about so much gpu power .Underground 2 is based on the same engine as underground so if your graphic card suported that game very well it will run also U2.I heard that thei are gonna use a little bit more effects on u 2, but this is not a reason to buy a new graphic card for 300-400$ .I have a MSI FX5500 128 Mb RAM 128 bit and it works like a charm.

Just Me · Post by **Just Me** » 03 Aug 2004, 08:08

@ Skyline_350Z

Yeah, the 9800 Pro is well worth the xtra 190 canadian dollars. The core speed and memory are far better then the FX 5200

@ Maxdbeast

Your Ti 4200 can handle most high poly graphics better then my FX 5200 but the Ti doesn't support Direct X 9 fully i believe.

To give you an example:
Half life 2 on 1024*768 in 32 colours --> FX5200 --> 10,3 fps i believe.

But i'll see if i can dig up the test and post it here.

Sweeper · Post by **Sweeper** » 04 Aug 2004, 11:33

Well, I'll just slam out a fact.
The lower end 256MB cards (Radeon 9600, FX 5700) and below are crap as 256Mb
They cost more and are slower.
Why? Because of the timings on them, slow timings, normal 128MB is at 2-3 Nano seconds timings, but the 256Mb is at 5 NS!!!!
Which is a big difference.
It hampers overclocking and performance, due to the fact that the GPU has to wait a lot for the 256Mb memory to send it new data and to recieve data.

I recommend getting 128MB instead which is cheaper and better, but if you really need 256Mb, you will have to look at the Radeon 9800, FX 5900 and above, else you will not be satesfied and you will wish that you took the 128 instead of the 256Mb.

Just Me · Post by **Just Me** » 04 Aug 2004, 12:00

True.

But I believe the 9600XT Bravo 256MB also has 2-3 NS memory.

To keep it simple, everything with 256 MB below the 9600 Pro or 5700 Ultra is a waste off money.

But correct me if i'm wrong

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » 06 Aug 2004, 02:40

Ok, Since now I might buy a video card, which one?? A GeForce 4 Ti 4600 128MB... or... a GeForce FX 5700 LE 128MB?

The 4600 is more money. (I use Pricewatch.)

jayhan_2003 · Post by **jayhan_2003** » 06 Aug 2004, 06:30

i have a cheap ati 9200se (below US$ 55), it works well at sometimes..
but sometimes not....

and my fren hv 9600XT, it works alot better

Just Me · Post by **Just Me** » 06 Aug 2004, 07:05

If you wanna play the coming video games, I suggest you get the 5700 because it supports Dirext X 9.

But if you wanna play the games at a decent setting...save some more and get the 5900. It comes out as a decent mid ranged card in most benchmark tests.

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » 06 Aug 2004, 15:22

No I need one under $100... 5700 at that price. So is the GeForce 4 Ti 4600. But I need one that lets you do motion blur and all that stuff. 5900 costs too much... ATI is fine with me but they are high-priced.

So Tell me, for better performance and graphics... 5700 or Geforce 4 Ti 4600???

MikeFarrar · Post by **MikeFarrar** » 06 Aug 2004, 15:29

hey this is for all the ppl who have low end graphic cards (no offense). I used to have one. A crappy Nvidia Geforce4 Mx420 32mb

. But i finally upgraded to a ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb Platinum Edition and i gotta say WOW!!

The graphics look absolutely amazing and the frame rates are off da hook! Here take a look for urself!

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » 06 Aug 2004, 15:37

Ayayay... I wish I had enough money for 9800

EDIT: If anyone has a GeForce 4 Ti 4600 or a GeForce FX 5700 or an ATI Radeon 9600 pro, ALL 128 MB, then post screens of all settings applied while racing on underground. Please...(Motion blur too)

MikeFarrar · Post by **MikeFarrar** » 06 Aug 2004, 15:42

ugh..... motion blur screws up my antialiasing. btw my 9800 pro was only $400AUS. Which is about $275 US which is pretty cheap. U shouldnt really go for the 9600 coz it's a fairly slow card. U can buy a Radeon 9500 and softmod it to a 9700pro. I dont know much about Nvidia though.......

~Mike

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » 06 Aug 2004, 15:44

But What do you mean "softmod"??? But I still need some answers to Nvidia

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » 06 Aug 2004, 16:59

well..i got gf 5700 Ultra 128mb (its little better than normal 5700)
few screenshots as you asked for

in first 3 i got only Lights Tails on
but in next 2 i got Blur on

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » 06 Aug 2004, 16:59

Drewb99 · Post by **Drewb99** » 06 Aug 2004, 20:47

Stereo wrote:But What do you mean "softmod"??? But I still need some answers to Nvidia

Softmodding is when you flash a card's BIOS to one of a different card, basically making it think that it's a different card. Only a few, older 9500s can actually support this.

And for your Nvidia question, the Ti4600 is only up to spec with DirectX 8 and can't support motion blur. A 5700 would be a much better buy.

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » 07 Aug 2004, 00:20

Nice Sergio! I Will probably get FX5700!!! Thanx!!

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » 07 Aug 2004, 02:04

remeber....FX5700U is not same exacly as FX5700

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 07 Aug 2004, 03:22

Hmmz..

I have this problem.. Since I bought my videocard.

The motion blur seems to be black. I can't see anything, only my car.

Anyone have a solution?

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » 07 Aug 2004, 04:09

Update to the lastest version of NFSU...

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 07 Aug 2004, 04:46

I have 1.4...