Radeon 9700 pro - best graphics card ever?

[Prodigy]

I was just thinking about this the other day.

How long has the 9700 pro been out? It must be over a year now. Think how long ATI have had the crown - and think what an amazing graphics card was available such a long time ago.

It's not often in the computing world that a new component will come out and last as long as this - still costing upwards of £230.

Really is amazing. Ok the 9800 pro is a bit better (but not that much) and finally Nvidia have the top end cards that are slightly better but it still holds it's weight (and it's price) really well.

Just thought I'd share my ponderings and see who agrees

[SilentDeath]

considering that dx9 is a major part of these cards, and we wouldnt even need faster cards than gf4's if we were just gonna use dx8 i think nvidia cards can not be considered top end cards, not even close. this is based on many benchmarks i have read, things mentioned by hl2 ceo on a forum, and in the ati confrence thingy.. and 3dm2k3 performace. i think this is enuf evidence of how much better the ati cards are, thats not considering that the fx5x00s are imo not true dx9 cards, as to get resonable performace they have to switch in and out of dx9 specifications.

9x00s are VERY nice cards, i have 9700np and it clocks quiet far past the pro version, on air, and ive just ordered some stuff so i can w/c it

[Austin]

The 9700PRO showed just how far ATI had gone ... and how wrong nVidia got it. However the GF4 line was hugely profitable for nVidia and saturated the market, unanswered until the 9700PRO killed them. However the 9500PRO and 9700nonPRO are much 'better' cards in many ways, esp o/c'ed. There still isn't any card out there to truly fill their shoes and you can demand as much for a 9500PRO now as you paid for it over 6 months ago. My vote for the top card would have to go to GF4TI4200 fo roffering amazing speed at a great price (even now) and can take on the new mid-range DX9 cards too (at half the price). 9500PRO and 9700nonPRO would get the vote but where are they now .... sob sob.

[Aaron]

I reckon the VoodooII was the best card ever. I remember getting my first one and "wow!", the difference was unbelievable. It took playing Quake to a whole new level.

And the best part about the card? You could link two of them together for even more power.

[SilentDeath]

i agree, gf4 is a great card, hopefuly the 9x00 range will start to get cheap and replace it as the budget card, and ati can bring out sommin better

[madmaca]

Having just bought a 9700pro, I'm a little biased - but I know what you mean. It seems it has been out for ages and still is one of the best cards around. Hope it still cuts the mustard for a while to come...

madmaca.

[Knoxville]

It would be if mine would actually work

[Ravens Nest]

Originally posted by Knoxville
It would be if mine would actually work

Whats wrong with it then knoxville?

[Darkmatter]

I have to agree the Radeon 9700pro is a cracking card.
Ive never owned an ATI product before this, was Nvidia all the way.

[Jesus]

Yep! Buut the best middle classof all times is definteley the 9500pro, the GF4Ti just shows how good nVidia once was...
Till my first choice if you don´t have the money for a 9600pro.Betetr than the 9100,9200, not to speak ´bout the FX series!

[Zak33]

I tend to agree, but would go with 9500Pro being the best card ever.....sadly it was too rare

So for that reason...the 9700Pro wins

[kamz]

two big thumbs up for the 9700pro!!

[TeePee]

I still have a pair of voodoo2 cards (which I bought to play Halflife since it was the fastest setup available). not that I use them, but I keep them for posterity. Maybe I should frame them!

I just bought a Rad9800PRO for HL2, gullible muppet that I am.

[steve threlfall]

Radeon cards are ace however in the sub £100 market, where the vast majority of video cards are sold, nvidia have cleaned up

[silentphoenix]

Im actually gonna have to say that id give three thumbs up for NVidia for the TNT and Geforce. But that was all in the past and ATi possess the crown.

But the best ever? Well, as I was struggling to play Quake 2 on my STB Virge, all I ever wanted was a twin voodoo 2 SLI setup.

[Shepps]

i bought a 9700np, and it turned out to be a pro . Impressive card, not bad for £135 I have a ti4200 before, and the r9700pro kicks its ass in image quality alone. (imo)