AGP Graphics Card Choice

[Synergy6]

I have the system to the left, and am looking to upgrade my vid card. (Motherboard is AGP only.) I'm planning to get a new system around Q3/4 this year, so I'm not spending mega bucks.
However, in the mean time, I would like to turn on *some* of the eye candy in FEAR/BF2 etc (At the same time I'm getting a 250GB SATA HD and an extra 512MB PC3200 RAM to burn some Xmas cash).

Anyhoo, I want to spend around £100, but I would go up a bit if the performance increase was worth it. All the cards here, as far as I can see, are 256-bit and 256MB. My main options seem to be:

£101 Ati Radeon X800 GTO
£95 nVidia 6600
£128 nVidia 6600 GT
£150 nVidia 6800 GS

So, which would be best? For a benchmark, my current system gets 2900 in 3DMark05 with the GPU overclocked, most processes off etc.

Thanks for any/all input.
Synergy6

[nichomach]

I'm a little confused by the X800GTO as the headline says it's a 256Mb card but the details have it as 128Mb. I'd have to say that Gecube's details have that as a 128Mb card, so I think Scan have the headline wrong. I'd say the 6800GS'd be the best bet by a long chalk out of the remainder.

[jonathan_phang]

Hey Synergy, I'm currently in the same boat as you (sort of, as I am constained by AGP, but have a 6600GT). I am seriously considering the 6800GS, which is probably about as good as AGP is going to get in terms of price/performance (prove me wrong ati/nvidia!!!).

BUT, seeing as you are going to be upgrading (as i will be to S939 soon -mmmm opteron!!!) then i would have to say get a 6600GT, which is ok in most games. It all depends on whether £175 "isnt that much", because if its not, then go for the 6800GS, as you will definitely be able to get good frame rates out of that!!!

JP

[Synergy6]

@ nichomach - I was confused by that too. Took a guess that the product name would be the most likely to be right, but who knows. I've sent an email to Scan to ask.

@ jonathan_phang - So your advice is the 6600GT? Right ho. On the money side, I'd rather not spend that much over £100 as the thing will only be for 6 months or so. (I'll probably be able to get the VAT back).

Synergy6

[jonathan_phang]

Thats what i would do - it got me through Quake4 ok and not bad on FEAR, but you have a better CPU than me. I would get that to tide you over until you upgrade. Anyway, there arent (IMO) any killer games to play at the moment, so it wont matter too much.

[sawyen]

6800GS if i were u... they arent taht much more expensive than 6600GT but they offer tons lot of horsepower..

The GS will smack any currrent AGP based 6800GT **** when overclocked..

A 520/1200 12pp GS so totally destroyed my 16pp 450/1200 GT

[Synergy6]

Thanks for the advice I think I would have gone for the 6800GS after all.

("would" because I've decided to get a new system instead, have a need for a decently fast 2nd system. 7800GT for an extra £20 or so over 6800GS is too tempting.)
See http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?p=663177 for the details.
Synergy6