Lets go over this 1 more time... please?

[evildoc614]

Ok its time to trade in my oh so powerful Msi Fx5200 (joke) for somthing a tad bit faster... i want a 9600pro at LEAST... but iam wondering if the 9600XT is worth the performace boost.. and since the 9800pro is droping... 9800pro is a awesome card just wondering if the 9600XT could stand up to it ( or get close ). i would hate to buy a 180 dollar video card and have if be about 3fps faster then the pro? know what i mean?

[Sven]

Slapped a 9800 pro (128mb flavour) into my qbic and have been very impressed .

Saw this review the other week. Is it of any use since it compares it with the 9800 pro??

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_9600_xt/

Sven

[SilentDeath]

imo anything above a 9600p shoud be fine for a long time.... i got a 9700p btw

[TooNice]

Depends when you intend to upgrade next.
If you aren't going to for a long time, then go the best card you can afford.. I guess.

Also, think of the reason for the upgrade.. If you want a powerful card to play Doom3/HL2, then wait until those are released first, and get something cheaper so that you can play games you want now.

[Austin]

Rad9600PRO is going to be a huge increase over FX5200 in every way. 9600XT is very little more than an o/c'ed 9600PRO so you can save yourself the cash and get a 9600PRO. The 9600PRO though fast is still slower than the old 9500PRO, 9600XT gets much closer at least. Still not near the Rad9800 but then what do you expect? Unless you can find a good deal on 9500PRO/9700 get the 9600PRO and o/c or wait for the 9600XT if you want to avoid o/c'ing. FX5700ultra looks good but is based on the same flawed GF-FX archy so the Rad may be a better bet and certainly cheaper.

[chrisf6969]

Here's a better what question... what is your absolute max budget if you get a new card?

Because it depends. I like the 9700 Pro or 5900 (non Ultra) and I think they are only a little bit more expensive, but much better performance. Totally different performance bracket. Takes you out the crippled graphics card bracket in to the high performance.

I personally bought the 5900 (non Ultra) because I've always gone nVidia b/c of driver stability/compatibility. And they have the same memory speed as the Ultra, only slightly slower (but easily overclocked) core speed.

But you should consider the 9700 Pro (if you can find one) or 5900. As they are slightly more expensive but much faster.

P.S. Side note: I think Nvidia should have released 3 speed of the 5900 like they did with GF4. 5900Ultra, 5900 regular, and 5900 slow equivalent to the 4600,4400, & 4200. I think they would sell so many more cards like they did with the 4200's.

[evildoc614]

I personaly like Nvidia but their prices are a little to high for the performance cards they sell. if things go my way once i sell my xbox and my current video card i should be able to buy a 9800pro since prices seem to be around 300USD. just wondering if i should save the money and get the 9600xt or pro.. i dont need bleeding edge top of the line it would just be nice... not even sure if iam gonna want to dump that much money into a video card when i can get a 9600xt for about 190-200USD... and spend the rest on a new mouse or somthing... Beside Nvidia card being on the expensive side i dont think the 5900 would fit in my shuttle.. the look longer then the 9X00 series of cards might just be the angle of the pictures ive seen.. thanks for the input!

[Austin]

nVidia FX cards tend to be a fair bit longer than the Radeons ... plus the Radeons tend to be quieter, run cooler, use less power and are based on a superior architecture. Not to say FX are a bad choice at all but it seems clear at the mo that Radeon is simply a better choice. 9600PRO if you don't mind o/c'ing or 9600XT if you want the stock perf and nice bundle.

[evildoc614]

What brand would you reccomend? 3D Prophet 9700 pro seems nice but its almost the price of a 9800pro! think i will end up with like you said the 9600xt or pro just have to look for a deal.. i dont like buying stuff off ebay i have a natural distrust for people i cant see or meet... plus i have bad luck with stuff like that. My luck i would end up geting a TNT 2 card in the mail and the guy wouldnt return my emails.

[Austin]

So long as you're away from the budget end brand is of very little relevance. I consistently hear to avoid Powercolor for Radeon cards but other than that just go by model number (ie 9600PRO/XT), price and bundle. Really 9600PRO and 9800 are the 2 cards to go for, each tends to o/c to the 9600XT and 9800PRO speeds.

[chrisf6969]

the FX5900 are about $220 right now
and you can get 9700 Pros I think for around $250

However the FX5900 definitely wouldnt fit in a shuttle.

pricewatch.com prices

[evildoc614]

this is what drives me mad, i hate waiting for one and then they go and price the 9700pro within 50 dollars of the 9800pro. Common sense would tell me to wait and get the 9800pro... but iam so inpatient i cant (money buring hole in pocket as we speak). pricewatch.com isnt listing the XT models i dont know why... one more thing any one have any knowledge of the Sapphire Atlantis ATI RADEON 9600 PRO ULTIMATE... just wondering because its fanless ( would be nice to have 1 less thing making noise in side my shuttle). but then again i dont know if it would fit in a shuttle, i dont have anything in my pci slot.. then again shuttle are pretty small i think i would be a better idea to get the regular pro...

[Bunjiweb]

Can i suggest waiting until the GeForce FX5700U comes out? Nvidia are targeting this to perform somewhere between the 9600XT and the 9800 Pro, at a fairly "cheap" price.

This will mean ATI will want to drop the prices of their 9*** series... meaning good value performance for all!

Just a thought

Ben

[chrisf6969]

http://castle.pricewatch.com/search/...=15973&l=15927
9800XT's are almost $500

[evildoc614]

Any ideas when the cards would be avaliable? i wish nvidia card were not like a foot long = (

[chrisf6969]

Newegg.com has both fx5950 Ultra's & 9800XT's for right under $500 in stock!! too pricey for me though