New Graphics Card

[mike_w]

My friend, called murphmanl in this forum (his internet isn't working too well at the moment), wants to know what sort of graphics he should get. His price range is about £100 to £200, but intends to buy retail. He hates online shopping, I'm sure he'll explain when he gets back online.

I recommended a 9600pro (as I have in other threads). What do you guys think?

[Ravens Nest]

You could get him to take a chance with the 9800SE AIW £157.13 (Free delivery) and try the softmod to make it become a 9800 pro (only 50-50 chance of working though )
http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/...030750327&td=1

Here's a review of it, it is a little slower than a 9600 pro but if the softmod works the it will be like owning a 9800 pro!, but dont get his hopes up in case it doesnt work, but at least it can play the latest DX9 games and you can watch tv on your p.c. with it.
http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews...lld19JRD02NTU=

Also here's a thread with a 9800 pro for £205! but you have to wait a month for it to come into stock. (Thanks schrickvr6!)
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?threadid=9900

[steve threlfall]

He wants to buy from a shop do you mean?

Either way pick up a 9600xt for £120 its faster than the 9600pro and you get hl2 free

[Ravens Nest]

Oh he wants to buy retail, that will teach me to type faster than i read..

Maplins have a 9600 pro for £160 (retail shop)
http://www.maplin.co.uk/

[kingabs]

saphire 9800se cards are pretty good value for the cash
£140-£160 some of them are even softmodable to a 9800 pro me thinks!

[McMav]

If he can goto £227 and I know its online he an get a crucial 9800 pro thats with voucher code which can be found on the web if he's a first time buyer from them.

[kingabs]

Originally posted by McMav
If he can goto £227 and I know its online he an get a crucial 9800 pro thats with voucher code which can be found on the web if he's a first time buyer from them.

but even so he can soft mod the card to a pro and spend £30 quid on the game when it comes out and he is still saving more cash then forking out £227

[spazman]

Originally posted by Ravens Nest
Oh he wants to buy retail, that will teach me to type faster than i read..

Maplins have a 9600 pro for £160 (retail shop)
http://www.maplin.co.uk/

I paid £125 for my 9600XT

[Ravens Nest]

Originally posted by spazman
I paid £125 for my 9600XT

Where from spazman, has to be retail shop not online though?

[mike_w]

You can buy some 9600pros for about £130 (retail), but a 9600XT for £125 sounds good. If it is retail, then its probably the best buy, right? Even if it's not retail then its still a good deal.

[steve threlfall]

Payed £120 for my sapphire 9600xt from ebuyer- seem to be out of stock now though

bargain i thought

[KraniX]

i'm trying to convince myself to spend 350 quid on this powercolor 9800xt, can anyone help me justify it, lol.

[spazman]

connedct3d radeon 9600xt here £117 after VAT £99 before! add 6 quid for delivery £123

[Ravens Nest]

Originally posted by KraniX


i'm trying to convince myself to spend 350 quid on this powercolor 9800xt, can anyone help me justify it, lol.

No im afraid i cant m8 sorry!

They're isnt much difference between a 9800 xt and a Pro plus the extra 128MB ram it has wont be used by many games, the only game i can think of that will use it is Call of Duty on the highest settings, i've also heard Powercolor arent very good at overclocking as they use cheaper parts than most.

Now here's a good deal, just over £200 for a 9800 pro 128MB card, just you have to wait a month for it to come in though.
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?a...rpID=1&cks=PRL

Here's a review of performance of the 9800 pro versus XT for comparison
http://www.ocprices.com/?rev_id=193

[Rabs]

Argh a big no no to Powercolor Radeon 9800 Pro cards, I RMA'd 2 recently due to faults, got a Hercules 9800 Pro as an exchange.

[KraniX]

thanks for the advice, i'll stay clear of the power colour ones.

dunno if i should bother upgrading at the mo coz my 9700 is pretty quick.