Radeon 9600 256Mb...worth it???

[RedStar]

Powercolor Radeon 9600 Pro Chipset Graphics Card 256Mb DDR, TV out, AGP 8X...........................$141 US

My current system; AMD 2400+, 512Mb RAM, Win XP, 80 Gig HD...

Please let me know if this is a good card for the price, as I'm short on money but desperately need to replace my horrible 9200.

All I need to play is Far Cry on decent spec, and other new games without problems.

What do you think?

[Vampiel]

The 9200 is horrible. If you can spare an extra $50 it's well worth it to go for the gold, the 9800 pro as you wont have to worry about upgrading in the future for a while with that card, and that would be a worthy upgrade.

[RedStar]

An extra $50 for a 9800 Pro?!?!?

The cheapest 9800 Pro here in Johannesburg is $375.
The cheapest 9800 XT is $470.
The cheapest 800XT is $700.

I HATE THE 9200!!!!!!!

[stalkersoftware]

9600 is a big improvement over 9200. But why 256 mb?? the 128 mb is just as good.
Try to get the 9600pro 128mb.

I know in Johannesburg its pretty expense.
In the Us the 9800pro costs only 50$ more.

[G]

Either the 128MB or 256MB Powercolor are excellent value for money and this Radeon architecture type is the minimum nowadays.. It the difference is not that much then go for the 265MB version.

[fishybawb]

Bear in mind that some of the 256MB models of the 9600 Pro are crippled "EZ" versions, particularly when it comes to Powercolor. Make sure you're getting a proper "Pro" - the clues are generally in the specs: a 9600 Pro should have core/memory clock frequencies of 400MHz/300MHz respectively. If you buy the card in a shop and can actually see what you're getting, make sure the RAM chips on the card are square and not rectangular :t

[scottluebke2003]

Just buy a used 9800Pro on Ebay and get it shipped to you.

[cyber_gubat]

9800 way to go...... ^_^

[strat1]

Here is a nice one and it is $209 shipped (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&depa=0)

[RedStar]

thanks strat1 !!!