experts educate me on my choices w/video cards

[ameanl]

i have a xfx fx 5600(just bought it)
conflicted wether to return and get 9600pro or just stick with what i have

okay i have surfed and looked around.
nutshell

ati 9600pro

vs

xfx nvidia fx 5600(non ultra)

128mb vs 256mb

ive read formums and reviews
all say ati over nvidia especially cause mine isnt ultra
when i was reading this forum i decided to write cause i liked what i read.

i am not the biggest gamer in the world(mostly mohaa and spearhead)
but i have a thing about what i do buy, it needs to be up there, so i can sit back and marvel with a smile

so all you experts who would like to sit and admire the view with me

choke choke
cough it up

im in toronto
the prices at futureshop(best buys owns it)
nvidia 289-299
ati 279-289

ps yeah yeah the 9800 series (drool)

p42.4b 533
1gb ddr ram 266
2 maxtor 40gb highpoint raid
1 seagate 80gb
mobo soyo sy-p4i865pe plus

[MJCfromCT]

I'd recommend the 9600pro by miles

[$1500-P4 gamer]

"ati 279-289 "

can get the 9800Pro for $300 or so at newegg. The 128mb version. THe ddrII 256mb one is over $400.

[bob05]

If you can return the 5600, then you can go right ahead and get a 9600 Pro. But if you cannot return it, that's gonna be a serious waste of money. I'd personaly stick with it untill the next generation of video cards. Really that 5600 should be fine unless you really want HL2 or Doom 3 and plan on playing it in 1280*1024 with 4x AA/AF. But with 2x AA/AF at 1024*768 you should probably be getting 40 FPS on those new DX9 games on your 5600. And you'd only be having the card for another year to half a year.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

If your not into gaming then the 9600 Pro will be more than you will need for some time and still give you plenty of bragging rights. The 9800 Pro, as nice as it is (and i should know, i got one) really would be MAJOR overkill though for those who arent hardcore gamers

--Jakk

[Magua]

The 9600pro would be a better card, if you can get your money back. That Nvidia awill run HL2 and Doom just fine, even with the settings on fairly high. An upgrade to a better card will only let you putu the settings a bit higher, which would be a huge expence for marginal improvement in quality.

[ameanl]

thanks y'all

i was leaning toward the ati, cause first i actually bought a 9000 aiw pro, cause i wanted a tv tuner and also i had an ati 7000ve (laugh all you want but some day(yesterday) it will be a classic and eveyone will want one :o)
anyways so i went and bought an aiw9000pro then i said wow, i want something better and ill get the tuner seperately
well i went to the shop full of futurelosers
and the guy was really hyping up the nvidia and he was boasting about how the 256mb is kick *** and that although the processor on the ati 9600pro was faster the 256mb was a good bet and he was also saying how ati is good for graphics and nvidia good for games, i dont do graphics... so here i am with an
nvidia. any comments on the novice associate's comments

[Rugor]

He was talking from the toothless mouth between his nether cheeks.

The 256MB versions of the FX5600 are the slowest versions out there, with half the memory bandwidth of the Ultras. The additional memory of the 256MB model doesn't help much partly because the processor doesn't have the power to deal with resolutions or detail settings that require that big a framebuffer and partly because the larger buffer sizes require more bandwidth to get the whole scene to the GPU in time, not less. Lower memory speeds means the GPU will be waiting for the data, hurting your frame rate. Using a larger buffer just makes it worse.

You're better off with the 128MB cards and not setting the details so high.

ATI does have better image quality, though Nvidia is getting better. The FX series are quite good in DX8 era games, but they are lousy for DX9. The 9600 series are slightly slower in DX8 games and much faster in DX9. ATI also has much better AA quality.

While I don't agree with those who say the FX5600 Ultra is as good as the 9600 Pro, even most Nvidia fans will admit the 256MB non-Ultra version is a much worse choice than the 9600 Pro.

[bob05]

Originally posted by Rugor
He was talking from the toothless mouth between his nether cheeks.

The 256MB versions of the FX5600 are the slowest versions out there, with half the memory bandwidth of the Ultras. The additional memory of the 256MB model doesn't help much partly because the processor doesn't have the power to deal with resolutions or detail settings that require that big a framebuffer and partly because the larger buffer sizes require more bandwidth to get the whole scene to the GPU in time, not less. Lower memory speeds means the GPU will be waiting for the data, hurting your frame rate. Using a larger buffer just makes it worse.

You're better off with the 128MB cards and not setting the details so high.

ATI does have better image quality, though Nvidia is getting better. The FX series are quite good in DX8 era games, but they are lousy for DX9. The 9600 series are slightly slower in DX8 games and much faster in DX9. ATI also has much better AA quality.

While I don't agree with those who say the FX5600 Ultra is as good as the 9600 Pro, even most Nvidia fans will admit the 256MB non-Ultra version is a much worse choice than the 9600 Pro.

I do agree with the fact that the memory bandwidth is slow, but when you’re a (still, non-motion) graphics designer and I know a few, that 256 meg is really handy. With very large pictures it's even more useful. But that's about all you would need it for. And since you’re not a graphic designer, that 256 meg is not useful. Even a 9800 Pro 256 meg’s memory bandwidth is slower than its 128 meg brother.

Bottom-line: Keep the 5600 if you cannot return it. I think any reasonable person would agree for you not to go out again and buy another $200+ card especially when that new card isn't that much faster. Just keep that $200+ and wait for something much better to come out. Period

[Rugor]

First: bob05

Futureshlock will normally let people return things, so that's not a big issue. In fact the question was whether he should return it for a 9600 Pro or keep it. Not whether it would be better to keep it and spend the money to buy a 9600 Pro.

Of the choices of keeping the FX5600 or trading it for a 9600 Pro, the better choice is to trade it.

Second: P4-Gamer

He's in Toronto, so those prices are in Canadian Dollars, not U$, and newegg won't ship across the border to him.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Ah-noted. Where's your loyalties man! Your Canadian yet you bought the worse quality Nvidia over the superior ATI. LOL. Dont tell anyone at the bar -eh, o.k. You might find yerself on the Red Green show, waisted and duct taped fast to the Nvidia hair dryer! hehe/

[Rugor]

Thanks Gamer, I just about spit my coffee imagining what Red Green and co. would do with an Nvidia Dustbuster.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

heheh. Yep. If anyone could make that thing a torture device it would be them. OR maybe a hover craft???

[causticVapor]

We need to start Rugorian Equipment Corporation (REC) - the first to release a functioning dual-GPU 9800 Pro to the mass market, for under $500.

[rsfnatik]

Another vote for the 9600Pro.

Question tho, why are you buying from Future$hop? There are many dealers in the GTA who can supply these products at far better prices and they'll appreciate your business. Check out www.canadacomputers.com - ATI Radeon 9600 Pro (retail) @ $248CDN.