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Thread: best card for ~$150?

  1. #1
    Member jamil5454's Avatar
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    best card for ~$150?

    ive looked at some reviews, and i cant decide which is the best card for around $150. i just want a card that will hold me over until next summer when the "next generation" cards come out (NV40 & R400). i guess a 9600 np 128Mb would be fine for running games until then?





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    oh yeah im planning on upgrading my whole system next summer too... athlon64 here i come!!!

  2. #2
    Ohio State r0x0rz! bob05's Avatar
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    You can get a 9600 Pro for that price. And a 9600 will tie you over for much longer than next summer.

    http://www.gameve.com/store/gameve_v...=1210&showit=1


  3. #3
    Member jamil5454's Avatar
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    ok - i think im gonna get a 9600 np from newegg. should i go for the extra $10 - $20 and get the 256 Mb version? will the 256 version make a difference in upcomming games that use large textures such as hl2? also, has anyone found a review for the sapphire 9600 nonpro? all i can find is mobility 9600.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Disk11's Avatar
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    Naw, the 9600 doesn't have enough horsepower to use that ammount of memory. Take a look at the 9600xt, its $200 but comes with a coupon for Half-Life 2 so it ends up being a $150 card that is better than the 9600 pro that costs $200.

  5. #5
    Ultimate Member ComPooTer's Avatar
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    the non-pro isnt very good compared to the pro/xt models, get the 9600 pro or xt

  6. #6
    Member jamil5454's Avatar
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    hmmm. i guess i could get a card that will last until i go to college (summer of 2005). wouldnt the 9600 np last until then? my g4MX runs all games fine i just hate how it doesnt have a shader engine whatsoever. ive had the MX card for a year now and its considered "Value" but plays all games good. i dont care if i can run at 800x600 - just want something that wont lag at good detail settings until college.


    PS - i guess a job would help and would keep me from worrying about the money so much

  7. #7
    Ultimate Member ComPooTer's Avatar
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    im only 16 and i got a job, funds all my computer needs

  8. #8
    Ohio State r0x0rz! bob05's Avatar
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    Originally posted by jamil5454
    hmmm. i guess i could get a card that will last until i go to college (summer of 2005). wouldnt the 9600 np last until then? my g4MX runs all games fine i just hate how it doesnt have a shader engine whatsoever. ive had the MX card for a year now and its considered "Value" but plays all games good. i dont care if i can run at 800x600 - just want something that wont lag at good detail settings until college.


    PS - i guess a job would help and would keep me from worrying about the money so much
    Well if the Geforce4MX is giving you good performance, maybe you should look into a lower upgrade. The Geforce 5200 would be fine for you. I just did a similar upgrade, from a G2MX to a 5200 and it's running great. And they are cheap. Here is one for $60: http://www.amamax.com/indv9gefx52a.html

    Just another thing to look into.

  9. #9
    Ultimate Member ComPooTer's Avatar
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    why would he upgrade for minimal performance, hes better off saving money than buying a 5200, the geforce card is already pretty decent....but upgrading to a 5200? not that big of a improvement IMO

    if hes gunna upgrade to something thats going to last awhile then hes better off with a 9600 pro/xt card

  10. #10
    Member jamil5454's Avatar
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    ok i just ordered the sapphire 9600 pro from newegg for $150. yay! at all the reviews ive seen the 9600XT is just a 9600pro o/ced. i know with good cooling you can o/c the 9600 pro to 9600XT speeds, but it preforms close to it already. i'll be missing out on the hl2 bundle though, but im willing to sacrifice the bundle for $50. especially since hl2 isnt due out until early next year . i cant wait that long to justify the extra $50!!!

  11. #11
    Ultimate Member Rob R.'s Avatar
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    I second the Sapphire 9600 pro advice.

  12. #12
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    I 3rd It.....


    But, the 1 true holy 9600 Pro, is the Tyan G9600Pro, its by far the best and is perfect for overclockers, it can be found for roughly 140 Pounds, so say 150-165 US. Don't any1 say otherwise about the Tyans please, they rule.

  13. #13
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    9600 Pro is very much the sweetspot for price/performance atm

    --Jakk

  14. #14
    Ultimate Member Magua's Avatar
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    good choice on the 9600pro

  15. #15
    Ultimate Member Rugor's Avatar
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    Very good move on the 9600 Pro.

    The 5200 would have been a poor choice since in a lot of older games the Gf4MX will wipe the floor with it.

    Rugor's rule of vid card upgrades: Unless you are replacing a card that died, you never get a card unless it's faster than the last one.
    "Dude you're getting a Dell." Obscure curse from the early 21st Century, ascribed to a minor demon-spirit known as "Stephen?" [sp].

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