graphics card help

[phatkid77]

just bought tieger woods golf 2005....wicked

experiencing some "lag"
i think i only have a 64mb graphics card......

was wondering what peoples input on these are:

bfg tech geforce 5200 256 mb for $169 CND
ati radeon 9550 256 mb for $159 CND
any other suggestions in this price

what is the difference between the two, or do i even need 256, is 128 lots?

thanks

guys

[phatkid77]

FYI

computer is 512 MB ddr mem with 266MHZ
80gb 7200 rpm hdd
ATi radeon 7000 64 mb 4x AGP
sound card not sure.....how do i know/find it?

cory

[Firecat]

phatkid77,

266Mhz...well its OK if you're not a hardcore gamer...

GeForce FX 5200 is based on NVIDIA's NV3x technology... it has a lot in features such as Pixel Shader 2.0A (DirectX 9.0b) and Vertex Shader 2.0A (DirectX 9.0b) which bring in advanced features to render excellent graphics in realtime. Good if you use Maya or other CAD applications... but not for games as only code made with a GeForce FX card will run well on GeForce FX...which isn't the case with many games like Tomb Raider Angel of Darkness...

ATI Radeon 9550 is based on R3xx cores. These are lower on features, with only Pixel Shader 2.0 (DirectX 9.) and VS 2.0, but they perform better for games as games are coded with generic code keeping many gfx cards in mind...but for GFFX only code made with the same works fine... so I'd say buy Radeon 9550.

But wait, I think you should go in for a GeForce 6600GT or GeForce FX 5700 or 5900XT since you have a nice system...

128MB is doing very well for me right now. But if you take the 5200 or 9550, 256MB will make a difference, but it wont matter if you take a GeForce FX 5700 or better.

Hope that helped.

If you have Win XP with simplified control panel
To find out your sound card, goto control panel click on 'sounds, speech and audio devices' , then click on 'sounds and audio devices', and above the volume bar, see the name written.

If you have classic control panel
goto control panel and 'sounds and audio devices' if you have the classic control panel and follow the above steps from there on.

Best Regards,
Firecat

[phatkid77]

well, thanks for the response!!

i see the ATI 9550 also has a 85mhz refreshh, maybe i will look into saving some $!!! we'll see

i think i have decided to spend $200 more and get the ATI All-in-wonder 9800 pro 256..(all in , does this mean sound card too?.doubt it) as my research leads me to believe this to be a very good card for yrs to come!!!
i believe its refresh rate is 200mhz ( i think it is 85mhz) which apparently is good for the peepers (70 being the minimum) + lots of other techno crap i dont understand..

now, the 512 mb, 266mhz that u referred to as being "OK" what is the 266mhz for and can it be upgraded, and/or a need to?

thanks alot

cory

http://www.shopzilla.com/9L--ATI_RAD...od_id--8752658
this ^ says refresh is 200hz?

[Firecat]

You know, phatkid77,

the link you showed does not seem to portray a Radeon 9800 Pro All-in-wonder edition..and the price is strange...I've seen Radeon 9800 Pros priced lower...I have to go to sleep right now, so I'll fill you in on this later, OK?

I hope you haven't already bought it?

Regards,
Firecat

[Firecat]

By saying 266MHz I was saying that you have 512MB of RAM which runs at a speed of 266MHz... which is what comes with most mid-range/low-end PCs. I'm not saying its bad, but I'll tell you that your 9800 Pro will be hampered to some extent by it. You'd do good to get DDR400 memory (400MHz) if you're going to do lots of gaming.

As for a cheap Radeon 9800 Pro, here's the link: http://guru3d.pricegrabber.com/searc...sterid=2832011

Heres another:
http://guru3d.pricegrabber.com/searc...asterid=704418

This one is 128MB though.

Dunno where they deliver, though.

Have a nice day!!!

Regards,
Firecat

[Firecat]

And here's the third one:

http://guru3d.pricegrabber.com/searc...asterid=902995

This one is Sapphire brand, 256MB.

I highly recommend this one and the second one in the previous post. The first link seems suspicious.

EDIT:- I think you should buy the Sapphire one above one or from the link below:

http://guru3d.pricegrabber.com/searc...asterid=819320
(128MB)

Tell me if you need help. I'll send some more in later.

Regards,
Firecat

[Infinity]

if you want to best for the cheapest price you should get a 6600gt they are 180$ at the moment and giving all the rest a look around (except for those really expensive cards)

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/gra...l#3d_mark_2005

cheers

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by INFINITY

if you want to best for the cheapest price you should get a 6600gt they are 180$ at the moment and giving all the rest a look around (except for those really expensive cards)

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/gra...l#3d_mark_2005

cheers

I absolutely agree with INFINITY, maybe you could even get a GeForce 6800LE Of course, the Radeon 9800 Pro/XT is still heavy competition to 6600 and maybe 6800LE series....

Regards,
Firecat

[nadirah]

Tip: Get a powerful graphics card only if you use your computer for heavy tasks, such as playing CS(you know which game I'm referin' to), video editing programs, or heavy 3D/ floating point applications.

I don't play games on my computer at all, I like it boring.
I use my computer mainly for this forum and surfing other security sites. Sometimes I experiment around with Microsoft Office applications when I've got nothing to do. And I listen to music occasionally. Well, that's my computing life.

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by nadirah

Tip: Get a powerful graphics card only if you use your computer for heavy tasks, such as playing CS(you know which game I'm referin' to), video editing programs, or heavy 3D/ floating point applications.

I don't play games on my computer at all, I like it boring.
I use my computer mainly for this forum and surfing other security sites. Sometimes I experiment around with Microsoft Office applications when I've got nothing to do. And I listen to music occasionally. Well, that's my computing life.

Well that's a bit boring don't you think? I like to play games a lot. Sometimes I go around to play with viruses; and most of the time I'm here at these forums!!!! I do listen to music a lot (English only).

[nadirah]

Originally Posted by Firecat

Well that's a bit boring don't you think? I like to play games a lot. Sometimes I go around to play with viruses; and most of the time I'm here at these forums!!!! I do listen to music a lot (English only).

Don't play with fire, kaushik!

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by nadirah

Don't play with fire, kaushik!

Haha, Actually...The websites I visit naturally have Trojans and certain VBS viruses... But I don't do this everyday.. very very rarely!

[phatkid77]

from staples...

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/ca...26+Sound+Cards

future shop

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/sub...18&catid=10524


what do guys see??
cory

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by phatkid77

from staples...

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/ca...26+Sound+Cards

future shop

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/sub...18&catid=10524


what do guys see??
cory

The futureshop links seem nice...If you really want All-In-Wonder go for it, else simply buy the normal Radeon 9800Pro

ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 9800 Pro:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...4&newdeptid=18

You can also buy this one:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...4&newdeptid=18

Its a Radeon 9700Pro All-In-Wonder, 128MB and offers the best value (price to performance ratio)

However it is an OEM part which means you'll have to download all its software from internet..

(The 9800s are selling like hot cakes not too much left!!)

Or you can see this:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...4&newdeptid=18

Non-AIW, Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB

Or maybe you should consider a GeForce 6800 - excellent, true power, you'll notice its speed everywhere!!

Link:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...4&newdeptid=18

This one too is 128MB.

I'd highly recommend the GeForce 6800, but the Radeon 9800s are no joke either.

So you have a nice shopping experience! Beeter make it quick if you're buying Radeon 9800s because they are selling rapidly and stocks might expire.

Regards,
Firecat

[phatkid77]

thank you muchly!!

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by phatkid77

thank you muchly!!

So what have you decided upon?

[phatkid77]

nuthin yet.....still deciding

cory