Need advice between two video cards

[Peroxide]

I currently have a Powercolor Radeon 9600 SE 128mb and I was looking at getting either a ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB or a ATI Radeon 9600XT 256MB.

Which would be a better choice?

Comparsion between the three cards
http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/8620/13nr.jpg
http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/610/27oq.jpg

Although, ATI says the 9600 XT is 500/300 where techpowerup.com says 500/203.


I'd also like a suggestion of a fan and possibly a heatsink I can buy for either video card.

Please and thanks.

[Quan_Chi]

I would go for the 9600, and when you get it over clock realy good.
but thats just me i prefer more ram

[Peroxide]

The thing is, they both have 128mb of memory amount and the 9800 has a 256mb memory interface where the 9600 only has 128mb.

[Phelllip]

Go with the 9800 Pro..more pipelines, better core, more everything.....

[Peroxide]

Go with the 9800 Pro..more pipelines, better core, more everything.....

What's the difference between each manufactor's Radeon 9800 PRO?

I could get Connect 3D's for $99.99, Sapphire's for $139.99, ATI's for $159.99 or Powercolor's for $179.99.

[DanTheBanjoman]

Soon the 9800 will be generations behind, why not find a cheap x700 or something?

[Peroxide]

How much would "cheap" be? (CAD if possible)

I'm kinda on a budget.

[warluck]

For me Connect3d no problem and cheaper http://www.ati.com/products/certified/connect3d.html
I bought a Connect3D 9600xt, very satisfied ,and i save money .
Go for 9800 pro if money not a problem ;)

[Peroxide]

I've moved into looking at nvidia cards aswell now, the GeForce 6600 GT has caught my eye, the only problem is, I can't find any Arctic Cooling fans that would go with it.

Am I missing something or is there not one?

[warluck]

I just bought one for my son ,6600gt nice perf .Cooling i ll looked after when i got the card .

[Weigy104]

yeh the 600gt is a really great card for the money and yeh there is an artic silencer for it on this page http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Arctic_Cooling.html
it's the very last one ;) really great coolers btw i ordered one for my x800 and am still eagerly awaiting it's arival :D

[Peroxide]

It says that it's for a 6600 GT PCI-E, I'm planning on getting an AGP.

Does it make a difference?

[Weigy104]

no i don't think it does. i looked up a review and there a table on it that says what cooler you need depending on your card and the 6800 pci or agp use the same cooler so i don't think it would matter if it's agp or pci-e. here read the review for yourself http://www.xtremeresources.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=75

[warluck]

Even the best cooler need to be mod to improve efficiency , that consist to sand the surface of the cooler ,,take time and effort .I ll try to find the article .

[Phelllip]

It says that it's for a 6600 GT PCI-E, I'm planning on getting an AGP.

Does it make a difference?


Yes it does

You can see that on the agp one, the memory chips and core are not placed parallel to the agp connector
6600 GT AGP (http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_6600_gt_agp/images/01.jpg)

On the PCI-E one, it's placed parallel
http://www.nvnews.net/previews/geforce_6600_gt/images/card_shot.jpg

I don't know why they do that but all agp's are like this...and that's why you can't put an Artic Silencer from a PCI-E to a AGP..and they don't make artic silencers for 6600 agp..but you can look at Zalman too, they make great products

this one is compatible with agp Zalman VF700-CU (http://www.adpmods.com/case-modding/Zalman-VF700-CU-Copper-VGA-Card-Cooler-p-1585.html)

they are full copper but they make some half alu half copper for 10$ cheaper

[warluck]

Read this http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/article/1755/
;)

[Peroxide]

Thank you all very much. :)

[rcdraft]

Had Radeon 9600 pro 256 went to MSI NX6600GT-VTD 128, awsome card, comes with great heat sink, all copper, and fan. If you must upgrade you can try; http://www.arctic-cooling.com/vga2.php?idx=62&data=7&disc=
http://www.overclockers.com/articles1207/

[warluck]

Hi ,nice setup ! Ijust bought a 6600gt (AGP )for my son and i tested it yesterday ,wow,so impress i bought another one for me :D But, i keep my 9600XT for my wife' s pc and for me too :o ,i really like it and nice perfs too ( 9600XT ),
Just need another good psu minimum 300 watts ,again . ;)

[Judas]

I've moved into looking at nvidia cards aswell now, the GeForce 6600 GT has caught my eye, the only problem is, I can't find any Arctic Cooling fans that would go with it.

Am I missing something or is there not one?





get a zalman vf 700 cu that will keep it cool .... :)

[warluck]

get a zalman vf 700 cu that will keep it cool .... :)
Just received a 6600gt for son ,i test it 3 or 4 hours and so impressed ( Perf/ Price can't go wrong ),i bought another one for me ,When i'm gonna receive my card ,i'll check for cooling stuffs but the time i tried the card the max temp was no more than 80 degrees.NO OC mine gonna be another story , :eek:
Hum , look some mod to cooldown your card ,ok another forum but , :o

http://forums.amd.com/lofiversion/index.php/t45565.htmlhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118117

[AMDCam]

I was choosing between exactly what you are now. I went with the 256mb 9800 Pro because it can be flashed to a full XT. But if you want to do that, DO NOT go Sapphire. It's a great reliable card they make, but it won't flash no matter what you do to it. Any 9800's Pro and up will more than double the performance of your 9600XT. Plus the 9800's are really overclockable (I got mine from 374/324 to 425/400 with a stock cooler), I mean the 9600's are barely even stable at stock speeds (500mhz core). If you really want to stay ahead, maybe look at the X800XL, I mean it's not the greatest card in the X800 series but it gives you the most bang for your buck, 16 pipelines, double the performance of the 9800 series and a good price too.

[warluck]

I was choosing between exactly what you are now. I went with the 256mb 9800 Pro because it can be flashed to a full XT. But if you want to do that, DO NOT go Sapphire. It's a great reliable card they make, but it won't flash no matter what you do to it. Any 9800's Pro and up will more than double the performance of your 9600XT. Plus the 9800's are really overclockable (I got mine from 374/324 to 425/400 with a stock cooler), I mean the 9600's are barely even stable at stock speeds (500mhz core). If you really want to stay ahead, maybe look at the X800XL, I mean it's not the greatest card in the X800 series but it gives you the most bang for your buck, 16 pipelines, double the performance of the 9800 series and a good price too.
Yeah ,price drop a very good investement soon :D
I know 9600xt it s not a high perf card but i play all the game i want nicely ,that why i keep it.