AGP card for around the £100 mark

[tripitaka]

AGP card for around the £100 mark. X1600pro?

Right, I've decided that it might be time to get rid of my 9800se, and upgrade to something a little more modern (mostly for playing Oblivion).
I currently have an AGP board (neo2 platinum), and would prefer to hang on to that really so I'm definitely looking for an AGP card and can afford to pay somewhere in the region of £100.

The card I'm considering at the moment is an X1600 pro, 256MB. I have a 15" TFT monitor, so the max resolution that I'm going to be running anything at is 1024x768, the native res of my screen. I'm also quite keen on having SM3.0 support.

What exactly is the advantage of having extra video memory, would I really notice much difference if I splashed out and got the 512MB version or not?

Do you guys think that there is anything else I should be considering, given my requirements\budget?

Thanks

 

[tripitaka]

I've also noticed that for around the same money, I could get a 128MB 6600GT, or a 128MB 6800LE. Any thoughts on what of these is the better performer or has scope for unlocking pipelines?
Is it worth considering a 128MB card, given that 1024x768 is my max resolution. Would either of these be a better option?

 

[Frippy]

If you are hell-bent on the SM3.0 then go for a 6600GT. IIRC the X1600 PRO cards are awful, if you want a quick card then I'd not worry about SM3 and get an X800GTO a shade over the £100.

 

[steve258]

I got the x1600 pro 512mb version last week from ocuk while it was on special offer (for the price of the 256mb version they are currently offering). I bought this card only because my 9800 pro won't work anymore.

If you are only playing games at 1024*768 solution then the x1600 pro is definetely capable of doing so, with all the newest features you would expect like SM3.0, HDR rendering, and AVIVO...etc. Although on this week only they are currently offering the X800GTO for an extra 15 quid, which is a great performer but without support for SM3.0 and HDR. An extra 15 quid will also get you a 6600GT 256mb which has SM3.0 / HDR support and performs better than the x1600. As for the amount of video RAM I would personally go for 256Mb and above.

I am running this card with my Prescott P4 2.4A @ 3.6 and 1Gb OCZ memory and it will run Oblivion at 1024*768 with HDR enabled with no problems. It will score 189** in 3dmark 01, 73** in 3dmark 03 and 41** in 3dmark 05.

Hope that helps

 

[Booner!]

i would recommend the X800 GTO 256mb , its £117 but worth it! just bought 2 for my other systems and very pleased

 

[tripitaka]

Well, in the end I've decided to go down the PCI-E route after all.
The Powercolour X800 GTO for £60ish was too much of a bargain to turn down!

Unfortuantely looks like I'm gonna need to look elsewhere for a cheapish (£40) PCI-E mobo. Should be able to pretty much recoup that by selling my trusty Neo2 Platinum - can't believe they're still going for £70 new!