AGP graphics card?

[dt22]

Hi,

I have a pretty old AMD 3200+ PC currently using a ATI 9800 pro AGP graphics card with 1Gb RAM. Is there any point in upgrading the card alone now? And if so what to?

Just thinking about playing a few PC games like Sims, viva pinata (I miss my old Xbox version!) and may be some FPS.


Thanks,

David

 

[CraigN]

could get an x800 based radeon for some extra grunt not gonna be much though

 

[adi67]

Perhaps this would suit your needs?

 

[dt22]

Thanks for the replies, that 3850 might be a good bet.


Cheers,

David

 

[mrthingyx]

Perhaps, but massively overpowered and will be hugely CPU limited.

I did a test run with my Barton 2500 once upon a time using an X800XT using the X3: Reunion benchmark.

With a 9800Pro, this was limited to 24fps with everything on low (resolution was 1280x768). Cranking up all the graphical detail to maximum at the same resolution, with 4xAA/8xAF with the X800XT resulted in 25fps. This was with the Barton at 2GHz. The only way to improve framerates from there was by overclocking the Barton. At 2.4GHz, I was up to 31fps with all the detail/IQ at maximum.

This limited set of testing would suggest that an X800XT or similar will be the logical limit for most DX9b games out there when running with an Athlon XP (Barton) at even 2.4GHz.

However, if you're upgrading, I would actually suggest getting a DX9c-class card which may play games like Bioshock and Mass Effect (albeit at comparatively low resolutions). Something like an Nvidia Geforce 7600GT would do the trick: it's light on power and only slightly not as good as an X800XT, but has the benefit of DX9c which the X8** series do not. Going up a level to the Radeon 1650XT series and they don't have the butch of the X800XT or 7600GT. The only real consideratiosn beyond that are the Radeon 1950Pro or an Nvidia Geforce 7800GS of some description, both of which will be massively overpowered for what our poor little Athlon XPs can churn out. A 3850 would be like sticking a fibre channel SCSI RAID system on the PCI bus of a computer.

X800XTs can be had for £20 on MM, Radeon 1950Pros for £45-ish in the same place. Nvidia 7600GTs are like hens' teeth on the second hand market because they're that good, but can be had for about £60 *** making them a non-sensical buy new when other stuff like the 1950 Pro is cheaper.

Clever money might sit with the 2600XT on an AGP platform as this would let you good with Blu-Ray and other HD content without the CPU hit. However, as a graphics card, the 2600 series is pretty rubbish, being only slightly faster than the 9800Pro in a lot of situations.

Ah - just realised you won't have access to Members Market for a while. Give me a buzz on the email in my trust.

 

[TheMorningStar]

you can find it about £20 cheeper than that with postage if you know where to look.. well a generic version not sapphire branded but no difference other than the sticker on the fan.

the x800 seriese is an ace option but there are so much better a x1950pro 512mb for instance but a 3850 agp can be had for the same price which is much better.

keep thinking of getting one for my shuttle as it happens.

 

[neoboy]

I've a 2500+ Barton at 2.4Ghz with 1.5GB RAM with 1950 Pro. I was on X800XT before that and was a very good card. The only thing i lacked was SM3 support meaning I couldn't play games like Bioshock. I would also recommend getting maybe another 512 RAM on top of that, that last stick seems to be the difference betwee playable and unplayable in some games, at least it was for me.

 

[adi67]

Yes, probably overpowered - but it's available here: new/guaranteed.

Depends whether the OP wants secondhand or not and their budget I guess.

 

[Ewanb75]

Yes, as neo says the extra ram is great for a bit more oomph. i could play crysis no probs with the 1950, and most other games too. I still have an x850xtpe that happily plays most games in my old rig.

OT glad the cards makin ya happy neo