AMD 64 3000 - what GFX card?

[TLJester1]

I currently have a AMD 64 3000, what graphics card would you recomend to match with this where the CPU wont be the bottleneck?

At the moment I have a 9800pro 128mb(OC'd and XT Flashed) which does ok for anything upto 1024x786, but now I want more FPS, and ideally higher res.
(I dont mind going PCI-e - ie forking out for a new MB)

Specifically I am looking for good value for money here, so please dont recomend things like 2(SLI)xDUAL 7800GTX

 

[ACESHIGH]

Depends on your budget really.
Even the X850XT would be a big boost over you current card - can be had on AGP or PCIE.

Personally i would say go for the X1800XT if you can stretch to it. It would play all games great at any setting you wished.
Next i would say either X1800XL or 7800GT.
The latter three all on PCIE obvoiusly.

 

[TLJester1]

Next i would say either X1800XL or 7800GT.
The latter three all on PCIE obvoiusly.

I had been considering these too. Ideally lasting to my next big upgrade when I could even bring it with me (assuming PCI-e lasts that long).

Would I see much of a performance increase? For example I play a lot of UT 2k4 ONS and I frequently see my FPS drop from >50 to <25, I have been wandering if this is CPU or GPU issue though. Similar things happen with CS:S when I try anything over 1152x864.

 

[Duke]

I would move to PCI-E.. you pay a lot extra on the gfx card to keep on AGP. The X800 XL can be had for as little as £140, or you can go upto the latest gen cards like the 7800 GT or X1800 XL for £210 and £220 respectively.

In terms of fps issues with UT2K4 and CS:S, although you need a good graphics card to keep them happy, you also need a fast cpu for the physics side (especially in CS:S). Have you tried overclocking your 3000+ chip?

 

[TLJester1]

In terms of fps issues with UT2K4 and CS:S, although you need a good graphics card to keep them happy, you also need a fast cpu for the physics side (especially in CS:S).

Hi,
I was thinking that myself. Thats why I thought I'd ask here as most of you have a lot more experience with all of these things then I do.

Have you tried overclocking your 3000+ chip?

Its currently running @2.2 from 2.0.

Do you think that uprading the graphics card would give me a significant boost? or should I just wait it out for the new CPU's, GFX cards, and games (ie UT 2k7 and all the games that are going to use its engine) to come out and price drop the current options ?

Thanks for the advice BTW

Side tracking slighthly :
Is it worth considering this new physics add-on card that supposed to be comming out soon (forget its name), or are most people here discounting it?

 

[Angilion]

I have a similar setup. A64 3000 Venice o/c to 2250 from 1800. 2x512MB PC3200, running slightly o/c at 208, CAS3, but stable at 1T. I had a 9800Pro at stock.

I bought a 7800GT factory o/c to 450/"1050" a month ago.

The performance increase is startling. "Significant boost"? Hell yes.

However, I'm not playing the same games that you are, so I can't confirm that the CPU won't be a bottleneck. I'm sure you'd see an improvement because I'm sure that your current card is a bottleneck, but I'm not sure how large the improvement would be.

 

[TLJester1]

Thanks for the info VERY helpful !
What games DO you play? (Those arent the only games I play, just the ones I play the most).
It would be very helpful if you have any stats (even vague ones like "in game X fps now never drops below 40fps" or "now X averages at 80fps") and I'll go compare with my setup.

I have a similar setup. A64 3000 Venice o/c to 2250 from 1800. 2x512MB PC3200, running slightly o/c at 208, CAS3, but stable at 1T. I had a 9800Pro at stock.

I bought a 7800GT factory o/c to 450/"1050" a month ago.

The performance increase is startling. "Significant boost"? Hell yes.

However, I'm not playing the same games that you are, so I can't confirm that the CPU won't be a bottleneck. I'm sure you'd see an improvement because I'm sure that your current card is a bottleneck, but I'm not sure how large the improvement would be.

 

[Angilion]

It's very vague, but I've just taken a break from playing Far Cry. The settings I use are 1600x1200x32, 4xAA, 8xAniso, trilinear filtering and every setting in the video basic and advanced settings on "very high". IOW, absolutely maximum possible settings. Oh, and I'm currently using onboard sound that leeches a bit from the CPU.

I'm not seeing any discernable slowdowns. I'd had to install FRAPS or something to see a framerate, but I'm OK with as vague as "fast enough".

Storming card. If only the fan speed wasn't locked at 100% (i.e. more than twice as fast as it should be in 3D and 4x as fast as it should be in 2D). Noisy as hell. It's an issue with some 7800GT cards, notably XFX and BFG, so I wouldn't advise buying one unless you know for certain that the shop will take it back if you have this problem. It doesn't seem to be a config issue, as you can move the cards with this problem to a different PC and have the same problem. Clean installation of Windows doesn't help, either. No-one knows what the cause is.

 

[TLJester1]

Thanks for that
Well I dont even need to go and install FarCry again to know thats FAR better then what I have got it to run at!
Now need to keep the wife busy whilst I go sneak an order in

Thanks again for the info.

It's very vague, but I've just taken a break from playing Far Cry. The settings I use are 1600x1200x32, 4xAA, 8xAniso, trilinear filtering and every setting in the video basic and advanced settings on "very high". IOW, absolutely maximum possible settings. Oh, and I'm currently using onboard sound that leeches a bit from the CPU.

I'm not seeing any discernable slowdowns. I'd had to install FRAPS or something to see a framerate, but I'm OK with as vague as "fast enough".

Storming card. If only the fan speed wasn't locked at 100% (i.e. more than twice as fast as it should be in 3D and 4x as fast as it should be in 2D). Noisy as hell. It's an issue with some 7800GT cards, notably XFX and BFG, so I wouldn't advise buying one unless you know for certain that the shop will take it back if you have this problem. It doesn't seem to be a config issue, as you can move the cards with this problem to a different PC and have the same problem. Clean installation of Windows doesn't help, either. No-one knows what the cause is.