Best AGP card.

[Gav]

Whats the best card available on AGP? At present i have a 6800gt and i was thinking about an upgrade.

Will it be worth it?

 

[Gav]

i seem to remember a post saying that Steam Stats say that 75% of their users are on AGP.

Hardly a DEAD standard. It was probably a marketing ploy to push pci-e. After all it would mean more mobo sales and more income for Nvidea.

I am sticking with AGP for one simple reason. Other than graphics there is no real gain for me to upgrade my whole system. I would need 2gb of memory, a new processor. 3ghz+, a decent mobo with at least 6 sata ports and raid capability and a new graphics card. All in all i would be looking at £600+ to keep me at a similar spec with the exception of graphics. I think it makes more sense to upgrade the graphics for £300.

 

[Gav]

Not sure why there are people so vehemently defending AGP, it's not like you lose anything by upgrading, in fact it's cheaper.

How is it cheaper?

I have at present:
P4 3.2
Abit IC7-Max3
2GB PC3200 Cas2 ram
6800GT

So spec me a new processor, mobo, memory and graphics to a similar spec for £350

 

[Gav]

Dunno for Pentium mate, I've not used one since the Pentium 3 650Mhz. But for Socket 754 and Socket 939 Athlons it's much cheaper to simply take the plunge and buy an nForce4 motherboard.

See my previous post for prices. Not only do you get a better, volt-moddable graphics card, you get a better upgrade path for well into Q3+ 2007.

IC7-Max3 =Socket 478

Not into modding for extra performance. Loads of you Pro-PCI-e guys say it will be cheaper for me to upgrade my whole system. The reason i havn'e considered this is because i have looked into it and its NOT cheaper. Hence the reason i want to stay with the AGP at present.

When i next do an upgrade, probably in about 12 months, i will probably change everthing but at this time i dont see any great reason why. After all, your mobo's will all be "DEAD STANDARDS" by then so why waste the money.

 

[Gav]

Because you can get an pci-e mobo that will support your cpu and ram for around 40 quid.

Then get a 7900 GT for £190

Total cost of upgrade 230 Quid substantially cheaper than spending 300 odd quid on a 7800 agp card.

Plus you have a clear upgrade path too.

If you were to get a Asus P4V800D-X S478, PCI-E / AGP, PCI-E, Lan, 5.1Snd, ATX mobo which can be had for 30 quid you would just transfer your cpu and ram over.

Doesnt have enough sata ports. I need Raid capability and at least another 4 sata ports for slave drives. I also need at least 3 free pci slots for my other stuff (scsi, serial etc)

 

[Gav]

do a google, there are other sata s478 pci-e mobos with your requirements out there.

You know it makes sense.

Have done and couldn't find any

 

[Gav]

ASUS Motherboard P4gpl-x - Intel 915pl S478 Pci-e 8usb Atx With Audio + Glan + Sata
like a previously posted does exactly waht you want

Seen it and ruled it out

Not enough Sata ports. The IC7-max 3 has 2 for a raid setup and a further 4 for slave drives.

 

[Gav]

Get a sata adaptor then.

And have as many sata ports has you like

The mobo is not suitable. It doesnt have enough slots for everything that i need to have.

 

[Gav]

FACT: You cant spec me a board that is suitable for an upgrade.

FACT: To get a PCI-e board that is suitable i will need to go to 775

FACT: I will then need a new CPU, RAM and Graphics as well

FACT: The AGP option will be CHEAPER.

 

[Gav]

the best AGP card is the Gainward 7800+ GS which i mentioned on the first page.

Yip, i have to agree.

I will definately be going down that route as my current system is far from obsolete and i am pretty sure that the 7800+ will do me for at least another year.It is also far too much grief and expense to have to change a whole system just so i can get a new graphics card.Anyway in a years time, Vista should be out and there will probably be a PCI-e2 which will not be compatible with PCI-e and so i will be able to miss out a step in the technology evolution.

AGP is dead. Long live AGP!!