Graphics card

drdave · August 27, 2004, 03:00:22 PM

I am thinking of getting a new graphics card. Is there anyone out there that could help me with some advice.

I have a HP d330 P4 2.8 and 512 of ram. At the moment i am just using the onboard graphics.

i was hopeing to get somthing half desent for between Â£50 to Â£70 quid

cheers

Norm · August 27, 2004, 03:40:26 PM

Lo drdave,top end of your spend would get you 9600 pro 128 version,maybe wise to save a little more imho.

Dr Sadako · August 27, 2004, 03:52:20 PM

:withstupid:

Try to at least save up for a 9800 Pro or 9800 XT ...

TeaLeaf · August 27, 2004, 04:22:53 PM

I agree, it would almost be a waste of money to buy a 9600 Pro now, try to pick up a 9800 Pro or Xt as suggested.

Remember, if you get a decent 9800 Pro (something like the Sapphire) you can flash the BIOS to turn it into a 9800XT.

TL.

Phog · August 27, 2004, 04:32:55 PM

Hmm, i might have to give that a go myself. What type of cooling would i need?

TeaLeaf · August 27, 2004, 05:21:01 PM

Normal is fine, but if you want to overclock and blow your warranty at the same time just stick some RAM coolers on re-seat the main cooler with proper thermal goop.

TL.

drdave · August 27, 2004, 10:29:26 PM

Thanks for the info,

i have looked around for some and found them all to be around the 100 up mark

so will need to do some saving up or somthing!

There are some 9600 cards that are cheaper then some 9800 cards, is a cheap 9800 better or am i missing some of the detail. <_<

TeaLeaf · August 28, 2004, 12:15:30 AM

9800 is better imo, but I think the point is that you should not buy a 9600 now. If you need to wait a while to allow the budget to increase before getting a 9800 then I would say wait a while. The only other alternative is to go get a 9800SE and hope that it mods successfully like OB-wan's did in this thread. The 9800SE runs at about Â£93 so is closer to your budget requirements and has a 50/50 chance of modding via a BIOS flash to a full blown 9800Pro..

TL.

OldBloke · August 28, 2004, 09:03:03 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by TeaLeaf@Aug 28 2004, 12:15 AM
... and has a 50/50 chance of modding via a BIOS flash to a full blown 9800Pro..

Not quite. It's a bit simpler than that. All you need to do is run a modded driver to open up the four dormant pipes.

But, as TL said, it doesn't work on every card. Mine worked, DarkAngel's didn't.

drdave · August 31, 2004, 11:13:41 AM

Sounds Like it's worth a crack

Thanks again for all the info, it's been very helpful

. I think I will go for the 9800se and try the driver thing.

All i need to do now is convince the misses that i need one asap! well at least befor the lan!!

I'll let you know when i get one.

cheers

drdave

Barley · August 31, 2004, 02:01:12 PM

Stay away from the 9600 range no matter what you do!

drdave · August 31, 2004, 02:07:23 PM

ok Will do

Why do you say that?

Barley · August 31, 2004, 05:33:40 PM

Well I got one thinking it would be a good budget card, but the performance in my opinion is just too low. I mean, I'm not an expert, but take Doom 3 for example. It runs really rather badly on my 9600XT, and bearing in mind the price of 9800 cards these days, you'd be mad not to pick up one of those instead

Doorman · September 01, 2004, 11:43:48 PM

Why aren't we all lusting after one of these ?

Gh0st Face Killah · September 02, 2004, 04:05:05 PM

Because this is Better!! :narnar: