Decisions, Decisions

[Elle T]

Hi guys i'm really needing to get a new Video Card, I was going to wait for the FX but my card isn't going to be a viable option for much longer.
I'm of two minds over video cards, either the:
Leadtek WinFast GeForce4 Ti4200 128Mb DDR, 8x AGP, MyVIVO
Or
ATi Radeon 9500 Pro
Depending on if the Radeon will be out soonish - Before L3#12?

What do you think?

Any word on release date or price on the Radeon?

***EDIT***
Budget is around $450

[Antallica]

What you got currently?

ATi all the way baby :D
http://www.pricespy.co.nz/pno_1459.html - Looks like Dragon has them.

[Hans]

Well, a Ti-4200 will be around $300 and u can save the rest ($150) towards your next video card.

Get an ATi if you can be bothered with messing around with drivers, etc. (Well, I can't).

[H]arls can tell you all about ATi's compatibility and stability. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I know the CAT3 is a lot better than the CAT2 and CAT2.5 but... Personally, I won't get any ATi cards for myself within the next year or so. Not until they can catch up in the drivers' dept.

The 9500RPO is fast but it is worth it for the extra $100 or so?

[swiftynz]

ati's drivers have never put me off them. heck, i have troubles with just about every other piece of hardware in my comp, whats one more. :p

ATI's drivers are good, nvidia's are simply a lot better.

but admittedly i've only installed 3 ATI cards and they all went smoothly.

Elle, i'd go for the 128mb 4200 and save the $150 for your next card as Hans suggested. upgrading is fun right? so do it more cheaply and more often! :D:D :p

/edit: oh yea btw his current card is a gf2 mx.

[mird-OC]

yeah, and i'd expect the 4200s to hold their value reasonably well over the next few months... so that's probably the best option at the moment.

[[H]arls]

[H]arls will not tell Elle T about ATI's compatibility and stability, because I gaurantee the ATI purests will start calling me nasty names, and accusing me of not knowing what im doing. :D :p
(That 9700 is coming back tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes, got a new mobo to try it with now :) )

Colour me an nVidiot, but I'd say go for the Ti4200. Thats what I would buy given the same choice.

[DiscoStu]

I'd take the 9500Pro, chuck in the hacked bios and oc the bjesus outta it.

[Elle T]

I have a Asus 7100 Pure 32mb Geforce 2 MX :(
Only reason i bought it was i couldn't afford $600 for a GF2 GTS at the time.
Taught me never to go for cheap hardware altho its changed now.

I had an ATi Rage Pro Turbo II with a Whoop'in™ 8mb years ago.
I used to have to change my drivers to suit different games.
I'm was hoping ATi had caught up since then :confused:

Note the Leadtek i'm looking at is the full blown 8X AGP, 128mb of 3.6 NS DDR Ram, & My VIVO.
This is around about $430 atm.
I'm hoping by getting the extra features will hold the cards value longer, besides only $30 difference to the plain version.

[Wibber]

sh1t I dunno what you ppl are b1tchin about, I have owned 2 ati cards and Installed a few others, and not once had any problems with them at all... they even both overclocked well (well my two did)!
I think you nvidiots my be subconciously causing problems to your cards to make them fit in with your beliefs ;) :p

anyway, I say go for the GF4, the 8500's have gone up in price again so the ti4200 is the best value/performance choice for the next few months. since the ati pricing in nz is retarded, I dont see the 9500 getting into the price bracket it should be till its being supersceeded

EDIT: er sh1t I'd only pay $300-350 for a TI4200, any more than the you probably get the radeon, just dont get a power color

[dustyslapper]

If your spending more then $400 then forget the 4200 IMO. $400 is just too much to be spending on 'older' hardware that's going to lose value real fast.

But then again - it'll blow you away when you see it running, I know that I was amazed when I finally ditched my mx :)

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Wibber
sh1t I dunno what you ppl are b1tchin about, I have owned 2 ati cards and Installed a few others, and not once had any problems with them at all... they even both overclocked well (well my two did)!
I think you nvidiots my be subconciously causing problems to your cards to make them fit in with your beliefs ;) :p


Says the single monitor Windows user.....
;) ;) :p

But yeah, for what Elle T uses with his rig, he wouldn't notice much difference between ATi and nVIDIA driver quality ( either are better than most other companies *sigh* ).

I dunno - I reckon the Ti4200 would be a better idea - 64MB, and then upgrade again when the FX does come out ( though not to an FX, cos it's looking like they'll be might pricey ). Then I'd buy a Ti4800. Mmmmmm.....
;)