New system, what do you think?

[Guest mike-oh]

So if i said i was buying a;

AMD Athlon XP PR3000

512mb 333mhz ddr ram

40gb (puny i know but i've already got 50 in here)

128mb ATI Radeon 9600 (8x AGP)

16x 48x dvd

52x 32x 52 cdrw

XP pro

and the usual

Motherboard: XFX KT600-ALX ( 8x AGP)

Case: Nokia Style Midi Tower (Blue)

Floppy Disk Drive

Keyboard: Genius Comfy KB10

Mouse: Genius Netscroll+

What would you say?

I'm planing on getting a customised pc built by ccl computers.

Does anyone know what the ball park is for a decent (ie fair bit better than average but not the dogs if you know what i mean) reasonably future proof graphics card. To be honest i would imagine anything out there is better than me ageing geforce2. Prices in the region of £150 inc vat.

I used to be clued into what was going on in the world of graphics cards but to be honest its progressed that fast i can't keep up!

The list of cards here are some of my options but with the package i want i have a choice of the 128mb ATI Radeon 9800 pro (connect 3d) or the 128mb ATI Radeon 9600 (connect 3d) and then some of the radeon saphire cards. Is there much difference between connect 3d and saphire?

Then there's nvidia!!

Any help/advice/knowledge is much appreciated.

Cheers

Mike

[Guest Emad]

Not much difference between the various brands unless you fancy overclocking - the 9800pro should stand you in good stead for pretty much anything and everything in the next few years. Nvidias are noisy at higher ranges too. I have a Tyan 9600pro I picked up for 100 and its been purring away quite nicely, quite happy with it (usually run it with the fan off).

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

If you find someone flogging 9800pro's for 150 quid let me know! ;p

£150 will get you the 9600pro or a 5600(ish) GFFX, personally i prefer Radeons, although there isn't all the much in it. Saphire are a good mid-range branded gfx card producer, and i'd be inclined to go for branded...

[Guest spacecowboy6982]

Got to be some sort of Nvidia...like mine :razz: the Ultra 5700 is a sweetheart. Had the Radeon 9800 previously but jumped a hell of alot. This seems to habdle the framerate on fast paced games and is also cheap at the price. THe best midrange/top graphics card available and expect to pick one up now for around £150 :)

spacecowboy

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

A 9800 shouldn't really jump at anything, sure you have everything configured etc?

Also i notice your sig says you have a 2.8GHz athlon, which version have you oc'd to get that?

[Guest spacecowboy6982]

I was told it was roughly 2.51 GHz (no idea what version) which was then maxed out to exactly 2850 MHz. When I was getting it built by <> I asked for a moderatly fast processor that could be overclocked a few hundred hertz but still worked without a hitch. And it does :!: Except with a different graphics card. I also believe my Radeon was faulty. Didn't give it a second chance and was recommended the Nvidia by the guys at Silicon.

spacecowboy

[Guest Emad]

You can overclock good 1700XPs to somewhere near tht I think.. I have my 2500XP overclocked to 2.5ghz - that's a 3200XP (or maybe just above?). Runs quite cool in my shuttle, which is nice (44C).

The 9600 XT looks quite nice - auto-overclocking, no fan in some versions and a voucher for half life 2. Should be around 130-140 - faster than the 9600 pro from base too.

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

Hmm, last i heard athlons break down at 2.8gig+ (apparently a flaw in all athon cores). The fastest stock Athlons aren't any faster than 2.2Ghz btw.

[Guest spacecowboy6982]

Indeed. Like I say, I dont have a clue about overclocking and didn't know it was possible until I was asked.

They've seen a mug with a wad of cash and thought "oh yes" :roll:

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

Hehe np, if it is that fast i'm impressed. Incedentally i have a 2000+ clocked at 2Ghz (~2600+).

Anyway, decided on a new graphics card yet?

[Guest mike-oh]

Umm... probably opt for the 128mb ati radeon 9600. But then i could ....... :)

Ask again in a few hours :D