9600 xt 128 mb vs. 9600 xt 256 mb vs. 9800 pro 128 mb... please help

[spin03]

i am deciding between these 3 cards, and i am not sure which one to get. if i dont want to spend extra for the 9800, is the 9600 xt 256 much better than the 128, or is there really no difference. btw these are the prices of the cards:
9600 xt 128 mb-153
9600 xt 256 mb- 178
9800 pro 128 mb- 219

if i decide to save money, and buy the 9600 series, do u think i can get medium graphics settings at 1024x768 rseolution. my processor is a 2.26 ghz P4 and 512 ram. if anyone can help i will really appreciate it.

 

[blahblahblah]

The 9800 is by far the best way to go.

With the 9600 XT, go with the 128 MB model. The 9600 XT can not properly utilize the extra 128 MB with the 256 MB models.

If you go with the 9600 XT, you should be able to get medium/high graphics settings at 1024 by 768 with 30 FPS.

Here are some bencmarks comparing the cards.

Tom's Hardware Benchmarks
X-Bit Lab Benchmarks

 

[Beast206]

The 9800 is by far the best way to go.

With the 9600 XT, go with the 128 MB model. The 9600 XT can not properly utilize the extra 128 MB with the 256 MB models.

Okay blahblahblah, please don't take this as me criticizing you, or disputing your facts, but I am looking at a 9600XT fairly soon and was wondering about that exact issue. Is there somewhere I can absolutely verify this?

My issue is an extreme budget, and the fact that to go beyond the 9600XT would probably require a new power supply, as mine is a 240W jobber.

 

[craig]

I have a 9600xt w/256mb and for the price they're excellent cards. I would however go for a 9800 pro if I had the choice between the two, because it's only marginally more expensive now, and PSU's are cheap anyway.

 

[Beast206]

Appreciate it Benson. Yeah, I know they're (PSU's) dirt cheap... but I still can't do both. Disability is a bite in the arse bro. hehe. Still, I've been dealing with a GeForce3 Ti200 for waaaaay too long. ANYTHING would be an upgrade at this point.

 

[SidewinderX]

9600XT with 128MB will be fine. HL2 aims to run well on a 9600pro (according to the benchmarks fom last year)

 

[Beast206]

Danke. Again, the responses are appreciated.

 

[spin03]

honestly, if i get a 9800 pro over a 9600 xt, could it be the difference between having the graphics at medium or high. also what are the benefits of having a 256 mb card over a 128 mb card, and is it worth an extra 30 for the 256 or is there no noticable difference

 

[Asus]

For a 9600 card, if you turn on the settings that may affect 128MB vs 256MB then it will be slow enough where you wouldn't turn on the settings anyway. Therefore 256MB isn't worth it on a mainstream card. Just more money into something you won't be able to use.

 

[bosox188]

Definitely get the 9800 pro if you can is really worth it it's much better. Get this one from newegg, it's only $195 has good cooling and uses the R360 core so it's really an underclocked 9800xt:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-127&depa=0

 

[blahblahblah]

For a 9600 card, if you turn on the settings that may affect 128MB vs 256MB then it will be slow enough where you wouldn't turn on the settings anyway. Therefore 256MB isn't worth it on a mainstream card. Just more money into something you won't be able to use.

Quoted for emphasis :O

 

[spin03]

i have heard that the 9800 pro is a very demanding card, and in general, places that custom build computers like dell and gateway, have a lot of trouble running them. my computer is about 2 years old and it is gateway, but at the time it was a good computer. so does anyone have an idea whether it could run or not. btw i have a p4 2.26 ghz and 512 ram. thanks

 

[The Terminator]

Thats cause dells have shitty PSUs. And 9800 pros take a lot of power along with teh rest of your rig.

 

[spin03]

i am looking to upgrade my psu to my 350-400 W. and you are right about that terminator, because mine came with a 160 W psu.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Appreciate it Benson. Yeah, I know they're (PSU's) dirt cheap... but I still can't do both. Disability is a bite in the arse bro. hehe. Still, I've been dealing with a GeForce3 Ti200 for waaaaay too long. ANYTHING would be an upgrade at this point.

You are in the -exact- same situation as me. I'm on a budget. I have Geforce 3. And I can't decide if it's worth it to just get a 9600XT or a 9800 Pro with a new Power Supply. but the 9800 pro with the PSU runs 265, wheras the 9600XT is around ~165. Hundred dollars difference.. makes a difference

 

[Dead-Inside]

i am deciding between these 3 cards, and i am not sure which one to get. if i dont want to spend extra for the 9800, is the 9600 xt 256 much better than the 128, or is there really no difference. btw these are the prices of the cards:
9600 xt 128 mb-153
9600 xt 256 mb- 178
9800 pro 128 mb- 219

if i decide to save money, and buy the 9600 series, do u think i can get medium graphics settings at 1024x768 rseolution. my processor is a 2.26 ghz P4 and 512 ram. if anyone can help i will really appreciate it.

Well if you feel like Over Clocking, then buy a Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro, clock it up a bit. Can get around 5-10% without extra cooling (Saying you have a chassiefan)

 

[bosox188]

Yeah but the MSI one you can clock to 9800xt speeds, some people can clock it farther! The MSI one has a bigger cooler, I think it still only takes up one slot but it's a better cooler.