Advice on GFX Card for Doom 3 & HL2

[G-Dub]

OK, the time is here. I'm ready to buy a new graphics card to play the new games that are coming out such as Doom III, HL2, CS:Source and the many others that my crappy GeForce 4 cannot handle.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/X800_Series.html

This link shows that an X800 Pro is on sale this week... should I get this one?

If you don't think I should get this one, which one should I get?

Oh, and will it definately be compatible with my computer etc?

Thanks for reading!

 

[RaBiD WeAzEL]

What are your computer stats at?

Can't really tell ya if it's compatable if we don't know what your computer is...

 

[DarkStar]

I'd go with Nvidia's 6800 GT. Most bang for your buck in this current generation of cards.

 

[jabberwock95]

X800 Pro would run every game out there with ease, and be future-proof for a good long while. You will need to make sure the rest of your comp won't be bottlenecking the performance, and make sure you have a decent power supply.

As far as I can tell from info ive gathered, anything in ATI's high-end range will do you very well for HL2. I've recently purchased a 9800 PRO for £130, and im hoping to run HL2 on high settings (I think the card they demo'd HL2 on was a 9800 pro).

Remember to add VAT to the overclockers.co.uk price. You're looking at around £340 with shipping. There are some good cards (similar to what you found) at www.ebuyer.co.uk . You might be able to find one cheaper, but it wont be modded like the OC's one. (I don't know how that affects performance).

 

[GPRT]

Yeah, www.overclockers.co.uk have their own x800 pro with 16 pipes, this adds a considerable amount of performance to the card and is a steal at the price.

 

[G-Dub]

in reply to previous post...

Athlon XP 2400+
256 MB of RAM (DDR) [going to up this to 1 gig of DDR RAM]

will I have any bottle necking problems?

 

[RaBiD WeAzEL]

As long as your ram's gonna be updated like you said, that'll be fine for now... The XP (32-bit) Processors are really bein' hurt from the 64-bit processors these days, but keep using that one for as long as you can... It'll hold up... By the time your XP gets to the point of no return, the 64-bits will be a lowerprice too. Good Luck!

 

[G-Dub]

thanks man i will let you know what i buy.

probably today, and probably either the 9800 XT or X800 pro, depends really.

[edit] ok, i've had a look and i'm thinking of going with the "Samsung Original 512MB PC2700 CAS2.5 (MY-006-SA)" to up my RAM to 768 MB of RAM and the "Connect3D ATI Radeon X800 Pro "OcUK 16 Pipeline Special Edition" 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-004-OK)".

this should bring me total up to just over £400.

what are your thoughts guys? :O

 

[AMDeaD]

thanks man i will let you know what i buy.

probably today, and probably either the 9800 XT or X800 pro, depends really.

[edit] ok, i've had a look and i'm thinking of going with the "Samsung Original 512MB PC2700 CAS2.5 (MY-006-SA)" to up my RAM to 768 MB of RAM and the "Connect3D ATI Radeon X800 Pro "OcUK 16 Pipeline Special Edition" 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-004-OK)".

this should bring me total up to just over £400.

what are your thoughts guys? :O

You want to be looking at getting some better RAM then that...
I would recommend Corsair XMS PC3200 2x512 CAS2 which you can pick up for £172.

Since you will have 2 mixed sticks of RAM you wont be able to use dual channel and your sticks will only run at default speeds PC2700 is actually 133MHz and only comes to 266MHz in dual channel setup. Your RAM will then end up being your bottleneck.

 

[G-Dub]

OK, this is my order.

Sapphire X800PRO 256MB DDR3 VIVO (Video In Video Out) DVI Retail Box

Corsair (VS1GBKIT333) 1024MB (2 x 512MB Matched Pair), DDR333 / PC2700, non-ECC, Unbuffered, CL2.5, Lifetime Warranty

I should get it by Thursday.