Thinking of buyng new card! Help!

[BWMASTER]

Now HL2 caught me at an innapropriate time at which I cannot buy a new computer.
I have decided it will be best for me to upgrade the vid card.
I'm currently looking at a ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB - $269.99 (CAN)


I have an Athlon 1ghz with approx 300 SDRAM and plenty of HD space.

What I'm concerned is how much does the processor count in HL2's performance as in FPS.

I'm guessing it doesnt affect it alot as much of the power comes from the card which is processing the scenes.


If so do you think it is apporpriate for me to buy the card and upgrade, taking in mind the price and my current computer.

Thank You!

 

[Sgt.Igneri]

The CPU will be very important in HL2, being that the advanced physics engine will use alot of CPU, which also means alot of RAM. Upgrading the GFX is up to you. It depends on what card you have now. I really wouldnt even upgrade, i would just coninue to save for a whole new rig.

 

[BWMASTER]

I wont have time for that until HL2 comes in.
My best hopes is buying a new computer after the holidays.

And I don't think I could enjoy HL2 as much on a Geforce 4 MX 440...


EDIT: I'm having low FPS in BF and very low FPS in Call Of Duty running at low details....

 

[Sgt.Igneri]

Well its really up to you. The CPU and RAM will still bottleneck it. Your best bet would be waiting nuntil the holidays, and getting brand new components, or buy the 9600 pro now, and use it when you upgrade the rest. The 9800 would probly be 9600 pro price by then, and theyllbe even better cards.

 

[MacGraham]

your gonna need a 2ghz cpu really. The physics maybe scalable like in UT2003 though. You could stick a new card in but it would get strangled by your CPU, at least it would be pretty futureproof though. The best 9600 pro is this one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=51440

read the reviews and links from them.

Of course if you get the new CPU and RAM your gonna also need a new Mobo as well. It soon adds up.

 

[BWMASTER]

But I can't stant not playing HL2 and looking an evereyone else playing it

Anyone else want to share their input?

 

[BWMASTER]

Originally posted by MacGraham
your gonna need a 2ghz cpu really. The physics maybe scalable like in UT2003 though. You could stick a new card in but it would get strangled by your CPU, at least it would be pretty futureproof though. The best 9600 pro is this one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=51440

read the reviews and links from them.

Of course if you get the new CPU and RAM your gonna also need a new Mobo as well. It soon adds up.

Upgrading CPU for me = new computer

Now I'm just intrested now in how much will it bottleneck the card and if I am going to have a playable game at high-medium settings on 800x600.

Someone with really good hardware initiative give me an idea in % of how much lower the card is going to perform due to my CPU.

Thanx

 

[Steven Q Urkle]

what video card you have now?

 

[MacGraham]

Originally posted by BWMASTER
Upgrading CPU for me = new computer

Now I'm just intrested now in how much will it bottleneck the card and if I am going to have a playable game at high-medium settings on 800x600.

Someone with really good hardware initiative give me an idea in % of how much lower the card is going to perform due to my CPU.

Thanx

At toms hardware guide hidden away in the graphics card section he has multi-card reviews using higher and lower powered CPU's. This is to show the effects of bottle necking. Hang on I'll find the link for you. Just give me a couple of minutes.

Graphics wise at the res you want to play at the 9600pro will be fine, its the under lying processing of facial animation and physics that might cause you a problem.

hang on!!!

 

[MacGraham]

here you go:

low end machines here:
http://www20.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030120/index.html

high end here:
http://www20.tomshardware.com/graphic/20021218/index.html

the cards are slightly out of date but you'll get the idea.

 

[BWMASTER]

Holy smokes thanks so much.

I was happy when I saw this

http://www20.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030120/vgacharts-02.html

not so when i went on to the next page

http://www20.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030120/vgacharts-03.html

48 fps sure looks playable to me.....
...stupid doungeon seige....

http://www20.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030120/vgacharts-04.html



I'm gonna buy the card because it is a limited time offer (until sept 18) so I just wanted to see what you guyz say about it.

 

[MacGraham]

Originally posted by BWMASTER
I'm gonna buy the card because it is a limited time offer (until sept 18) so I just wanted to see what you guyz say about it.

hang fire for a second. 269 dollars, is that US or CAN (maybe i'm being ignorant if they are the same). Let me see if I can find anywhere else. 269 CAN dollars translates to about £122. About the average price. That Tyan version is worth searching for. Its the same price as well. Its built for overclocking and those 9600's really overclock well.

 

[MacGraham]

so far:
www.canadacomputers.com
powercolour 9600pro
232 dollars

Amazon.com
Tyan 9600pro (the good one)
192 dollars

do you want me to go on!

 

[BWMASTER]

ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB DDR more info $248

canadacomputers, thats without shipping....(future shop is free shipping)

And I think the normal one would be better.

Thank you very much for helping!

 

[SidewinderX]

the 9600pro is an exellent card. most games are video card-intensive, so, yes the cpu will bottleneck, but a GF4 mx is more of a bottle neck than anyhting else. I try to please