[-=jonnyrotten=-]

Ok I got a question... I have recently been looking into buying a video card and have suddenly become overwhelmed by all the se, xt, fx, etc........... Then there's 128mb or 256mb and 64 bit or 128 bit... Too much information. I run intel extreme graphics right now (64mb shared system mem) which isn't the best by a loooooooooong shot. It runs everything I have right now though, but my video settings have to be turned down. I am just looking for a decent card for around $150 so I won't have to share my system memory, and I will be able to turn my graphics settings up and still run smoothly. Any suggestions or comments?
System this card will be going in:
Asus p4p800-vm
2.67 Celeron @ 3.3
512 samsung ddr 333mhz : 2.2-3-3-7
(512 corsair ddr 400mhz on the way in the mail)

-=jonnyrotten=-

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I'd look for a good deal on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) on a ATI X700. Right now they're around $200, I'd guess you can find a deal on one around $150.

If you can find a good deal on a 9800Pro that would also be a good choice.

[admin]

I'd look for a good deal on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) on a ATI X700. Right now they're around $200, I'd guess you can find a deal on one around $150.

If you can find a good deal on a 9800Pro that would also be a good choice.

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

So I've heard alot about 9800 pro's they must be good. I also read about softmodding your 9800 se to become a 9800 pro and then you can flash it to an XT. Not sure on what the xt is, but I do understand the se to pro change. Would this sound like a good idea to you?

-=jonnyrotten=-

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

What about this?
http://www.asus.com/...t/overview.htm#

-=jonnyrotten=-

[admin]

Some 9800SE can be flashed to a 9800Pro, but not to an XT (not enough physical pipelines).

9600XT is a nice card, but the X700 is the next gen replacement.

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

I can't find any x700's that are agp though...

-=jonnyrotten=-

[admin]

They were going to keep it PCI Express, but the lack of mobo's has changed their mind last I heard. I would expect it to be available any day now. I'll do some more checking.

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

So the x700 would outdo the 9800pro? So far for ati 9800 se softmodded to a pro is in the lead. Besides maybe this x700 and for nVidia, I still don't have any takers.

-=jonnyrotten=-

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

What about this?
http://usa.asus.com/...d/overview.htm#

-=jonnyrotten=-

[admin]

nVidia's 6600 is comparable to the X700, and I think it's available now (haven't looked). If you buy a 9800SE, be sure it's somewhere with a good return policy, in case it's not able to soft-mod. Then you can exchange it for another.

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

The only problem is that the 6600's are only (as far as I can tell) pci express...
I'm either making this harder than it should be or I just need to keep researching, I've been learning about vc's all day...no work today
Thank you for the help.

-=jonnyrotten=-

[admin]

Well here's one. There will be many more soon:
http://www.newegg.co...-150-080&depa=0

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

Is pci express an new type of physical pci slot, or can you just plug in a pcie video card to your pci slot and you're good to go?

-=jonnyrotten=-

Nevermind, stupid question.....

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

Here's some info on the 6600gt.

http://www.theinquir.../?article=19340

So what do you think about the fact that the 9800 has 256bit and the 6600gt has 128bit? The benchmarks still seem to go with the 6600gt agp. I think I'm likin that card and may spend more to get it, it has ddr3 mem too. Mmmmmmmmmmm.

-=jonnyrotten=-

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

So basically it looks like a choice between the 9800 se (softmodded to pro),or the 9800 pro (flashed to xt I hear that is possible with a r360 chip), or the 6600gt agp. Does the 9800 se come with 256 mb mem? I can't find it. I'm hoping on being able to find a cheap 9800 se that will successfully mod to the pro. Unless the 6600 gt comes down in price before christmas I don't know If I'm going to get it......Awww who am I fooling, you know I'm gonna get that. Maybe Ati will release the agp x700xt soon though....waiting. I still have awhile to do this since my asus mobo is in the mail on it's journey back to zipzoomfly to be replaced or fixed, therefore I cannot install the vc since my super highly versatile intel d845 mobo does not have an agp slot. Let the researching continue....

-=jonnyrotten=-