New graphics card

[theredstar]

After using 3dMark to test my PC, and comparing with others, I have been struck by PC penis envy ft: . I desperately want to increase my 3dMark score.

I've decided a new graphics card is a must (I know my GF3 Ti200 isn't that bad, but don't try and reason with me ).

What would you recommend:

Radeon 9500 Pro

or GeForce 4800SE.

Tom's hardware doesn't appear to have looked at any of the SE cards yet (here is where someone proves me wrong). The feedback I've seen suggests it's comparable to an old 4400. I've been with NVidea sice by old Voodoo 2 died - are there any compatibility probs with ATI cards?

Cheers

[Rushy]

Personally I would go with the ATI card. I used to have Nvidia all the way but I thought I would give ATI a chance with the 9700 PRO and wow. No compatability issues and regular driver updates. Not sure how it exactly the 9500 comapres to the 4800 but i know they are fairly competitive with each other.

[wager]

Or why not just get a GeForce4 Ti4200 card. Got one of these oc'ed in my PC and have yet to run any game which gave it any problems.

[Sarkster]

or even better still, wait for the radeon 9600, great performance, good price

[Fire]

Either card will be a good one, the 9500pro will be a better performer but will most likely cost more too. Be a clever boy and wait til the next wave of big hitters have been out a few weeks and you'll be able to nab a cheap 9700pro

[?pint]

I've got a ti4600 and I was hitting about 3000 or so 3dmarks. Though I dunno whether that's good or not.

[Rushy]

I've got a ti4600 and I was hitting about 3000 or so 3dmarks. Though I dunno whether that's good or not.

Sounds about right for a ti4600, I get almost 5000 with my 9700 pro.

[koenshaku]

Which version are you boys using, I've been reading that 3dMark 2003 gives 'unreliable' scores depending on which board is being benchmarked. Nvidia want nothing to do with it, they say it's that inaccurate.
As for scores 3dMark 2001 gives me 13500 thru my 9700 pro.

I'd recommend the 9700 anyday, wait for the price drop tho.

[Ciaran]

I'd go with the 9500Pro.

Go HERE for a review of the 9600 and go HERE to see Toms hardware's VGA charts.

[Rushy]

Which version are you boys using, I've been reading that 3dMark 2003 gives 'unreliable' scores depending on which board is being benchmarked. Nvidia want nothing to do with it, they say it's that inaccurate.
As for scores 3dMark 2001 gives me 13500 thru my 9700 pro.

I'd recommend the 9700 anyday, wait for the price drop tho.

Using the 2003 version for the score of almost 5000

Was getting 14600 on version 2001

[eghamninja]

Which version are you boys using, I've been reading that 3dMark 2003 gives 'unreliable' scores depending on which board is being benchmarked. Nvidia want nothing to do with it, they say it's that inaccurate.
As for scores 3dMark 2001 gives me 13500 thru my 9700 pro.

I'd recommend the 9700 anyday, wait for the price drop tho.

Which they are claiming because ATI are giving them a royle spanking with 2003.

[?pint]

Fact is, you don't need an extremely expensive card to yield good results. I'd say going for one of the GF4 Ti or Radeons is your best bet, but paying more than ?200 for a card which will be half that price in a few months is a bit over the top, in my books. Especially since there isn't one game out at the moment which will falter on your current Ti200.

[Bredrin]

I have the Connect3D 9500 Pro card, for under ?150 it's a great graphics card. Great performance for the price.

No compatability issues and regular driver updates.

Agree, no problems at all.

I bought mine from simply.co.uk, free delivery on internet orders.

[Robin]

http://www.blisware.co.uk do the same card for ?142, that's where I bought my Connect3D R9000Pro from.

[theredstar]

Fact is, you don't need an extremely expensive card to yield good results. I'd say going for one of the GF4 Ti or Radeons is your best bet, but paying more than ?200 for a card which will be half that price in a few months is a bit over the top, in my books. Especially since there isn't one game out at the moment which will falter on your current Ti200.

That's the thing, some games are beginning to struggle. TOCA Race Driver is a bit shaky, and Battlefield 1942 isn't too good either.

I think part of the problem is that I've SDRAM rather than DDR, but a new gfx card will help (I hope).

I'm going to plump for the 9500Pro, but I'll probably wait for the 9600 to come out and force prices down.

Thanks for all your advice.