Vid Card!
 

Im in the market for a new dual head video card.. I want to stay around the $200 dollar range. I have never had an ATI card and was wondering what you guys thought of the 9500 pro that started shipping today? Im sorta leaning that way or a TI4400... what do you guys think?



Jordan

seems no one has any opinions, strange...

Well, are you looking to play 3D games, program/surf, or 3d rendering?

If you want a card that will have good 2D and great 3D, then I would go for the ATI 9500 or the Nvidia Ti4400. Depending how you feel about either company, either one should be a good buy. 3D wise as of right now, the 9500 Pro would probably be even better.

If you are going to be programing, surffing the web, or just typing, and dont need to play games, then I would recommend the Matrox G550. It is cheap at only ~$100 off the web and has excellent 2D quality. Not very strong on the 3D but can do an occasional game or two.

If you are going to be doing 3d Rendering, then you need to up your pricetag and get a WildCat of some sort :D

Honestly, what are you going to do with it?

Well i have always been partial to nVidia,, i just bought a Ti4200 for $140 and its got 128megs and DVI out, which even comes with a DVI to VGA adapter. you can dual head that one. I'm not sure where the ATI cards stack up but with all the software that came with that card and the excellent support nVidia has with Linux and BSD, i wouldnt go any other way.

I have a PNY GeForce 4600, and it ROCKS (Go NVIDIA!)!! You can pick one up for about $220 (as advertised in local paper). I have gotten 3dmarks of over 12000 with it, overclocked, of cource. I'm waiting for funds for a proper GeForce cooler to come my way...

But, if you are after 3d Marks, buy the 9500 (I can't beleave I just typed that!).

Hope this helps with your selection!

Thanks for the suggestions. Im not really playing the 3d mark game anymore. Im mostly going to be using it for gaming and photo editing (work) and programming (school). Anyone know how overclockable the ATI cards are? Also do you think the DX9 crap should be a consideration?

What are you running at the moment?, does it not 'cut the mustard' anymore?, or do you just want a new card?(nothing wrong with that, I want one all the time :p). I'd only upgrade now when my existing card can't produce the frames, I always go for the 'last generation' cause of the price as well, wait until Xmas and just after when the GfFX comes out and the prices slump for Gf4&ATi9500's and you'll get a good~price 9500pro or a bargain Ti4600...

PS, I'd stick with Nv cause of the driver quality, ATi drivers are abit dodgy, if you have a problem/issue you're fuxored till they decide to fix it, with Nv you can always wade through the host of drivers till you find one that works ;) ...
PPS, IMO Leadtek/Winfast are the King of the Graphics Cards, their My ViVo is the cherry, the icing is the build/component quality and O/Cability...

Speaking of which, i saw a few of those "myViVo" cards, there's a monstruous dual-fan rad. Do they adapt well to 'conventional' GFX waterblocks ? I mean are the two holes at the expected place ?

The reason I want a new card is I got a second monitor for my photo editing stuff and dont have any available PCI slots :( so really its my only choice other than ditching somthing else and buying some cheesy ass pci card.

Gmat
I Have a Leadtek g force 4 TI 4600
THe way the heat sink wraps around the Video card I dont think Conventional W/C is possible, Heck I dont even see a way you can remove that monster heat sink, I am going to stay with Air cooling on mine.

Aardil

Trident

You can't go wrong

What kind of games are you running?????

If mostly 2D and you want great 2D quality and you are on a tight budget; Matrox G550.

Otherwise, ATI 9500 or Nvidia 4x00 will suit your needs.

not much in the way of 2d. I play a bunch of CS, and FPS games. the occasional MAIM ROM

I ordered an ATI radeon 9500 pro yesterday, I'm really looking foward to getting it as I destroyed my gainward geforce 3 when my radiator ruptured...

Radeon 9500 (Pro if you can get it :) ) then...you should not be sorry

I ordered a Radeon 9500pro then saw that newegg had refurb 9700pros for $230. I had to do that so i called and canceled my 9500 and ordered a 9700.



I think ill be happy

Heatsink is held on with plain old white 'poppers' on my Gf3Ti500 which has a heatsink that covers the RAM and curls 'over&around' the board, the holes are all there, including the four corner ones...

I have an 8500LE that I've got over 10500 3dmarks on and it has dual head capabilities and can be bought on pricewatch for $70, *shrugs*.

HAHAHAHAA Watch out, Cybrsamurai!!!

I sent my DEAD Radeon 9700 back to NEWEGG.COM for REPAIRS about a week ago and they just sent me a BRAND NEW ONE!!! Hope you dont get my fried one!!! (I think I fried one of the memory chips.)




:eek: :D :D :D :evilaugh:

HAHA ill let you know if it works :)

Expect first dx9 games to come out very soon after dx9 is released trust me on this one.
I know of 4 games that will hit the market with in 2 weeks of dx9 coming out and im sure theres gona be one or 2 that come out when dx9 hits or be imdiatly patched to take advantage of dx9 features.
So yeh id say you should at least take dx9 in to consideration.

Picking a VC has been a hard choice for me.

I don't play action games (I'm too old for that shiznit!) but I do occasionally play strategy/simulation games, and I enjoy good/clean/crisp graphics.

since I'm building my rig in 2003 (waiting on Barton), I'll be waiting for the GeForce FX products to come out, and I'll pick up the equivalent of a Ti4200.

Dual monitor is something I want to try, along with some video editing, if I find the time!

cybrsamurai:

Look for a minor scratch right next to one of the holding pins for the HSF on the back of the card. If you find one then you got my dud! :D

Just too funny if you ask me.......

ill check. If I get your card I think ill be sending it right back to them :) Unless it works of course

I Got the card, no scratch. And it works perfectly! I'm a happy customer.