AGP Graphic Cards

[ukaskew]

I've currently got an Athlon XP3000+, 2GB DD400 RAM and 370GB's worth of Western Digital SATA drive, had all that in my PC since I built it in 2004 and never given it a second thought, everything I use frequently such as Photoshop and various other imaging programs have run very rapidly. I've also been playing a few games, namely GT Legends, GTR and Sim City 4, but I'm wanting Test Drive Unlimited quite badly when it comes out.

Here is my problem (I think), this occupies my AGP slot...

Sapphire Radeon 9800PRO 128MB

I don't want to spend a fortune upgrading considering everything else is so good for my needs, so are there any AGP cards out there that will improve performance for games without me having to upgrade everything else? The one I got was mid-range at the time (2004) and there were some very expensive AGP cards around, I hope I can get one of the better ones (of its day) cheaper now...? I realise AGP isn't standard now, but I hoped that would benefit me cost wise.

For the record (if it makes any difference), I have this MOBO:

Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe SKTA NVNorce2ST ATX 8xAGP Giga LAN, SATA, Firewire, 6 channel Audio, USB2 Dual chan. DDR +WiFi slot (up to DDR400)

 

[The Hoff]

Still plenty of AGP stuff around mate.

High-end card:
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=329864

Budget:
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=327507

Neither are bad cards and should give you good gains for the price. 1950 is a mighty fine card idd.

 

[Grandpa Munster]

I have an XFX Geforce 6800 GT (256MB) that I will sell, it will easily run all that you mention above.

Drop me a p.m. if you are interested.

 

[rich[182]]

I was in same position as you last year, had a 9700 Pro and went for the 256Mb AGP X800XT-PE, I've only got 1.5Gb DDR400 and can run F.E.A.R with reasonably high settings with decent frame-rates

I'd go for the 256Mb version of the X1950Pro and save £50

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-071-HT

 

[Longy]

Hmm your gonna struggle for AGP.

Upgrade for cheap try:

ASrock mobo - use your existing memory, HDD's ect

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14829&GroupID=1093

get a 6300 core 2 duo and overclock it:

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14432&GroupID=1674

get a 1950pro

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=15335&GroupID=330

cheap(ish) upgrade!

£231.04 plus VAT

you end up with a super system! and just upgrade other parts when needed.

 

[rich[182]]

I'd just stick with AGP for now

 

[UncleGrumpy]

Theres still a few 6800 Ultras kicking around on fleabay, mines running halo at 1680x1050 with all the details ramped up to full without breaking sweat.

 

[ukaskew]

wow, thanks for all the advice. I didn't realise AGP was still reasonably available, I just keep seeing PCI-E everywhere which is completely new to me (been out of the loop since I upgraded, everything has changed and the numbering formats make absolutely no sense!)

This is calling my name based on what has been suggested...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-137-SP

I've always been an ATI boy at heart (don't know why!), will that last me a while?

 

[The Hoff]

^ It will indeed, although OCuk are fking muppets and personally i'd never order from them again. Their CS, and after sales for DOA stuff is absolutely woeful.

But the card is a good one yes.

 

[UncleGrumpy]

This will smoke it though
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gainward-6800...oryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Saner]

ohhh, Gianward Golden Samples are bloody great cards

 

[The Hoff]

^ The 1950 destroys the 6800 mate.

 

[ukaskew]

^ It will indeed, although OCuk are fking muppets and personally i'd never order from them again. Their CS, and after sales for DOA stuff is absolutely woeful.

But the card is a good one yes.

Novatech any good? Same price on that site.

 

[rich[182]]

^ The 1950 destroys the 6800 mate.

^ absolutely, it's in a different performance league altogether

ps novatech are good

 

[The Hoff]

Novatech i've used in the past mate, all fine.

Seems a good price, just looking but can't really beat that.

**Edit**

Scratch that found it cheaper:

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase27&prodID=B69237

http://www.morecomputers.co.uk/extra.asp?pn=11099-00-20R

 

[ukaskew]

Cheers guys, gone with the X1950 at Novatech and got a new WD Caviar SATA 16MB 250GB Hard Drive at the same time. Going to start fresh with XP install and put the two identical 250GB HDs in RAID configuration.

My next question, RAID0 or 1?! I'm thinking RAID1 for a year or so until I get a big external HD, I fill drives up with at least 100GB of photos per year and I'm getting bored of archiving to CD/DVD etc, I'm not sure what is best in the long run.

 

[The Hoff]

RAID 0 mate if you're going to use an array of two drives, be a lot quicker in theory. However for striping you ideally need 2 identical drives, usually Raptors for crazy speed.

That said anything mechanical, and until were all working off of 300GB solid state drives, I'm always an advocate of making back-ups. Working in IT i've become a cynic, I've seen about 1 WD drive fail every month i've worked there, drives that are only 1-3 years old.

Back-ups are mucho important imo

 

[Saner]

^ The 1950 destroys the 6800 mate.

seeing as the 1950 is a generation on from the 6800 it would!

I personally have had nothing but trouble with ATi Hardware and software, everytime i leave nVidia to try them out i get bitten!

 

[The Hoff]

^Then it's something between the keyboard and the chair that appears to be the problem. ATI software has long since improved, from the early days.

Apologies for my post being below yours, it was ideally aimed at 63/500 after his completely incorrect comment that a 6800gt would "smoke" a 1950pro. Although as it happens you perhaps we're also fooled by his post given your answer.

All gravy though, glas I could be of service ukaskew

 

[rich[182]]

Cheers guys, gone with the X1950 at Novatech and got a new WD Caviar SATA 16MB 250GB Hard Drive at the same time. Going to start fresh with XP install and put the two identical 250GB HDs in RAID configuration.

My next question, RAID0 or 1?! I'm thinking RAID1 for a year or so until I get a big external HD, I fill drives up with at least 100GB of photos per year and I'm getting bored of archiving to CD/DVD etc, I'm not sure what is best in the long run.

If youve got IDE Id just get a western digital 320Gb for sub £60, comes with 8Mb cache too, Ive not got SATA so cant help on that though

 

[The Hoff]

Whatever you buy make sure it has NCQ.

 

[Saner]

^Then it's something between the keyboard and the chair that appears to be the problem. ATI software has long since improved, from the early days.

Apologies for my post being below yours, it was ideally aimed at 63/500 after his completely incorrect comment that a 6800gt would "smoke" a 1950pro. Although as it happens you perhaps we're also fooled by his post given your answer.

All gravy though, glas I could be of service ukaskew

ahh fair enough!

The comment on the problem being between the keybord and the chair is a bit harsh tho! I have never been bias in either way. All my nVidia cards have run problem free. All my ATi cards have not. The problems always used to be software, but as you say that has improved, recently they have been hardware, or a mixture of the two!

 

[The Hoff]

lol take it with a pinch of salt mate, I use it at work all the time, it's what we call 'interface problems'

ATI drivers used to be fussy, a swine to install and not terribly flexible. Now days they're much easier to work with. I've always been an advocate of Nvidia stuff too mate, got a measly 6600GT in this rig (Gainward GS) that I just can't be arsed to replace - plays CSS fine and that's all I need it for

It's good that us consumers have a choice these days, competition benefits us all

 

[ukaskew]

My X1950 512MB and another 1GB of Crucial RAM went in this evening...

and my PC now runs like treacle!

Can't believe it, doesn't make any sense. Best I can come up with is that my PSU may be struggling with the insanely power-hungry graphics card, but looking at the spec of mine it seems more than capable, especially as I only have one HD and the absolute bare minimum of components installed. Arse!

 

[The Hoff]

What PSU you got in there mate? (Brand aswell as (claimed) voltage)

 

[rich[182]]

I'd set your BIOS memory settings to 2.5-3-3-11 assuming your memory will run with CAS latency 2.5
Also fully remove ALL your old ATI drivers using drivercleaner and then download the latest Omega drivers from omegadrivers.net (these are optimized drivers based on official CAt7.1 ATI drivers) they come with ATI Tray Tools, also set you PCI latency for graphics card to 64 (from within ATI Tray Tools) After you install the Omega drivers you may need to download and install the ATI WDM drivers from atitech.com

If you need info on installation, omega drivers and tray tools a good guide can be found at http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.html

 

[ukaskew]

About 10 minutes after I posted I rebooted and it's been flying ever since, GT Legends at 1280*1024 with every possible detail maxxed out and it still runs absolutely perfectly...well impressed!

Installed Half-Life 2 as well, NOW I can see what the fuss was all about

 

[The Hoff]

Good good

Now go get ATI Tool and overclock the hell out of it!