PC Video card woes... Ha, not really..

[brian32672]

Being into computers, I always do upgrades. So the other day, I went to update my video card drivers. You are supposed to remove the old drivers first. I have done it both ways, just updating and adding over existing drivers. Also removing old drivers. Most of the time it will work either way, this last time it didn't. It still works enough, as I am using the computer to type on now. Anyhow, I could fix the problem (takes about an hour) But instead, I have been wanting another new Video card. So I will leave it for now, the new one will be here on Friday, and I usually only keep a computer running for about 6 months, then wipe it out and start from scratch, also do all driver updates and bios updates. (This way, my speed is well up to par) Actually I have built about 35-40 computers. And most are the top speed over at 3DMark (benchmark), for there comparison to others with similar equipment. Also for my computer it is always at the top So anyhow, I just bought the ATI All In Wonder X800 XT 256mb AGP video card ($320.00)

I will have the old one, that is only about 6 months old, for sale. But since I get along with people here quite a bit, I figured I would offer it here first. If no one seems to want it, then I will put it up on eBay. This card would be superb for HTPC, and obviosly great for PC. It is a ATI Radeon 9800 Pro All In Wonder AGP (Has DVI, Component RGB, VGA, S-Video, Composite Video, etc...). I had already sold the remote (as I never used it)
But I will throw in the new Remote Wonder 2, that comes with the X800. The original remote for the 9800 was just the Remote Wonder 1.
Other than the remote (which actually I will give the much better upgraded remote) It has all the original equipment, since I always buy retail not oem. So it includes all even the original box..

ITEM IS SOLD/ON HOLD PENDING M.O.
Also since its no big deal, and I was just venting a little - that is why I stated all of this here rather than sell your gear...

Review of Remote Wonder 2 here - http://www.remotecentral.com/wonder2/index.html

(can't find the good review link at Tom's Hardware) so here is a ok Review of the ATI AIW 9800 here - www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_all_in_wonder_9800_pro_review/default.asp

And another here - http://techreport.com/reviews/2003q3/ati-aiw9800pro/index.x?pg=1

Benchmark here (but the All In One versions are usually clocked a tad higher so they usually get a frame or 2 better, than the ones shown on the graphs)(look at R 9800 Pro) http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-03.html

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

I have an eMac and don't get to upgrade my video card

But if I did I'd go right out and buy the new NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 512mb PCI Express card.

But instead I have to suffer with an old 32mb ATI card........

 

[jaxvon]

Even if you could upgrade your video card, you wouldn't want to. Emacs are one of the worst computers to service...EVER. I've worked as a Mac tech for awhile. eMacs and iMacs (save for the G5 iMac) are the worst comptuers to work on. They're SUCH a pain.

 

[majorloser]

DON'T BLAME ME FOR YOUR COMPUTER UPGRADE-ITIS!!!!

Brian's been helping me build a new computer so he's been getting bad ideas.

I was originally looking for a HTPC but have since downgraded to a cube.

 

[Francious70]

I'm interested, how much you wanting for it?

 

[brian32672]

I have an eMac and don't get to upgrade my video card

But if I did I'd go right out and buy the new NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 512mb PCI Express card.

But instead I have to suffer with an old 32mb ATI card........

Not trying to put your choice down, I happen to like ATI way better than GeForce. The GeForce cards I have and had, for the same price range the ATI always won...
I think I have had about 5-6 GeForce cards...
Anyways,
If you could afford that card at 500.00 then I would go with jaxvon's idea. And get another computer first.. Then worry about the 500.00 card. Just IMO.
Anyway yes the ULTRA 6800 will give more frame rate, but it has less than half of the features of any All In Wonder card, and the X800 XT is no slouch.
Granted the ATI AIW 9800 Pro, will play every game thats out and do it with high frame rates...

Actually I just rechecked the charts. The X800 XT beats the 6800 Ultra in about 50+% of the tests (and is actually slow in the game I play Half Life 2). Plus the AIW version like I said, has so many features that blow that card away. The one listed is the 256mb version. But 512mb is not used in any game (neither is 256 for that matter). Remember I am talking about video memory, not system memory.
Link here- http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20050705/vga-charts-pcie-02.html#3d_mark_2005

And actually the 9800 Pro holds pretty good ground. Also remember the memory is slightly clocked higher in the AIW cards, so they will offer a tad higher frame rate than whats on those charts. Hmm, this is like my 4th AIW card... I love the features of these cards..

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

The X800 XT beats the 6800 Ultra in about 50+% of the tests (and is actually slow in the game I play Half Life 2). Plus the AIW version like I said, has so many features that blow that card away. The one listed is the 256mb version. But 512mb is not used in any game (neither is 256 for that matter). Remember I am talking about video memory, not system memory.

Results are secondary! Everyonw knows having bigger, more expensive videocards makes your E-Penis bigger at LAN parties.

But really I don't care. I'm not a gamer (last 'new' game played: Neverwinter Nights) and probably never will be, but my friend is, and I listen to his Podcast every week, so I learn about some of these things via osmosis.

 

[brian32672]

(last 'new' game played: Neverwinter Nights)

Ah, so you reckognize my avatar???

Anyway, someone was interested in the 9800, so I went ahead and removed old drivers and installed new drivers, just to make sure all is ok. Yep, its fine. Only took about 25 minutes... And the speed is back up to par BTW, I can do a quick benchmark for the person interested, if you want to make sure all is ok.... But trust me, its fine

Edit:: Wow, 2 people are interested. I get quicker sales here than in the sell your gear area

For the second person (no names) Like I said, if the other person backs out, then you are next on the list. Then I will explain how the remote works. But go ahead and read that remote review. You can get the remotes seperate, but they work best with a All In Wonder card. However they will work with any video card...

 

[Francious70]

Have you ever used the component or DVI out on this card?? If so, how does it look?? And do you think this car will be able to run GTA: Vice City in 1240x1080? My current card (Radeon 9000 Pro 128Mb) has trouble running it at 640x480.

 

[mustang_steve]

I'd hit you up on it, but my computer is curently maxed out:

nforce 2 chipset (reason I'm maxed out...ancient motherboard)
2GB of PC-3500 (2x1gb)
athlon xp 3200 400fsb (overclocked to 2.5ghz)
ati radeon x800xt pe

Despite the motherboard being rather outdated, it's still a very fast gaming system. Battlefield2 runs perfectly, as does need for speed underground 2, and doom3, etc etc.