So, I'm going out tonight for Black Friday...Best Buy has a ATI Radeon X1600 Pro (512MB, PCI) for under $99...I believe retail price is around $220...any ideas if this card is decent for Everquest?
As far as my computer, the card I have now is not as good...I'm not home right now for exact info, just curious on this video card...
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aardvarkgod the Shady wrote:
So, I'm going out tonight for Black Friday...Best Buy has a ATI Radeon X1600 Pro (512MB, PCI) for under $99...I believe retail price is around $220...any ideas if this card is decent for Everquest?
As far as my computer, the card I have now is not as good...I'm not home right now for exact info, just curious on this video card...
As far as my computer, the card I have now is not as good...I'm not home right now for exact info, just curious on this video card...
To be entirely honest the card is barely worth the sale price of 99 let alone its "retail" Its been around $100 for a while now at many different E-tailers (including newegg).
And its not PCI it is AGP there is no X1600 for PCI.
As for EQ it may do the job just fine however depending on the type of system you have the money may be better spent elsewhere.
What are your system specs?
EQ has had issues with ATI cards (that I've noticed) so I've been sticking with nVidia.
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Debalic wrote:
EQ has had issues with ATI cards (that I've noticed) so I've been sticking with nVidia.
I have had issues with ATI as well but i do believe thats not the case anymore. I have my second machine running EQ with an ATI card and havnt had any problems since around the time of the great DX9 patch.
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And its not PCI it is AGP there is no X1600 for PCI.
But there IS a PCIe X1600, which is probably what he meant.
I had issues with one ATI card, in regards to EQ, but that was a couple of years ago. I've had a couple of different ATI cards since and haven't had any issues.
As to that particular card (X1600 Pro), notinterested is correct about the price. They're going for 120-150 on average online, so you'd save a little bit, but not much. Best Buy is notorious for ******** you on the PC components to make up for the real deals they give you in the other departments. They're really not a PC store.
I'd say it's a decent deal for 99 bucks though, especially if you're on limited funds or you just don't want to put out a small fortune on a video card. This is especially important if you have a system with a weaker powersupply and don't want to have to replace it as well (even though they're pretty cheap, and a good PS is invaluable). This card is generally considered to be a little better then an X700 but not as good as an X800, but it actually excels over the X800 in some tests due to some different features (I think it was related to the pipeline structure, but can't remember off the top of my head). As long as you're not planning on playing BF2142 with all settings maxed or something it should be a good enough card.
Jiggidyjay wrote:
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And its not PCI it is AGP there is no X1600 for PCI.
But there IS a PCIe X1600, which is probably what he meant.
Right it may be PCI-E i thought BB was only putting the AGP version on sale tomorrow but just checked and i was wrong.
Depending on what video card you have it might be worth your while. And if you look at it this way you could always return it if your not satisfied you may lose some cash to the restocking fee but better to know.
How does it compare to a GeForce 6600 GT?
Fallonn wrote:
How does it compare to a GeForce 6600 GT?
Comparing the AGP versions (I couldnt find PCI-E comparisons) The X1600Pro is quite a bit slower than a 6600GT according to this. (Farcry benches on the next page) you also have to bear in mind the one in question is a 512 MB version where as the one linked is a 256MB version however the one linked is a factory overclocked card so i imagine it performs about the same as the one at Best buy.
The X1600Pro card runs GDDR2 memory whereas the 6600GT has GDDR3. On top of that the X1600 has 4 physical pixel pipelines that runs on the X1k's virtual piepline tech supposedly making it 12 virtual pipelines (I dont fully understand this)compared to the 6600GT's 8 phisical pipes.
At the end of the day i still say uness he has a god awful video card i would pass this up.
If you can get a 6600GT at a comparable price I would definately go with it, assuming it's a 256 or better.
Like notinterested, I don't really understand the virtual pipe architecture that the X1x00's use. If I remember the reviews and tests that I read correctly, the X1600 was a considerable upgrade to the X700, where the X1300 and X1800 were only marginal upgrades to the X300 and X800, respectively. Again, it was something to do with the virtual pipes, but I can't remember exactly how it worked. So, if you're sporting an X300SE or something and you really NEED to get this card now, then the X1600 may be a good deal for you. If you can wait a week for delivery and don't mind shopping online though, you'd definately be able to find a better card for a comparable (or better) price. It depends on if you're a "right now" person or "very soon" person...
Like notinterested, I don't really understand the virtual pipe architecture that the X1x00's use. If I remember the reviews and tests that I read correctly, the X1600 was a considerable upgrade to the X700, where the X1300 and X1800 were only marginal upgrades to the X300 and X800, respectively. Again, it was something to do with the virtual pipes, but I can't remember exactly how it worked. So, if you're sporting an X300SE or something and you really NEED to get this card now, then the X1600 may be a good deal for you. If you can wait a week for delivery and don't mind shopping online though, you'd definately be able to find a better card for a comparable (or better) price. It depends on if you're a "right now" person or "very soon" person...
Thank you for all the responses...I didn't end up getting it...I'll just splurge on a better one later. As for what I have now: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
aardvarkgod the Shady wrote:
Thank you for all the responses...I didn't end up getting it...I'll just splurge on a better one later. As for what I have now: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
The best of the best in AGP now is the X1950Pro AGP just hold out its supposed to be in the $200 range most places are just gouging because they are new and sold out pretty fast at most places.
Best buy seems to carry it (online anyway) here
If you dont feel like dropping that much $$ on a card a used X800 series card would be a very healthy upgrade for you and run EQ flawlessly.
3 posts
Thanks for the great info everyone.
Do you know if the Catalyst® 6.2 Drivers, the ones you have to use with Windows 98SE, will run a X800 card?
Fallonn wrote:
Do you know if the Catalyst® 6.2 Drivers, the ones you have to use with Windows 98SE, will run a X800 card?
It does but it is considered beta support. I imagine it should work fine.
Info found here
Gah.
I dunno, there are so many compatibility questions with a "Legacy" system (Gee, it all still works just fine, how come it's a "Legacy"?) that maybe I should stick with what I know works. A 6600 GT like I have used already, or a 6800 XT for an upgrade. The only question with the 6800 is whether it will work in my AGP 4x (1.5V only) slot. Indications are that it will.
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I dunno, there are so many compatibility questions with a "Legacy" system (Gee, it all still works just fine, how come it's a "Legacy"?) that maybe I should stick with what I know works. A 6600 GT like I have used already, or a 6800 XT for an upgrade. The only question with the 6800 is whether it will work in my AGP 4x (1.5V only) slot. Indications are that it will.
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AGP Speeds are required to be backwards compatible. This means that an 8X video card MUST be able to run at 4x, 2x, or 1x speeds. However, this does NOT necessarily mean that your 8X card will run on a 4x slot.
The connectors on AGP video cards are keyed in such a way that you can only install equipment that have compatible Voltage keyed connectors. Normally the key of the card determines its signal voltage. AGP 1.0 and AGP 2.0 cards using a 1.5V key will signal at 1.5 volts. However, AGP 3.0 devices can tolerate 1.5V - they won't be destroyed, they just might not work properly.
The bottomline is that your 8X video card can theoretically be safely TESTED in any 1.5V motherboard for compatibility. But if you know for a fact that your board only runs 1.5V AGP 2.0 spec and your 8X AGP 3.0 card runs only 0.8v spec, then the two should NOT be compatible one another. At the very least it will be unstable, if it runs at all. However, we've had a lot of users tell us that their AGP 8x cards work on 4x only motherboards. This is likely due to the fact that some AGP8X video cards are in fact universal 1.5V capable AGP3.0 cards that can run on either 1.5V or 0.8V (remember, AGP speeds are backwards compatible, only voltage incompatibilies cause problems).
The connectors on AGP video cards are keyed in such a way that you can only install equipment that have compatible Voltage keyed connectors. Normally the key of the card determines its signal voltage. AGP 1.0 and AGP 2.0 cards using a 1.5V key will signal at 1.5 volts. However, AGP 3.0 devices can tolerate 1.5V - they won't be destroyed, they just might not work properly.
The bottomline is that your 8X video card can theoretically be safely TESTED in any 1.5V motherboard for compatibility. But if you know for a fact that your board only runs 1.5V AGP 2.0 spec and your 8X AGP 3.0 card runs only 0.8v spec, then the two should NOT be compatible one another. At the very least it will be unstable, if it runs at all. However, we've had a lot of users tell us that their AGP 8x cards work on 4x only motherboards. This is likely due to the fact that some AGP8X video cards are in fact universal 1.5V capable AGP3.0 cards that can run on either 1.5V or 0.8V (remember, AGP speeds are backwards compatible, only voltage incompatibilies cause problems).
Fallonn wrote:
Gah.
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Im getting that too. What you have to do is to to thier drivers section over at ATI.AMD.com and click 98/ME (way down at the bottom under legacy) click radeon then radeon series and on that page click "release notes" and you will have what i linked (What a PITA you cant direct link...). It does list the X800 card under beta support.
With the ATI solution your looking at only Beta driver compatability wich could be addressed with later drivers.
With the Nvidia solution your looking at possible hardware incompatibility wich if it dont work your SOL and have to return it.
In your shoes i would go with the X800 for sure it should be faster anyway.
What are your computer specs anyway?
MSI 845 Ultra-C (Intel 845 chipset) Mainboard
Pentium 4 1.7GHz 478pin
512Meg Memory (Windows 98 limit)
Windows 98SE
AGP 4x (1.5V only)
PCI 2.2v 32-bit slots
I dunno if I like the idea of using Beta drivers, which it doesn't look like ever got updated for my OS (98). I know the GeForce uses the exact same drivers I already have installed. I have found a 6800 for $140 (plus shipping?) from a vendor I know I can return it to. The X800, or better yet X850, runs about the same, again best deal. You can always find someone who will charge you more.
Edited, Nov 28th 2006 12:17am by Fallonn
Edited, Nov 28th 2006 12:18am by Fallonn
Pentium 4 1.7GHz 478pin
512Meg Memory (Windows 98 limit)
Windows 98SE
AGP 4x (1.5V only)
PCI 2.2v 32-bit slots
I dunno if I like the idea of using Beta drivers, which it doesn't look like ever got updated for my OS (98). I know the GeForce uses the exact same drivers I already have installed. I have found a 6800 for $140 (plus shipping?) from a vendor I know I can return it to. The X800, or better yet X850, runs about the same, again best deal. You can always find someone who will charge you more.
Edited, Nov 28th 2006 12:17am by Fallonn
Edited, Nov 28th 2006 12:18am by Fallonn
I have the ATI Radeon X1600 Pro. My experience with it is that it is perfect for everquest. I have had not one single issue with it. I have the PCIe version with crossfire support. I probably will never get a second card since the one is able to run two accounts at full detail (minus shadows because I think they look dumb, but you probably could run them if wanted). I get absolutely no hardware lag. My other components include an MSI with intel 965 chipset, 2 GIG Corsair XMS2 Extreme 800mhz memory and Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 and 2 HDD raid 0 SATA.
The key is to not get one of the knock off ATI cards but to get one of the actual ATI-made cards. I have another cheaper ATI card made by spectrum or some crap and it is horrible.
Best of luck to you.
The key is to not get one of the knock off ATI cards but to get one of the actual ATI-made cards. I have another cheaper ATI card made by spectrum or some crap and it is horrible.
Best of luck to you.
Anyone wanna buy a geforce mx4000 for agp slot?? I was just given a radeon 9250.
Fiplin wrote:
Anyone wanna buy a geforce mx4000 for agp slot?? I was just given a radeon 9250.
I would just throw it away or give it to a friend with a really old computer with integrated graphics. Right now you could buy one for about $20 brand new its really not worth anything.
OK, so I got the 6800 XT 256MB, installed it and the latest supported drivers (81.98), which I had to force to install as it won't autorecognize for whatever reason. From a couple of minutes in PoK it seems to be giving better performance.
The next question. Everything else being equal (same memory, OS, MB, processor as cited above), which of these two video cards (the leftovers, lol) should give better performance running two accounts on the same computer:
6200 256MB
6600 GT 128MB
The next question. Everything else being equal (same memory, OS, MB, processor as cited above), which of these two video cards (the leftovers, lol) should give better performance running two accounts on the same computer:
6200 256MB
6600 GT 128MB
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