Is this a good card?

[TechBoyJK]

Newegg linky

Its an AIW 9600XT. I need dual vga support, and want to upgrade from my dual vid card setup (8500LE/64 and AIW 128 PRO/16)

I want to play Doom 3 and Unreal2k4, etc. but need to keep it under $300.

 

[jlr69t]

Looks good enough but it still depends on your system as a whole.

 

[modedepe]

I don't know, it doesn't seem like much of a deal to me at that price. I believe 9800 aiw's are around $300, which will stomp that 9600xt flat.

 

[Pete]

I vote for a separate TV tuner and a separate AGP 3D card. That way you can upgrade your video card more easily, without having to buy a TV tuner anew every time. It's also less hassle in that you can keep your tuner setup as is, and just swap in a new card. For $260, you can probably buy a 9800P and a PCI TV tuner, and you'll end up with a far faster 3D card. The AIW9600XT looks like a nice package, but the card itself is outdated from the get go for newer games, IMO.

 

[nRollo]

You would have to be insane to buy a 9600AIW for $269 when you can get a 9800Pro AIW for $315 from the same store.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-309&depa=0
Hmmmmmm, twice the performance for less than $50 more........

That's like asking us:

"I called the escort agency, they have Rosie O'Donnell for $265/hour., is that a good deal?" Then we go to their website and see Nicole Kidman, Tyra Banks, and Jenna Jameson for $315. and say "WTF?"

 

[PCTweaker5]

I would get Jenna!

 

[vshah]

"I called the escort agency, they have Rosie O'Donnell for $265/hour., is that a good deal?" Then we go to their website and see Nicole Kidman, Tyra Banks, and Jenna Jameson for $315. and say "WTF?"

link please...

:beer:

-Vivan

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: PCTweaker5
I would get Jenna!

Tough call, she'd probably be the most "interesting" of those three, but I'm thinking the contacts of her AGP slot might be a little worn down and have difficulty making contact with anything but the big V5-6K, if you know what I mean.


(nervously eyes average 5900SE in own box[ers])
LOL

 

[Pete]

Well, the problem with the AiW9800P is that it doesn't offer dual-head, which seems to be one of TechBoy's requirements. Maybe you can just get a separate ATi TV Wonder card along with a 9800P? Do the TV Wonders offer the same features as the AiWs?

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: PCTweaker5
I would get Jenna!

Tough call, she'd probably be the most "interesting" of those three, but I'm thinking the contacts of her AGP slot might be a little worn down and have difficulty making contact with anything but the big V5-6K, if you know what I mean.


(nervously eyes average 5900SE in own box[ers])
LOL

Lol

 

[Viper96720]

Just get a 9800Pro. Nowhere does he mention needing a TV tuner just dual vga support. 9800 Pro supports dual vga using the dvi to vga adapter.

 

[TechBoyJK]

well, i did need the tuner/aiw capabilities as well. I have cable, etc.

I went and got an ATI AIW 9600 NP. On need for speed underground, my 8500LE could run at 800x600 with about 30% of the graphic options up. My new card can do full resolution 1200x1028 or whatever, with all the graphics turned up and it doesn't hiccup. I'm happy. And hopefully this will be adequate for some doom playing. It might not be the best, but for $180 at Best Buy, it was an easy and convenient purchase.

JK

 

[Viper96720]

You should have bought a 9800Pro for $207 and gotten a PCI TV tuner card. Would have been way better for gaming. Cost is about the same.
The 9600 non pro isn't that fast for gaming. It's actually slower than an 8500 in some games.
9800Pro

TV Tuner

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
well, i did need the tuner/aiw capabilities as well. I have cable, etc.

I went and got an ATI AIW 9600 NP. On need for speed underground, my 8500LE could run at 800x600 with about 30% of the graphic options up. My new card can do full resolution 1200x1028 or whatever, with all the graphics turned up and it doesn't hiccup. I'm happy. And hopefully this will be adequate for some doom playing. It might not be the best, but for $180 at Best Buy, it was an easy and convenient purchase.

JK

Holy crap! This is like saying, "Rosie, Jenna, Tyra, and Nicole cost too much. My blind granny with one leg got the job done, but I had to be watching a Jenna movie while doing it. The escort service had a special running on RuPaul for for $160, so I took it instead. With a little AstroGlide and the lights low, I'm thinking it's Tyra!"

 

[yhelothar]

Seperate tv tuner. ATI's tv tuner quality sucks, I've used the tv wonder before. That's about $60 overpriced for that card.

 

[TechBoyJK]

thanks for the advice. there is always a return policy. however, im might stick with this because frankly, so far, it has blown my 8500le away. i just picked up ur2k4 and will install asap and give it a try.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
thanks for the advice. there is always a return policy. however, im might stick with this because frankly, so far, it has blown my 8500le away. i just picked up ur2k4 and will install asap and give it a try.

Send RuPaul home Techboy. Misery and woe await a man who buys a 9600NP in the year Doom 3 and HL2 come out. That card is feeble and underpowered for modern games, even the 9600XT is. You are right in that they blow away your 8500LE, but:A. that is an old feeble card b. so does everything else.

You want to be looking at the cards that blow away the 9600Pros, you will thank me later.

Add this refurb AIW 9700 Pro to your wish list and hope:
A much much better deal

 

[Acanthus]

A radeon 9800p with a seperate tuner wouldve made a lot more sense, unless you want to pay $100 for the exact same feature on every future ATi card you buy for all eternity.

 

[omnez]

It is a really good card, but it would be worth it to either look around more for a better proce or just get the 9800