Radeon 9600XT Brand

[Parimal]

Hi,
I'm planning to buy Radeon 9600XT, but confused about brand. Asus or PowerColor?? Here are the links for both-

Asus-
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-121-509&depa=1

PowerColor-
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-131-239&depa=1

Please help me deciding the brand. I know Asus gives 3 years warranty, but what about PowerColor?? Which one is better performer??

 

[LTC8K6]

The performance of the 9600XT is not worth the price over a 9600pro, and 256MB of ram is useless on these cards.

My recommendation

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

Would you recommend that card as an upgrade from a TI4200?

 

[Parimal]

I'm not buying this card for myself. My Asus GeForce 4 Ti rocks!! But I'll definately consider 9600 Pro. Please suggest me the brand. I'm a big Asus fan, but heard PowerColor is also very good brand in Radeons. Please suggest me between these two only...!!

 

[meltdown75]

If you're absolutely stuck on these two, go with the Asus since you like Asus. Honestly though, I bet the card LTC8K6 linked to would outperform both, and you'd save $60!

He's right about the RAM too... don't make the mistake I did. I bought the 256meg card before I did any real research but the memory speed leaves much to be desired. If I could go back in time, I'd most likely get a used 9700 pro or a 128mb 9600xt with the better memory.

 

[kan330]

Well, if you want to stay with powercolor then theres this 9700pro which isn't much more then you were going to spend on the 9600xt

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-131-199&depa=0

If you're going with the 9600pro I doubt you'll see any difference between asus and powercolor. I'd get this one since its the cheapest between the two

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-131-219&depa=0

 

[LTC8K6]

They will perform pretty much the same. Powercolor is a good brand, as is Sapphire. What you have to look out for is cheaper cards with lowered clock speeds. A 9600pro should be 400 core & 600 memory. An XT should be 500 core & 600 memory.

I would recommend an NV6600GT as an upgrade for a ti4200. They are around $200. If that is too much, then I'd go for a 9600pro.

The 9600pro will be faster than the ti4200, especially with AA/AF in use.

If you can locate a 9600XT that's not much more than a 9600pro, then it would probably be worth the price.

Sapphire's warranty is 2 years, I believe. I cannot seem to find Powercolor's warranty.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yep, the 9700pro is a good choice. Didn't know you could still get them. Problem is that it's too close to the cost of an NV6600GT, which is much better.

 

[Parimal]

I know 6600GT can outperform 9800 Pro also....but the budget is not allowing to buy this one.