Computer people - Which is the better video card?

[Buddy_Christ]

The GeForce FX5200 or the Radeon 9600?

GeForce specs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814164014

Radeon specs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102289


Everyone I've asked says the Radeon is a better card despite it being a 128mb card (the GeForce is a 256mb card).

The core clock in the GeForce is 250mhz but the core clock in the Radeon is 325mhz.

I have a GeForce FX5200 already and my brother gave me the Radeon the other day. I just tossed the Radeon into the computer and it looks just as good to me (once I updated the drivers).

The only problem I'm having with the Radeon right now is with video display. I'm running the S-Video output to a TV. With the GeForce it was playing all video full size on the TV. The Radeon isn't letting me do that. Anyone have a clue as to what I'm doing wrong?

If I can't get the Radeon to do that, I'll just put my GeForce back in and put the Radeon in the other computer. Either card is 10 light years ahead of the GeForce2 that's in the other computer.

 

[Buddy_Christ]

Oh, my brother also tossed me a 256mb stick of PC3200 ram. I had a single stick of PC2700 ram. I put the PC3200 in for a total of 768mb. I know the PC3200 is being knocked down speed wise, but it's nice to have more ram. I'll probably get a stick of PC3200 to replace the 2700 eventually.

 

[Raptorex]

Don't waste your money, kick in another 20 or so and get an ATI x600 or x700.

 

[Dial_tone]

I would go with the higher ram, although unless you game a lot you won't care. I still use a Radeon 8500. You're only needing that much ram in new games

 

[Burning_Inside]

is that RAM from the same MFG?

Is not, definately expect some system fuck ups. RAM is nothing to take lightly. One stick of the same type RAM are not the same from MFG thru MFG. it's always always advised to stay with the same brand and same speeds, for example you don't toss in a Geil brand 1gig stick in with 2 Corsair 500 Mb sticks that's trouble in the making.

Also I myslef own a radeon 9600 pro. You using this for gaming? If so, don't bother if you plan on playing any of the new upcoming titles, this card is on it's last leg when it comes to the new stuff coming out.

 

[Buddy_Christ]

Don't waste your money, kick in another 20 or so and get an ATI x600 or x700.

You obviously didn't read half of the post. I said I already have the GeForce (bought and installed in Feburary) and my brother GAVE me the Radeon.

The extra stick of RAM was also free.


Burning_Inside - the ram is different manufacturers. I did a mix/match of ram in my AMD950 computer a few years ago to get it up to 1gb. It has PC133 and PC100 ram in it, different manufacturers. It moved really good when I bumped it up, and Asus tech support told me that it will just run at the PC100 ram speed and the 133 sticks would be fine. That computer is still in use.

I will eventually upgrade to all PC3200 ram in this machine, probably right about the time I upgrade from a 2.4 to a 3.4ghz processor.

I don't do any gaming.


About the video display thing, which is in the first post...does anyone have a clue about that? The GeForce would play video on my TV in full screen, the setting was very easy to find. The Radeon I can't find a setting for to make it do that. I don't know if the Radeon will do that, and if anyone does know, please tell me.

 

[Burning_Inside]

I'm guessing you need an optical out connector on the card and i honestly don't know if my radeon has one or what one would look like cause i never used it for that, my tv sucks, and i play everything on my pc

 

[evansteve]

radeon 9800pro. great card, costs about $120 right now. costs a little more than the 9600, but believe me bro its worth it.

the next card better than the 9800pro will run you about $200

go to pricewatch.com they have a list of many vendors.

 

[pintoca]

RADEON... what you really need to look for is the memory interface... there are some cheap downgraded RADEONs that only have 64bit interfaces, you NEED to make sure you are getting the 128bit ones

 

[squatpuke]

.
.
If you decide (or are running) to run Linux, you'll be glad you DIDN'T use the ATI card....

 

[blut wump]

fglrx rocks

well, the boat, anyway, After much fiddling around I had an ATI 9600 running dual monitor in Fedora. I think Mandrake took the same config files and worked, too. It's been a while.

crak: the 9600 is a faster card than the NVidia one but if you're not gaming on it then the difference is imperceptible. Go with whichever is easiest to setup or more convenient to use. One thing to be careful of is switching back and forth between ATI and NVidia cards. Inevitably, video rot sets in as the manufacturers each try to cripple your drivers for the other.

 

[gjohnson5]

The GeForce FX5200 or the Radeon 9600?

GeForce specs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814164014

Radeon specs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102289


Everyone I've asked says the Radeon is a better card despite it being a 128mb card (the GeForce is a 256mb card).

The core clock in the GeForce is 250mhz but the core clock in the Radeon is 325mhz.

I have a GeForce FX5200 already and my brother gave me the Radeon the other day. I just tossed the Radeon into the computer and it looks just as good to me (once I updated the drivers).

The only problem I'm having with the Radeon right now is with video display. I'm running the S-Video output to a TV. With the GeForce it was playing all video full size on the TV. The Radeon isn't letting me do that. Anyone have a clue as to what I'm doing wrong?

If I can't get the Radeon to do that, I'll just put my GeForce back in and put the Radeon in the other computer. Either card is 10 light years ahead of the GeForce2 that's in the other computer.

Last I checked , both those cards had cooling issues... Dont run a screen saver with them. I'd go with a new card since it should have a larger heat sink.

 

[gjohnson5]

K Time once again

 

[Buddy_Christ]

fglrx rocks

well, the boat, anyway, After much fiddling around I had an ATI 9600 running dual monitor in Fedora. I think Mandrake took the same config files and worked, too. It's been a while.

crak: the 9600 is a faster card than the NVidia one but if you're not gaming on it then the difference is imperceptible. Go with whichever is easiest to setup or more convenient to use. One thing to be careful of is switching back and forth between ATI and NVidia cards. Inevitably, video rot sets in as the manufacturers each try to cripple your drivers for the other.

I figured I wouldn't notice the difference between the cards, and I havn't seen a difference since I put the Radeon card in last night.

Every now and then the kids play games on the spare computer, so I'm going to put the Radeon in there. They only play kids games, but the Radeon card is light years ahead of the GeForce2 that's in there now.

I want to put the GeForce FX5200 back in the main computer simply because I can't get the Radeon play full screen video out of the S-Video jack. The GeForce didn't give me a single issue with that. It's kind of cool to do.

I was really hoping the Radeon would allow me to set it up like that easily. I wanted to see if there was a difference in the video or not. With the FX5200, the video will bog slightly when I'm doing some things on the computer. The extra 256mb of RAM should help eliminate that a little bit when I'm using the FX5200.

Ugh, must swap back. FX5200 is easier for me to use. It seems like it'll be easier to use if and when I go to dual moniters as well.

The FX5200 was a good deal for what I do. My buddy selected it for me based on price and capabilities, and said I'd probably never push the card to it's limits anyway since I don't do any gaming. An eventual upgrade to a faster processor and getting up to 1gb or more of RAM should clear up bogging issues in the future.


On a side note, I think it's pretty sad that some people didn't make it more than halfway through the first post and started commenting on the cards. I already have both cards, the 9600 was a freebie from my brother and the FX5200 I bought and have been using for 7 months. I guess I need to put those things in bold lettering and make the font larger the next time.

 

[blut wump]

You could check out the manufacturers' websites for latest drivers if you haven't already. It might fix the ATI to TV problem or it might speed up the NVidia.

 

[Buddy_Christ]

You could check out the manufacturers' websites for latest drivers if you haven't already. It might fix the ATI to TV problem or it might speed up the NVidia.

Hadn't thought about that. Thanks for reminding me. My brain is only half in my head with the course of events of this week.