Topic: Graphics card help

[poomcgoo]

So my Radeon X800 Pro finally shit the bed.  It served me well for 4 years, but now I'm getting artifacts and crashes all over the place when I'm playing games.  Fucking Radeon.

Anyways, I have a bit of a predicament now.  I do not have a PCI Express slot on my motherboard, and I don't feel like shelling out enough to upgrade my whole system.  Can anyone recommend a cheap AGP 8x card that will come close, match, or even pass the performance of my old X800 Pro.  I really only want to be able to play Oblivion at high settings with a playable framerate -- something my X800 Pro did just fine.

Also, I have no opposition to getting another Radeon, I'm just pissed because it's the second Radeon I've had shit the bed on me, as opposed to zero nVidia cards.  I'll probably be doing a full upgrade next year or something, so I just need something to hold me over until then.

Also, I'd prefer not to spend more than $150 if at all possible.

[scottws]

Unfortunately I don't know anything about new AGP 8x cards, sorry.

You might, in the meantime, use ATI Tool to underclock the card.  I did that with my Radeon 9800XT when I started getting red dots in everything and it stopped overheating.

[Pugnate]

Hey PoomC. I have two excellent options for ya. The first is the X1950 pro and the second is the 7950GT. Both are excellent buys. I'd rather go for the 7950, but it is a bit more expensive.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2970&p=6

and

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2975&p=2





As you can see, they are both excellent buys and even beat the 8600GTS on occasion.

On NewEgg if you search for X1950pro AGP you'll get cards between $170 and $185. Pick what suits you, though check out the reviews for the various cards as ATi cards are made by manufacturers that vary greatly in quality.

Just looking at the AGP 7950s, it looks like they are $50 more than the PCIe versions, so scratch that idea. Go for the X1950, you won't be sorry.

[poomcgoo]

Awesome Pug, thanks a ton.  That card looks perfect, and the price is pretty reasonable.

And Scott, that's what I'm doing now.  I had to do the same thing last time when I had my previous Radeon card.  How lame.

[scottws]

Yeah, it's pretty sad when underclocking your card is an "answer."

I don't know what it is, but late model Radeons seem to have a ton of overheating issues.

[Pugnate]

*raises hand*

I had the same issue with my 9800pro. Like you guys said, it is really lame. ATi really push their cards to the max. Even the latest 2900XT runs really hot. I can imagine problems down the line.