Videocard Upgrade: Is AGP a lost cause?

[Matrixhasu77]

Hi all,

Over the last few weeks, I've begun thinking about replacing my AGP 4x/8x ATI 9600XT with something a little newer. However, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. My problem is that I recently bought a new Socket A Athlon XP 3000+ a few months ago. I don't quite feel ready to build a whole new system and switch to PCI-Express.

What I'd like to do is purchase a current generation videocard to replace my aging 9600XT. I'm learning toward something like an X800 XT, an X800 XT All-in-Wonder, a 6600GT or even a 6800 (if even available in AGP form).

I feel like I've barely scratched the surface on my research. The two cards that I feel would offer me the best performance for my price range ($250-$350) are:
ATI All-In-Wonder X800 XT 256MB @ Newegg
SAPPHIRE 100581PESR-BL Radeon X800XT PE 256MB @ Newegg

However, I haven't been able to find a comparable nVidia card in AGP form. Also, I am unsure about Sapphire as a brand considering I've never owned a card by them. I don't necessarily need all the extra components of the AIW above either. I strictly want a gaming card.

Opinions are definately welcomed.

 

[RobcioPL]

Nvidia ditched the AGP cards, but ATi will still make them. In matter of fact, the ATi X1800 comes in AGP now.

 

[German Muscle]

Nvidia ditched the AGP cards, but ATi will still make them. In matter of fact, the ATi X1800 comes in AGP now.

you have a source for that info?

 

[donbenni]

AGP X1800: http://www.techspot.com/news/19403-diamond-to-release-x1800-agp.html

The X800XT AIW looks like a great card 👍 Personally that would be my choice too. If you can find a Geforce 6800 GT, or Ultra then you should consider either, but at that price the choice of cards becomes a much of a muchness. Buying cheaply is difficult as you need to consider all the factors, and buying top of the range is difficult as you need to make sure you're getting the best card for your $800, but mid range is easier as all the cards are pretty similar. X800XT AIW looks nice. Some of those reviews make it sound very tempting - doubled the 3DMark 05 score in a computer that previous had a 9800Pro AIW! Crikey.

 

[toyomatt84]

I'd ditch AGP if I were you, even with an X1800XT AIW, AGP will funnel it to anorexic speeds.

Just remember, Vista is on it's way, and what this means is that Processors will be able to handle more than 4gb of ram. That means the market for motherboards will change drastically. If at all possible, wait until Vista is a product in your reach. Then upgrading will be something you won't have to do for a longer time.

 

[donbenni]

Yes you'll have to ditch AGP at some time of course but it's not something that can be done lightly. To get a PCI-E card, a new motherboard, processor and possibly ram are needed too. What was once a £150 project has suddenly become a £300 project.

IMO get an AGP card now, and upgrade in a years time when 64 Bit applications are in full flow (including Vista) and the need for PCI-E is strong. You will get by fine until then.

 

[Hell Raiser]

I am unsure about Sapphire as a brand considering I've never owned a card by them. I don't necessarily need all the extra components of the AIW above either. I strictly want a gaming card.

Opinions are definately welcomed.

I have the ATI Sapphire card(256MB),and I love it.I use it for gaming online,and I it haven't failed me yet.I had mine for 6 months now,a friend of mine told me about it,............................and we are still friends,what does that tell you? I know that it's all heading toward the PCI-E,but until i'm forced to do it ,i'll stick with my Sapphire card.

 

[Matrixhasu77]

I have the ATI Sapphire card(256MB),and I love it.I use it for gaming online,and I it haven't failed me yet.I had mine for 6 months now,a friend of mine told me about it,............................and we are still friends,what does that tell you? I know that it's all heading toward the PCI-E,but until i'm forced to do it ,i'll stick with my Sapphire card.

Any idea where I could find a review on it? I've looked for reviews for several Sapphire cards and haven't had much luck.

Right now I'm leaning heavily toward the Sapphire card posted above because it has a higher clock/memory speed than the AIW also mentioned. I'm not sure I want to pay $350 dollars for it though.

 

[Hell Raiser]

Any idea where I could find a review on it? I've looked for reviews for several Sapphire cards and haven't had much luck.

Right now I'm leaning heavily toward the Sapphire card posted above because it has a higher clock/memory speed than the AIW also mentioned. I'm not sure I want to pay $350 dollars for it though.

I wish I could help you there,but my test was on my friends computer,and that was enough for me to buy the card.For some strange reason it doesn't seem that the Sapphire card has a lot of billing,eventhough,it is a very good card,I have always thought that was a bit strange
P.S.Sorry I couldn't help you there.

 

[Flame-returns]

The majority of Sapphire cards have awful cooling.

 

[Pako]

The only advise that I would give is that a new card now that's AGP will probably be the 'last' video card upgrade for your current configuration using AGP technology.

 

[Jmac279]

Right now I'm planning on upgrading my graphics card within the next month and I'm debating whether or not I should switch to PCI-E or stick with AGP ...

In order to go the PCI-E route, I'd have to replace the motherboard, processor, memory, and, obviously, the graphics card which essentially means I'd have to build a whole new computer ... The amount of time and money I'd have to put into a new computer really turns me off.

Also, my current system has been very reliable and I've put a lot of time and effort into tweaking everything so it's faster and just the way I like it, so I really don't want to get rid of it.

Then again, investing in a graphics card that I will have to get rid of in a year or two when I upgrade again seems like kind of a waste.

 

[Event]

Right now I'm planning on upgrading my graphics card within the next month and I'm debating whether or not I should switch to PCI-E or stick with AGP ...

In order to go the PCI-E route, I'd have to replace the motherboard, processor, memory, and, obviously, the graphics card which essentially means I'd have to build a whole new computer ... The amount of time and money I'd have to put into a new computer really turns me off.

Also, my current system has been very reliable and I've put a lot of time and effort into tweaking everything so it's faster and just the way I like it, so I really don't want to get rid of it.

Then again, investing in a graphics card that I will have to get rid of in a year or two when I upgrade again seems like kind of a waste.

You shouldn't need new memory, unless you're still using SDRAM, which I don't think they even use SDRAM on any Socket A motherboards. Maybe some Pentium 3 motherboards, but is your system not AGP 8x?

 

[donbenni]

Then again, investing in a graphics card that I will have to get rid of in a year or two when I upgrade again seems like kind of a waste.

I've upgraded my graphics card almost yearly for ages now, same as my mobile phone. It's just one of those things. If you like playing games but don't want to buy top of the range on your GPU then yearly purchasing of replacement cards isn't abnormal.

 

[Jmac279]

You shouldn't need new memory, unless you're still using SDRAM, which I don't think they even use SDRAM on any Socket A motherboards. Maybe some Pentium 3 motherboards, but is your system not AGP 8x?

Athlon64s have a 400 MHz FSB ... I have PC2700 (333 MHz) memory ... Thus requiring replacement ...

I usually upgrade my components every 3-5 years or when it becomes painfully obvious that what I have can't even keep up at the minimum settings anymore ...