VideoCard Upgrade worth it?

[Psychoninja]

I have a GeForceTi4600 128mb with 8x AGP atm
I was going through bestbuy with the xmas money I got, looking for something to buy :p

I was looking at vidcards and was thinking of maybe upgrading.
I saw a GeForce FX5200 256mbs by Asylum
Here (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1064607240928&skuId=6041375&type=product)

I don't know if that's upgrade worthy. I was looking at the ATI Radeon 9800 with 256mbs and 8xAGP for 500$.

Here (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1064607240928&skuId=6041375&type=product)

I just saw the GF FX5950 256mb on the site (they didn't have in the store)

Here (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1063630089207&skuId=6046398&type=product)

Anyways, If I'm upgrading from the Ti 4600, which do you think I should get? How does the Radeon 9800 run NC? Any texture bugs?

Would the FX5200 noticeably better than my Ti400? For some reason I'm leanning towards the Radeon 9800.

Please give me some input ^^

[ponders]

i was running a PNY Ti 4600 128mb 4x agp , i done a complete up grade and built a new system , i took the time to run a few different cards to see how they run as i work in computers .

anything less that a FX 5900 or a 9800 is not worth upgrading to (ultra and pro/xt much better), as you will be paying for small improvements if any . I tried a 9600 pro 256 mb 8x agp and it didnt run anywhere near as good as the 4600 , neither did the 5200 ultra or 5600 ultra . only thing they have over the 4600 is full direct x 9 support but in real terms as your asking about NC , they offered a lot less FPS in plaza 1 and the outzones than the 4600 .

I personaly went for a creative 5950 ultra 8x agp 256 mb, that was on special offer (uk) and it runs great i get 20- 35 fps in plaza 1 when busy and get a regular 75-90 fps in the outzones . and it has run every game i have at full settings. of coarse this is only my opinion . but when ever i buy a graphics card i buy the best i can get at the time. I also hear more people complaining about problems with ATI cards and compatability , but i would have to say the ATI cards like the 9800 XT are the slightly quicker of the cards .

hope this helps .

[ServeX]

I <3 my ati radeon 9800 xt, I couldn't ask for anything better if I wanted to, other than the military super computers :P

[IceStorm]

If you're talking about games beyond NC, either the ATI 9800/9800 Pro/9800XT (ATI or ATI partner like Asus, Sapphire, etc.) or an nVidia 5950. NC really doesn't push these cards too hard, though, so if you're talking JUST NC, don't bother with an ungrade unless you're using AA/AF and vegetation. Oh, and the ATI bugs are gone now. The clipping issue was resolved. Textures haven't been a problem for me.

If you do not use AA/AF, find some benches which don't use AA/AF to compare the Ti4600 to the other two choices. If you do use AA/AF, most benches already take this into account.

I personally went from a Ti4600 to a 9700 Pro, and the difference was quite noticeable. I use AA/AF, so the 9700 Pro was like getting AA/AF for free for me. The 9800XT isn't much of a jump over the 9700 Pro for me, but I wanted the 9700 Pro freed up and the 9800XT looks so cool. :-)

[Scikar]

Get a 9800 XT and then when you get bored set smart shader to RGB cycle and turn NC into a disco. :p

9800 XT 256MB DDR 8X AGP, no problems at all in any games, no problems in Neocron at all. But if you're only playing NC at the moment then take a look at a processor upgrade first. If your processor is under 2 GHz then you can get an Athlon XP 2600+ for about £70, which I think is about $100 USD. A processor upgrade like that would most likely yield the highest performance increase in Neocron. If you're playing newer games like BF1942, or you're looking at HL2 and Doom 3, then the gfx card would probably be more suitable, especially when you're moving up from a DX8.1 to a DX9 card.

[AfterDark]

Don't shop at bestbuy.com

Go to pricewatch.com. It will always get you the best prices.

And yes. For Neocron, upgrade your processor. Upgrading from a GeForce 4 for just Neocron is like switching out a pickup truck for a semi when you only have to haul a few bags of groceries.

[J. Folsom]

I'd personally just wait with upgrading until the next generation of cards is out, then buy the best one of those if you've got the money. It probably won't be too long before the next generation is for sale anyway...