Thinking of upgrading my Graphics Card

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 with a GF4 Ti4200 which has served me well over the last year but I feel its time to upgrade, with games like HL2 and Doom III on the horizon I'm gonna need a new graphics card.

Im thinking of something like a Radeon 9800 what do you wrekon, I think my MB is only 4x AGP.

Im in UK, where would the best place be to buy my card?
Cheers

if i had the money i would buy that v.card too :grinthumb

Wouldn't it be more prudent to get some more RAM first....I'm not exactly sure what a bottleneck is, but a really nice video card and then only 256mb ram sounds a little off balance.
Personally I'd keep the Ti4200 and get at least another stick of 256 before anything else...
hehe, but Dell charges an arm and a leg for RAM upgrades so good luck...

schizoid77: That's why you don't get upgrades from Dell I suggest taking a look at www.newegg.com if you plan on upgrading.

And schizoid77 is right. You do really need to upgrade your RAM to 512MB first before upgrading your video card. It will have to be done either way, and the increase in RAM may provide much better performance for your GF4. Although the TI4200 is going to be weak for most new games so you will also want to upgrade to at LEAST a high-end GF4 such as the TI4800, and if possible a GeforceFX 5600 or 5900. Or an ATI 9700/9700 Pro or 9800.

For the best performance in HL2 and Doom 3 with all graphics settings turned to the max settings @ about 1024x768 you are going to need one of these cards. So many people will tell you that your going to need this amazing system. Well, if you plan on turning your graphics to insane settings like 2048x1536 or 1600x1200 then your asking for trouble no matter what video card you have. 1024x768 is by far sufficient for graphics these days. So stick with that resolution unless you want to spend an arm and a leg on a system that will perform well at higher resolutions.

The 800mhz RDRAM should do you well. (If you get 512MB). RDRAM is known to perform pretty well in gaming, but get your RAM as soon as possible because you'll see less and less RDRAM with it being dropped by motherboard manufacturers and since Rambus is being sued by Intel and other companies.

Other than that, you will be 100% ready.

don't just get the 9800

get the 9800 pro 128.............there is a non-pro version

one thing about upgrading RDRAM make sure you buy the same kind. there are currently two kinds of PC 800 Rdram. one is .45ns and the other is .40ns newer machines USUALLY have the .40 ns but you need to make sure as you CANNOT mix the two.

look at the sticker on the Ram on the right side of the sticker it will tell you if the RDRAM is .45ns or .40 ns

As far a I can tell Crucial doesn't sell RDRAM. I've looked there several times for PC1066 and can't find it.

It uses PC800 RDRAM. IMO, hang on to the GeForce, it's a good card. Just *consider* upgrading your RAM or at least wait for the new R420 which ATi is making, it's supposed to be twice as fast as that Radeon 9800 PRO.

And by the time that comes out, you may want to consider building your own computer from parts shipped from http://www.newegg.com.

OK Guys! Sorry I havent changed my profile! My system does have 512MB Ram, I upgraded that a few months back!
I do like my Ti4200 card, it runs most things fine at 1024*768, Generals was struggling with only 256, but it runs fine with the 512. I may further upgrade my RAM, its just a pain all this business of buying 2 sticks at the same time and the compatibility issues that come with RDRAM.

So do you think I should wait for the new R420 card to come out, which is when BTW?
As DoomIII or HL2 arent going to be released for a while and these are the 2 games that I KNOW my Ti4200 will struggle on I am willing to wait but I still want some advice as to what card to choose.
I saw a 9800 in action the other day and it blew me away, it was some Jungle Demo with a chimp, and it was awesome, far superieor to my setup ATM.

You know, I can't really say.

But what I did is: I bought a Radeon 9700 Pro and I already have a buyer for it when the R420 comes out.

I might just get the 9800 now!! I cant wait for the new card.

I have found 2 good cards
128MB Sapphire Radeon 9800 Atlantis Pro DDR DVI TVout £270 (PC Next Day)
Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB DDR AGP RP DVI VO £320 (dabs)

Whats the difference with these 2 cards, they are both sapphire which I believe to be a good, fast brand so why is one a lot cheaper than the other?

They are both identical. The price has probably just fallen and PC Next Day have the new stock at reduced prices. It could of course be an OEM card (without games), but their description doesn't say so. Its also on 'special offer' according to their website.

RP is nothing to do with Retail Packaging is it ?

The sapphire isnt likely to be, but could be OEM, thus reducing the cost.

and sapphire are a good brand are they?

yes sapphire is actually the one that builds the "built by ATI" cards for ATI.

sapphire is a very good make - its get some of the BEST write ups ive seen for ATi cards. If your are going ATi but a sapphire....but i think you are a hertic for deserting nVidia.
on the subject of graphics card prices - what do you think of this
3D Blaster GeForce FX5900 Ultra - 256mb DDR - Ebuyer UK @ £396.64 inc VAT
or
3D Blaster GeForce FX5900 Ultra - 256mb DDR - Creative.co.uk @ £499.99 inc VAT
make sence? i dont think so

Steg

I dont think there is a clear winner in the ATi vs NVidia battle, and I dont think I can afford £400 for a graphics card, £270 is a lot more in my budget!

Cant wait now!

You don't need to spend so much money on a top of the line card, there won't be notable performance advanatages.