How fast is fast?

[vega]

I'm fairly happy with my current setup but with monster, all powerful titles on the horizon (hl2, doom3 etc), I get the feeling that that well worn upgrading path is about to be trodden again - my graphics card - softmod radeon 9500 np, is only a couple of months old and matched with my amd 1700xp processor, reports a 3d mark speed of 10,521 which I'm happy with so I've no intention of buying a new card but would buying an amd 2200xp chip offer a significant boost in performance or should I go for something a bit meatier?
Due to the fact that I'm up to my armpits in bills, I can't spend more than £60.

 

[iss]

the 2400 chips are pretty cheap right now and that is what I would go for if your board supports it. wouldnt hurt to have another 256MB of ddr either.

 

[PreservedSwine]

I'd grab a JUIHB LT3C 1700+. Most reach over 2200mhzz with proper cooling and a quality PSU.

Mines stable at over 2300mhz, but due to cooling, I keep it @ 2244. Not bad for $50. (I DID have to get a new PSU, the generic one took a crapola)
I have the same gpu as you, I get over 17k in 3Dm01, and 5430 in 3Dm03.

I don't have the upgrade urge at all, VERY pleased w/ this set-up.

:grinthumb

I think the Barton2500+ would be my second choice, pretty much guaranteed great overclocking there as well, but at about $85 US.

 

[Nic]

Originally posted by PreservedSwine
I'd grab a JUIHB LT3C 1700+. Most reach over 2200mhzz with proper cooling and a quality PSU.

Mines stable at over 2300mhz, but due to cooling, I keep it @ 2244. Not bad for $50. (I DID have to get a new PSU, the generic one took a crapola)
I have the same gpu as you, I get over 17k in 3Dm01, and 5430 in 3Dm03.

I don't have the upgrade urge at all, VERY pleased w/ this set-up.

:grinthumb

I think the Barton2500+ would be my second choice, pretty much guaranteed great overclocking there as well, but at about $85 US.

Yeah, I got mine running at 2300 as well with only a small vcore increase from 1.5v to 1.65v. It runs cool at just below 40*C with GlobalWin CAK4-88T copper heatsink/fan. Good value at £45 ($70, you americans get all the good deals >>> $50). I OC'd by increasing the fsb to 400 and have the CPU multiplier on x11.5, which equates to 2300MHz CPU. It benches at equivalent of 3200+ according to SiSoft Sandra, so I'm not complaining. I'm sure I can OC it higher by increasing vcore, but why bother as its plenty fast as it is.

 

[vega]

Thanks for the input people - very impressive score, Preserved Swine!
I've settled for an AMD 2400xp which was priced a smidgen over my top limit of £60 and have purchased an additional 256 meg of ram - just hope this cpu is up to some tame overclocking.

 

[Nic]

Those 1700+ cores are actually down-graded 2400+ units. At least you won't need to overclock yours to get some decent speed out of it.

 

[Steg]

17k perversedswine? really? holy s**t!!!!
im getting 8.6k tops (XP2100+, 512 DDR CAS 2 Corsair 333 Dual Channel RAM (Running at 266,5,2,2,T2), A7N8X Deleux, Ge3Ti200)
my graphics card must be really holding my machine bac....

Steg

 

[PreservedSwine]

Originally posted by Steg
17k perversedswine? really? holy s**t!!!!
im getting 8.6k tops (XP2100+, 512 DDR CAS 2 Corsair 333 Dual Channel RAM (Running at 266,5,2,2,T2), A7N8X Deleux, Ge3Ti200)
my graphics card must be really holding my machine bac....

Steg

5430 in 3DM03

17,013 in 3Dm01

That's a heckuva rig, That little GF3 is still a decent gamer, you've gotten some good years outa that

 

[Steg]

damn right. this card has served me long and faithfully - it was an upgrade from a 3DFX Voodoo 3 2000 - the power, the speed! and FSAA in quake3! best £150 ive ever spent! but now i think its time to flog it 2 my brother for £50 (gullable loon) and buy an FX5600Ultra - i wanna see HL2 in all its DX9 glory

Steg

 

[JSR]

let'z throw a steg party!

unless, which for some reason, you can crank the 5600 up through the roof, go 9800 pro 128 or the 5900 ultra...........hl2 won't be no thang graphically. as opposed to let's say doom 3.......the 5600 will bog..........nice overclock swine, you and nic are running neck and neck, no pun intended

 

[agissi]

Originally posted by vega
Thanks for the input people - very impressive score, Preserved Swine!
I've settled for an AMD 2400xp which was priced a smidgen over my top limit of £60 and have purchased an additional 256 meg of ram - just hope this cpu is up to some tame overclocking.

A 2400 would be your best bet if you dont want to overclock (oc). Too bad your mobo doesnt support 333MHz FSB, because the 2500s are cheap, and perform alot better then the 2400s (tons more chache, almost same frequency).

 

[JSR]

he could get the 1700+.........

but, without overclocking, the 266 bus is supported as high as the 2600+

 

[agissi]

oh, i thought 2400s a we're the fastest AXPs on a 266 FSB

 

[JSR]

negative

2600+ was made in 333 and 266 variants...................

 

[Steg]

the 2400+ (throughbred A core 256k cache) uses 266fsb
the 2500+ (barton core 512k cache) uses 333fsb
the 2600+ (throughbred B core 256k cache) uses 266fsb
the 2800+ - 3000+ (barton core 512k cache) uses 333fsb
the 3200+ (barton core 512k cache) uses 400fsb
clear?

yes JSR a 5900Ultra would be nice - but its twice the price and i would like a new graphics card before HL2 comes out - is it worth waiting and playing HL2 on my Ge3? (i have both HL2 and D3 on preorder)

Steg

 

[Dantrag]

dont buy the 5600 get a ti4200 it gives better performens or a ti4600 or 9500 np and use the omega drivers to get it to a 9700pro just keep your Ge3 if you dont have the money right now

 

[Steg]

looks like im keeping the G3 anyway - i will have NO money until at least christmas - even if my job aplication goes through - looks like HL2 will have to be in 640*480 - damn

Steg

 

[JSR]

yes

HL2 isn't going to put a strain on things ...........it's past that you'll begin to become concerned

 

[Steg]

yes - the likes of Far Cry and Doom 3 will not get on well with my graphics card - not forgetting that UT2004 wont run anyfaster than the 2003 if anything it will be slower - my card will really start to show its age soon

Steg

 

[JSR]

yeah

ut 2004 is being written in 64bit code........