Go for a 6800GT.

Trank wrote:

Go for a 6800GT.

I was thinking of a 6800 so I can still use the arctic coller I have. But why a gt and not a ultra?

I forgot about that beast. Yeah go for that. Full directx 9 support as well on the 6xxx series.

Or a 7800GS. Gets you OpenGL 2.0 (if you care) and should use less power.

Just took a look at the cooler on my fx, I don't think it will fix a 6800. I thought is was a nv5 but it's a rev2 nv4

stamasd wrote:

Or a 7800GS. Gets you OpenGL 2.0 (if you care) and should use less power.

Less power draw is always a plus. But if I went 7xxx I think I rather have a passive 7600 or something, cheaper and a easy find. But still a 7800 would be a good match for the system even if it's a tick to new. I don't know much about ati cards newer then the 9xxx, anything good in hd 2xxx or x1xxx line ups?
But correct me if I wrong but nv7xxx and x1xxx cards and newer use a bridge chip?

Edit:
What about 3D labs and matrox?

ATI didn't make anything AGP past the X850. That wouldn't be a bad choice either.

(edit) I was wrong, there was a Radeon HD4670 AGP, a HD3850 AGP and a HD3450 AGP. Newegg still sells the latter.

stamasd wrote:

ATI didn't make anything AGP past the X850. That wouldn't be a bad choice either.

Umm ok I guess the agp 1950 I had years ago was fake. Of do you mean everything was non ref?

stamasd wrote:

(edit) I was wrong, there was a Radeon HD4670 AGP, a HD3850 AGP and a HD3450 AGP. Newegg still sells the latter.

There is also the AGP x1xx cards like the x1950.

My vote is for the HD4670 or the 3850. If you want some thing more period correct, the x850 is also a good choice. I have one in my 478 build.

HD4670 or 3850 is a lot of power, don't know... but I do like the idea of a 3850. Nice card.
I should have said this before but I'll be using windows 2k for the main OS. I don't like XP and I sure as heck will not be using vista/7 on such a system.

OK guys I got in down to a few card.
Keep the 5950 ultra and see how it does on the system. If has a artic NV4 rev 2 and I'm sure I can give it a good OC.

hd2600
7600
X1950
6800utra

I'm thinking the 6800 ultra would be best for the era of the build.
I'm not a big fan of the ati x8x0 or x1xxx cards with the x1950 aside. and 7800's are a tad hard to find and pricy and given all the heat sink options I'll have with the 6800 it makes the most since. But still a 3850 is tempting and I'm still looking into 3D labs and matrox cards.

X1950 are still sometimes cheap and even got mine for like $8, I wouldn't go chasing after a 7800 gs since they are not all that much faster than a 6800 anyway. The Radeon 2k agp was infamous for driver issues for a while but not sure how they have improved. 7600 is ok and low cost when people don't yolo bid the price up too much.

If you keep an eye out sometimes sellers will miss list some 7950 agp cards as pci-e and you can snag them really cheap. Bagged a XFX 7900 GS agp for $25 😉

That probably what I'll do. Keep my eyes out and find something cheap. I like the idea of a 7600 as I could easily passively cool it. Less power draw and less noise is always a good thing for me.

The 5950 ultra is a good card when paired with the nv4 heat sink.

Jade Falcon wrote:

OK guys I got in down to a few card. Keep the 5950 ultra and see how it does on the system. If has a artic NV4 rev 2 and I'm sur […]
Show full quote

OK guys I got in down to a few card.
Keep the 5950 ultra and see how it does on the system. If has a artic NV4 rev 2 and I'm sure I can give it a good OC.

hd2600
7600
X1950
6800utra

I'm thinking the 6800 ultra would be best for the era of the build.
I'm not a big fan of the ati x8x0 or x1xxx cards with the x1950 aside. and 7800's are a tad hard to find and pricy and given all the heat sink options I'll have with the 6800 it makes the most since. But still a 3850 is tempting and I'm still looking into 3D labs and matrox cards.

Forget anything ATI past the x800 series if you are using Windows 2000 (ATI dropped WIn 2K support with the x1xxx series and newer) unless you want to deal with modded drivers (might be buggy)

I have a Radeon HD 2600 PRO PCI-E and performs similar to my 7600GT which performs similar to a 6800 Ultra

If you will use Windows 2000 only, stay with nvidia cards (nVidia supported Win 2K up to Geforce 7 series)

Thanks for the info. I tend to use xp drivers on 2k every now and then for video cards. I never ran into any bugs, but I might leave ati out all together to relave any headaches. I'm thinking about a 7600 or 6800 ultra. I did not know these cards are more rare then they once were. The 7600 is a lot easier to find.