I upgraded most of my components right before the switch to PCI-Express (just my luck) with the exception of my vid card.

3500+ Athlon 64
1 GB Corsair XMS DDR
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro


As of right now, the bottleneck is definitely my vid card, but since I Just got a new MOBO not a year ago, i'm not ready to switch to PCI-E. What is the fastest AGP card currently available? The 6800GT?? I can't believe that those things are still 350+.

3/12/2006 9:20:25 AM

The best you can get is a 7800GS. I have the same problem except mine is a dell so once I go about getting a new video card I gotta get a new power supply too

3/12/2006 9:39:29 AM

I picked up an new (AGP) ATI x850XT 256MB for $225 on Ebay. Aesome card, runs BF2 on all high settings and 4x AA no problem.

3/12/2006 10:52:05 AM

What exactly are you trying to run/do with your 9800 pro? That thing was the baseline for all comparisons video cards ... should be able to run just about anything. Unless you are looking for high AA/AF and 1600x1200, should be fine with the 9800 pro. Otherwise, expect to drop $500 for a new MB and video card ... not worth it IMHO until games NEED that type of power in them.

3/12/2006 11:06:25 AM

agreed. That 9800 pro should last you a bit longer till you make the change to pci-e, even though the 9800's are a generation or two behind the current cards. New games that have hardcore graphics are finally be released. I'd say wait atleast till this summer since new gpu's should be released during that time.

Otherwise, you could sell your current mobo and get a new one with a pci-e onboard and should be set for a year or two when you get a new gpu.

3/12/2006 1:44:53 PM

i can run BF2 on medium with my 9800 Pro, definitely not worth upgrading right now

3/12/2006 4:08:45 PM

i can run just about anything i throw at it on high settings until I enable any type of AA


this 9800pro has served me well but when I can't run F.E.A.R. with 8x AA I am not happy

3/14/2006 7:35:30 PM

vanity geek

3/15/2006 12:34:27 AM

Check out Toms hardware for some benchmarks on the cards already listed. Your call dude ... you can drop $200+ for better AA if it makes you happy ... I'd rather spend (or save) that money somewhere else. If nothing else, wait a year or two until 1024 DX10 cards come out.

3/15/2006 7:07:04 AM