I currently have a GeForce 2 GTS in my computer (which, surprisingly, has been able to handle many of the games I've played, except Prince of Persia). My mb is a SOYO Fire Dragon, so it supports 4x AGP and PC2100 (DOH!). I know there are cards that are 4x/8x compatible, but being that I play occassionally, I'm wondering if I should fork out $200 for a card that I can't fully utilize. It's always the same with technology: a year or so (months or weeks in some cases) a better product is out with a price tag close to the weaker piece of hardware. I slowly collected my machine's hardware *kicks himself for buying the mb so early* and got, at the time, a great deal on the mb, which doesn't support any of the latest things, like SATA, 8x AGP, HT, next-generation Intel chips (like prescott is so great anyway) and faster DDR. So I know that I know within 2 or 3 years, I'll be building myself a new monster machine (as I foolishly told myself I was already doing with my current system).
So when that time comes, the GeForce 6 (7?) and Radeon 10k (11000?) series will be available (whatever they'll call them). I can simply fork out 60 bucks and get an FX5200, but I'd like to play Doom III when it inhabits us, and not suffer from a weak, pathetic fool, er, card, ya know? So..... what is a computer geek to do?!?! I've been debating on spending little and getting little, spending a lot, and getting a lot, and so on. My concern is that I don't want to get a card that is 256-bit, has 256MB memory, and runs @ 8x if I can't fully utilize it's sheer awesomeness. So I was pondering on getting, what was at one point in time, the creme of the crop; a GeForce 4 Ti 4600, since they were, till 8x came, 4x. Or would it be wiser to get an FX series card? Or a 9500 or 9600? PLEASE! My brain swells at the thoughts!!! Any help would be appreciated!!!
So when that time comes, the GeForce 6 (7?) and Radeon 10k (11000?) series will be available (whatever they'll call them). I can simply fork out 60 bucks and get an FX5200, but I'd like to play Doom III when it inhabits us, and not suffer from a weak, pathetic fool, er, card, ya know? So..... what is a computer geek to do?!?! I've been debating on spending little and getting little, spending a lot, and getting a lot, and so on. My concern is that I don't want to get a card that is 256-bit, has 256MB memory, and runs @ 8x if I can't fully utilize it's sheer awesomeness. So I was pondering on getting, what was at one point in time, the creme of the crop; a GeForce 4 Ti 4600, since they were, till 8x came, 4x. Or would it be wiser to get an FX series card? Or a 9500 or 9600? PLEASE! My brain swells at the thoughts!!! Any help would be appreciated!!!