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**detn8r** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2004, 11:11 PM

I was looking to upgrade my graphics card, because currently I'm equiped with a 32 MB S3 Trio (and I don't even know is that is right

. I can't play any games right now, but am dying to.

I'm currently running a AMD Athlon XP 2400+ with 736MB of ram.

I have no idea what I am looking for in buying a card, so if anyone (like gamers

could help, that would be great!

I've been looking at these cards here, but I don't even know what to look at.

I know a friend of mine bought a 256MB Radeon X800 for about 7-800 bucks. I definitly won't go that high.

But the thing that interests me is the sites that I compare (US-Canadian), the US prices are ALWAYS more cheaper -- and A LOT cheaper at that. What's up with that? ATI is a Canadian company, and actually is based 45 minutes from where I live!

So when I see a ATI Radeon 9800 Pro / 256MB DDR / AGP 8X / VGA / DVI / TV Out / Video Card at Tiger Direct for only $300 bucks, and we pay over $700 here, whats up with that?!

Anyway, if anyone could help me out that would be awesome. Thanks!

Spike · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2004, 11:34 PM

First off, try NewEgg.com to see fi they ship Canada, becuase NEwEgg is awesome. Period.

Second, what's popular around where I live would be firstly an Nvidia, then an ATi. I currently run on an ATi, and when I cusom-build my PC (did you se my post?) I'm going to use an ATi Radeon, this one.

**detn8r** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 12:05 AM

The problem is not if they deliever to Canada, but it's the prices period. Obviously I am not going to order it from the US, because it's still going to add up to around the same starting price in Canada. ATI's products are manufactured in either Canada or Taiwan, which confuses me as to why they are more expensive here.

And spike, your card is a 128 SE. Is there anything more I will experience from the pro, and is it more worth buying the pro over se?

David · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 12:08 AM

Pro is MUCH better in benchmarks than SE, by far. That would explain the cheap price, and somewhat poor performance. (This applies to all ATI chipsets)

Someguy03 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 01:23 AM

Detn8r, I wouldn't go anywhere below a Radeon 9600 XT. Thats what I have and it runs extremely well. Anything else, and your card would be too old not soon after you bought it. That said, I would look at Radeon 9800's, since they are now the same price as the 9600 XT originally was (around 300$). You might want to avoid Nvidia cards. I bought a E-VGA GeForce FX 5500 when I thought my Radeon 9600 XT was fried, and I noticed that on 3Dmarks (video benchmarking program) that my framerate when running the GeForce was stuck at 1-2, where with my Radeon 9600 XT, I was getting about 8 FPS, and both were the same price.

**detn8r** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 01:36 AM

So, getting the ATI RADEON™ 9600XT 128MB DDR for $231.00 Canadian reasonable both in price and for maybe playing counter strike?

syntax · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 08:44 AM

The Radeon 9600 XT should be a reasonable card for playing Counter-Strike since its developer uses ATI cards when developing their games. BTW, I believe it comes with a Half-Life 2 voucher, which also comes with Counter-Strike Source.

**detn8r** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2004, 09:24 PM

OK, so I know I'm going to go with the Pro over SE, but which manufacturer should I use under Radeon?
I have many possibilities like ATI, ASUS, Connect3d, Sapphire, PowerColor etc.

I'm still looking into the prices... for example I was looking into the "ATI Radeon 9800 Pro / 256MB DDR @ $404.99 (CDN) , but researching into US prices they're MUCH cheaper.

I'm extremely confused. But, with the cost translations on one hand, here is what is in the other. I was given an example to what someone else has as experience. Here is what has seemed to interest me. Does anyone have an opinion on these, and or if the price is TOO much over what they are asking for:

ASUS AX800 PRO Radeon™ X800 256MB DDR III $589
ATI RADEON™ 9600XT 128MB DDR $231
ATI All-In-Wonder RADEON™ 9600XT 128MB DDR $289
ATI All-In-Wonder RADEON™ 9800 Pro 128MB DDR $349

ATI All-In-Wonder 9600 / 128MB DDR / AGP 8X / TV Tuner / AV / POD / Video Card $232.99
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro / 256MB DDR / AGP 8X / VGA / DVI / TV Out / Video Card $404.99

PLEASE someone humor me?

Someguy03 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2004, 01:15 AM

I have to go against what Syntax said. Radeon 9600 XT only reasonable for playing Counter Strike? Counter Strike is dated and can run easily on my Radeon 9100. My 9600 XT can run Halo, Doom 3, Far Cry, etc.

Detn8r, I would try and go for a Radeon 9800 Pro if possible, but if not then go for a Radeon 9600 XT (the system goes: XT best, Pro Second best, *no special type at all 3rd best*, SE 4th best). And Detn8r, I would go for a pure ATI card, not a 3rd party card. I have had 2 before and both have had compatibility problems with alot of my games, and most would not work properly until I got my XT.

Also Detn8r, this might interest you:

From the ATI Canada online store:

Quote:

quote:ALL IN WONDER 9600XT 128MB AGP
Price: CDN $319.00

ALL-IN-WONDER 9600 128MB AGP
Price: CDN $299.00

ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO 128MB AGP
Price: CDN $399.00

From the ATI USA online store:

Quote:

quote:
ALL IN WONDER 9600XT 128MB AGP
Price: $219.00

ALL-IN-WONDER 9600 128MB AGP
Price: $199.00

ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO 128MB AGP
Price: $299.00

Everything is exactly 100$ more in Canada than for us.