Powermac Graphics Option

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david_ocdavid_oc
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Hi,



I'm getting a new Powermac (probably 2GHz). I'm trying to decide which graphics card to go with. Can anyone help?



There's the standard NVidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64MB

The Radeon 9600 XT with 128MB for an extra ?60

The Radeon 9800 XT with 256MB for an extra ?390



There's no way I can justify the 6800 DDL so let's not bother with that one



I'd classify myself as a heavy home user. I'd use the Digital Hub apps (though maybe Final Cut Extreme) and also a fair few games, as well as all the usual surfing etc. I'd mess around with graphics apps but not to keep body and soul together.

I wouldn't be a graphics nut but if I thought getting the extra card would give the computer a significany kick in performance or a delay in obsolescence then I'd go with it.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    ensign pulverensign pulver Posts: 1,193member
    The small amount of extra money for the 9600XT is a no brainer. The extra VRAM and chip speed will come in handy for CoreVideo and CoreImage in Tiger if nothing else.
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  • Reply 2 of 7
    o4blackwrxo4blackwrx Posts: 383member
    Radeon 9600XT Without a doubt. That's what I ordered in my Dual 2.0Ghz PowerMac Rev. B. well worth the week wait too playing Unreal....
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  • Reply 3 of 7
    david_ocdavid_oc Posts: 90member
    Quote:

    The small amount of extra money for the 9600XT is a no brainer



    I suppose what I really should have asked is whether the 9800XT is worth the extra cash on top of the 9600XT.



    Thanks for all the help so far
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  • Reply 4 of 7
    mcqmcq Posts: 1,543member
    The 9600XT should be plenty for iLife and dabbling in graphics apps every now and then. I'd be more interested in what kinds of games you're thinking of playing on the G5.
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  • Reply 5 of 7
    londorlondor Posts: 265member
    I would not bother with the 9800XT. Choose the 9600XT or if you are into 3D, games or heavy video or photo edition I would go for the 6800 which is just 169? more than the 9800XT and you get twice its performance.
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  • Reply 6 of 7
    rraburrabu Posts: 264member
    I agree about getting the 9600XT. Save the money for now and then upgrade the graphics card in a year or two with it. By then, you'll get much more GPU for your $$.
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  • Reply 7 of 7
    placeboplacebo Posts: 5,767member
    Get anything but the Geforce 5200 Ultra. I know from experience that it really sucks. It's two generations behind the other card offerings, and has about a quarter of the processing power of the 9800 (I don't know about the 9600)
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