New Video Card, Or New Hard Drive?

[tesco]

ok, relatives coming up in august so i will probably getting lots of money (hopefully...), plus my dad wants my old comp parts so he will give me money towards whatever i get..

So i've got to decide, do i want a new video card, or do i want a new silent bigger capacity hard drive. hmm...right now i'm leaning toward hard drive, because i am working to make my computer quieter.

here is what im looking at for hard drive:
Seagate 120gb 7200rpm 8mb cache - 149.99 (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=499327)
Seagate 160gb 7200rpm 2mb cache - 149.97 (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=576589)

How much differene does the 8mb cache bring over the 2mb cache? a lot? around 150 is highest im gonna dgo for a hard drive, i can also get a hitachi drive cheaper, but i like seagate so i dunno. :unsure:


Here are the video cards im looking at:
Saphire Radeon 9600XT 128mb - $227.99 (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=699286&Sku=A271-9601&CatId=1088)
Saphire Radeon 9800SE 128mb - $212.99 (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=699287&Sku=A271-9800&CatId=1088)


I'd probably spend about 250 at most. The 9800 se isn't that bad is it? on bigdawg's pinned guide it seems to be about on par with the 9600xt. What else is it missing? (i know there is no heat sensor, which is something i would like to have...)

So, come on, help me decide.


edit: What the hell is a 9550?? never heard of it. any good? (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=988529&Sku=A271-9551&CatId=1088)

[clocker]

Well, I have a 9600XT and would recommend it to anyone, but I'm not a gamer so I don't know how it stacks up in that area.

Seagates are very nice HDDs, can't go wrong there, either.

Hard to say which is the better investment...my first thought would be the video card, after all, you are always looking at the screen.

I'm also thinking that you are about due for a new motherboard, and your new one will prolly support SATA, so why get a PATA drive now?

[tesco]

Originally posted by clocker@7 July 2004 - 13:06
Well, I have a 9600XT and would recommend it to anyone, but I'm not a gamer so I don't know how it stacks up in that area.

Seagates are very nice HDDs, can't go wrong there, either.

Hard to say which is the better investment...my first thought would be the video card, after all, you are always looking at the screen.

I'm also thinking that you are about due for a new motherboard, and your new one will prolly support SATA, so why get a PATA drive now?
Not planning on upgrading that though....not yet, anyway. If i do that, might as well get a new processor, then i might wanna also buy a second 512mb ram stick to run the pointless dual channel (bad investment lol)...so ya, takes a lot of money that i dont have. :(

might upgrade that later this year, or next year, it's fine for now.


Hard to say which is the better investment...my first thought would be the video card, after all, you are always looking at the screen.
also, im always listening to the computer. ;)

[clocker]

True, but it's easier to silence a HDD than it is to manually add pixels....

[tesco]

Originally posted by clocker@7 July 2004 - 13:21
True, but it's easier to silence a HDD than it is to manually add pixels....
:lol:

The screen isn't going to look any different than before. :rolleyes:

Just in games might get a better FPS. ;)

[clocker]

Sounds like you've already decided.

[Spicker]

if u play high graphix games then i wud get the video card.... but for now ur fx5200 seems fine...

u can answer this question urself rossco.. i thought u knew better :P ;) :lol: j/k


btw where u getting all this money from? :unsure: :frusty:
buy me something :01:

[tesco]

Originally posted by jaigandhi5@7 July 2004 - 13:35
btw where u getting all this money from? :unsure: :frusty:
buy me something :01:

ok, relatives coming up in august so i will probably getting lots of money (hopefully...), plus my dad wants my old comp parts so he will give me money towards whatever i get..

:lol:

Ya, kinda did decide...if enough people think i should go for video card though i will. dunno. :unsure:

[Spicker]

trust most of the people here are going to tell you to buy a video card and im 95% thats what you are going to do :lol: and get the 9600XT not the 9800SE ;)

Also try to get the HIS version of the 9600XT they are nice....but more expensive i belive.. ;)

u dint answer my demand... buy me something :01:

:)

[Mad Cat]

Some Hercules 9800SE softmod to 9800 Pros...

[tesco]

Originally posted by jaigandhi5@7 July 2004 - 13:41
u dint answer my demand... buy me something :01:
Yes sir!

[Twist3r]

I would get the 160gb hard drive, then you will have 200 gigs if you keep your old hard drive in :D

Edit 1000th post :D :D :D :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Spicker]

im sure rossco doesnt look at porn so he doesnt need 200GB :lol: its too much

rossco- wt u getting me? :o :o :o :o :)

[tesco]

Originally posted by jaigandhi5@7 July 2004 - 14:18
im sure rossco doesnt look at porn so he doesnt need 200GB :lol: its too much

rossco- wt u getting me? :o :o :o :o :)
I don't look at porn? :blink:

lol, but not 200gb of it.

I have to give my 40gb to my dad, otherwise he isn't going to give me any money towards the 160 or 120gb drive.

Ill buy you some 9800xt's, those things are practically leaves over here, how many can i put you down for?

:lol:

btw, why did they stop making 9500's and 9700's??? and can someone tell me about that 9550?

[Spicker]

yes i wud like to know about the 9550s as well wtf are they? :lol: (btw i noe wt 9500 is)

and rossco ill take one 9600xt thnx :)

they stopped cuz they were to expenisive to make and they were overclockable its practically impossible to find a 9500PRO or a 9700PRO in Canada but u can find lots on Newegg

and ironically ATI is Canadian as well :01:

[tesco]

Originally posted by jaigandhi5@7 July 2004 - 14:34
yes i wud like to know about the 9550s as well wtf are they? :lol: (btw i noe wt 9500 is)

and rossco ill take one 9600xt thnx :)

they stopped cuz they were to expenisive to make and they were overclockable its practically impossible to find a 9500PRO or a 9700PRO in Canada but u can find lots on Newegg

and ironically ATI is Canadian as well :01:
ya, lol, they're canadian but it is all made in other countries, shipped to us, nothing to canada. comes to canada later on if there are extras.

I haven't even seen any canadian stores than have 9800xt's lol. (im sure there are some, just cant find them).

and why do u want one 9600xt? why not 3 9800xt's? lol.

[Spicker]

Originally posted by ROSSCO_2004+7 July 2004 - 20:37--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ROSSCO_2004 @ 7 July 2004 - 20:37)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-jaigandhi5@7 July 2004 - 14:34
yes i wud like to know about the 9550s as well wtf are they?&nbsp; :lol: (btw i noe wt 9500 is)

and rossco ill take one 9600xt thnx&nbsp; :)

they stopped cuz they were to expenisive to make and they were overclockable its practically impossible to find a 9500PRO or a 9700PRO in Canada but u can find lots on Newegg

and ironically ATI is Canadian as well :01:
ya, lol, they&#39;re canadian but it is all made in other countries, shipped to us, nothing to canada. comes to canada later on if there are extras.

I haven&#39;t even seen any canadian stores than have 9800xt&#39;s lol. (im sure there are some, just cant find them).

and why do u want one 9600xt? why not 3 9800xt&#39;s? lol. [/b][/quote]
oh sorry i miss read lol i didnt noe u would buy me 9800XT ur soo generous... ill pay for the shipping if u like :rolleyes:

if u buy a me a 9800XT ill give u my MSI Fx5600 :rolleyes:

[Twist3r]

why not just buy him a few X800 XTs :lol:

and maybe send some over here too :lol:

[tesco]

Originally posted by jaigandhi5+7 July 2004 - 14:39--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (jaigandhi5 @ 7 July 2004 - 14:39)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
Originally posted by ROSSCO_2004@7 July 2004 - 20:37
<!--QuoteBegin-jaigandhi5@7 July 2004 - 14:34
yes i wud like to know about the 9550s as well wtf are they?&nbsp; :lol: (btw i noe wt 9500 is)

and rossco ill take one 9600xt thnx&nbsp; :)

they stopped cuz they were to expenisive to make and they were overclockable its practically impossible to find a 9500PRO or a 9700PRO in Canada but u can find lots on Newegg

and ironically ATI is Canadian as well :01:
ya, lol, they&#39;re canadian but it is all made in other countries, shipped to us, nothing to canada. comes to canada later on if there are extras.

I haven&#39;t even seen any canadian stores than have 9800xt&#39;s lol. (im sure there are some, just cant find them).

and why do u want one 9600xt? why not 3 9800xt&#39;s? lol.
oh sorry i miss read lol i didnt noe u would buy me 9800XT ur soo generous... ill pay for the shipping if u like :rolleyes:

if u buy a me a 9800XT ill give u my MSI Fx5600 :rolleyes: [/b][/quote]
WOW&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;
A FREE 5600&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;
AMAZING&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

:lol:

Ill pay shipping both ways for this great deal.


ok enough spamming of my thread lol.

[Twist3r]

ROSSCO_2004&nbsp; Posted on 7 July 2004 - 20:42

Twister&nbsp; Posted on 7 July 2004 - 20:42

perfect timing&#33;&#33; :lol: :lol: :lol:

[tesco]

Originally posted by Twister@7 July 2004 - 14:43

ROSSCO_2004&nbsp; Posted on 7 July 2004 - 20:42

Twister&nbsp; Posted on 7 July 2004 - 20:42

perfect timing&#33;&#33; :lol: :lol: :lol:
:P

[Spicker]

who said i was going to giv u my fx5600 for FREE :lol: ill give u a special 2&#036; discount price.... :P :lol:

and thank u for the shipping..... :)


yea i still want to know wts a 9550 :blink: :01:

Twister- dont be greedy :P :P :P :lol:

[Joakim Agren]

Hello&#33;

If you are not a heavy duty player then go for the HD&#33; We all need more space dont we :01:

Where do you live?

If I look at those prices you gave they are slightly to expensive for a 160GB HD with only 2MB cache these days. Here in Sweden a 160GB Seagate Barracuda with 8MB cache cost around &#036;130-&#036;150. It makes a huge difference 8MB cache is pretty much standard these days and important during video processing and encodings and direct stream imports of video.

[tesco]

Originally posted by Joakim Agren@7 July 2004 - 14:53
Hello&#33;

If you are nota heavy duty player then go for the HD&#33; We all need more space dont we :01:

Where do you live?

If I look at those prices you gave they are slightly to expensive for a 160GB HD with only 2MB cache these days. Here in Sweden a 160GB Seagate Barracuda with 8MB cache cost around &#036;130-&#036;150. It makes a huge difference 8MB cache is pretty much standard these days and important during video processing and encodings and direkt stream imports of video.
canadian prices. live in ontario, canada.

[Spicker]

im pretty sure the prices he posted are Canadian ;)

[Spicker]

LMAO perfect timing :lol: :lol: :lol: again&#33; :01:

[tesco]

:lol: B)

:rolleyes:


Ya more i think about this more i want a better hard drive. Would be great for silent, and a lot more space. Could store all of my movies i download on teh hard drive instead of trying to play them corrupted cd-r&#39;s. <_<

[Spicker]

well the qeustion to answer ur question remains....

"Do you play games that require high graphics or can u not play high graphic games on low settings?"

if u answer that u will get the answer to ur original question....

[Joakim Agren]

Originally posted by ROSSCO_2004+7 July 2004 - 20:55--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ROSSCO_2004 &#064; 7 July 2004 - 20:55)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Joakim Agren@7 July 2004 - 14:53
Hello&#33;

If you are nota heavy duty player then go for the HD&#33; We all need more space dont we :01:

Where do you live?

If I look at those prices you gave they are slightly to expensive for a 160GB HD with only 2MB cache these days. Here in Sweden a 160GB Seagate Barracuda with 8MB cache cost around &#036;130-&#036;150. It makes a huge difference 8MB cache is pretty much standard these days and important during video processing and encodings and direkt stream imports of video.
canadian prices. live in ontario, canada. [/b][/quote]
Hello&#33;

So you mean canadian dollars&#33;

That explains it&#33;

150 canadian is about 831 Swedish crowns which is about &#036;110 US.

That is a normal price for a 160GB disk with 2Mb cache&#33;. But I would still recommend the 160GB with 8MB cache which is only marginally more expensive(atleast here in Sweden where the price difference is only &#036;15)&#33;

[tesco]

Originally posted by Joakim Agren+7 July 2004 - 15:07--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Joakim Agren @ 7 July 2004 - 15:07)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
Originally posted by ROSSCO_2004@7 July 2004 - 20:55
<!--QuoteBegin-Joakim Agren@7 July 2004 - 14:53
Hello&#33;

If you are nota&nbsp; heavy duty player then go for the HD&#33; We all need more space dont we :01:

Where do you live?

If I look at those prices you gave they are slightly to expensive for a 160GB HD with only 2MB cache these days. Here in Sweden a 160GB Seagate Barracuda with 8MB cache cost around &#036;130-&#036;150. It makes a huge difference 8MB cache is pretty much standard these days and important during video processing and encodings and direkt stream imports of video.
canadian prices. live in ontario, canada.
Hello&#33;

So you mean canadian dollars&#33;

That explains it&#33;

150 canadian is about 831 Swedish crowns which is about &#036;110 US.

That is a normal price for a 160GB disk with 2Mb cache&#33;. But I would still recommend the 160GB with 8MB cache which is only marginally more expensive(atleast here in Sweden where the price difference is only &#036;15)&#33; [/b][/quote]
Seagate 160gb 7200rpm 8mb cache - &#036;177.99 (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=576590).

It&#39;s a lot more...

[Duffman]

Id get the video card because if you time it right you can segate drives cheap as hell, i got my 80gig(ithink) for like 50&#036; after rebates, and thats not always so with video cards

[tesco]

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/images/SkuImages/gallery/large/Barracuda_7200.7-b.jpg
Is this a glass top??(the 160gb 8mb cache drive)

That&#39;s sick&#33;

[Spicker]

yea u cud mod normal ones as well ;)

[clocker]

Originally posted by ROSSCO_2004@7 July 2004 - 13:38

Is this a glass top??(the 160gb 8mb cache drive)

That&#39;s sick&#33;
NO, yours will have a metal cover.
For some reason they always show them like this in display pics.


yea u cud mod normal ones as well
I&#39;ve heard of people trying that, but never successfully.
They always crap out after a few weeks.

[Spicker]

wt do u mean they "crap out" you mean the hdd stops working?? :o

[tesco]

Ya, you couldn&#39;t mod it yourself.

No dust can get into a hard drive. That&#39;s why once they are opened they either wont work anymore, or will last a really short amount of time.

What happens is dust gets on the disks, then the head hits it, gets confused, and crashes into the edge of the drive, for some reason...(that&#39;s where hard drive&#092;head crash comes from [i think lol]).

[Super Dude]

Originally posted by ROSSCO_2004@7 July 2004 - 19:29
and can someone tell me about that 9550?
ATi Radeon 9550 Review (http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/tul9550/index.html)

[tesco]

Originally posted by Super Dude+7 July 2004 - 20:15--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Super Dude @ 7 July 2004 - 20:15)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-ROSSCO_2004@7 July 2004 - 19:29
and can someone tell me about that 9550?
ATi Radeon 9550 Review (http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/tul9550/index.html) [/b][/quote]
aparantly it is positioned between the 9600se and 9600pro...don&#39;t think that&#39;s so great. ;)

Oh well, i think it will probably be a 9600pro or xt im gonna get...

[Joakim Agren]

Originally posted by ROSSCO_2004+8 July 2004 - 03:35--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ROSSCO_2004 &#064; 8 July 2004 - 03:35)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
Originally posted by Super Dude@7 July 2004 - 20:15
<!--QuoteBegin-ROSSCO_2004@7 July 2004 - 19:29
and can someone tell me about that 9550?
ATi Radeon 9550 Review (http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/tul9550/index.html)
aparantly it is positioned between the 9600se and 9600pro...don&#39;t think that&#39;s so great. ;)

Oh well, i think it will probably be a 9600pro or xt im gonna get... [/b][/quote]
Hello&#33;

Have you decided what to get a HD or a Graphic card?

Regarding the transparent HD mod it is possible to do it yourself. I and a friend did it for his computer and the HD still works one year later. It was fitted with internal lightning and the top of the computer was giving a round transparent window so you could see it up there it looked really cool&#33;.

The trick to avoid dust getting in the drive is to wear a hat over your hair and be naked and wear only your underwear and to do it outdoor on a balcony or something or in a bathroom that has just been cleaned and with the tub water running. The particel density is much lower outside or in recently cleaned bathrooms so the risk for getting it in the drive is greatly reduced. Ofcourse it is not risk free but atleast you have a chance for success and in our case we did succeed with the mod&#33;.
Se mod here

http://www.voidedwarranty.com/modules.php?...showpage&pid=25 (http://www.voidedwarranty.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=25)

Never use thsi mod on your main drive ofcourse only risk it for the second one that you do not keep important data on and that does not carry your main system&#33;.

[clocker]

You&#39;d have to be nutz to try modding a HDD.
ONE spec of dust and it&#39;s history.
Although it&#39;s humorous to imagine you working on it in your underwear and wearing a hairnet, even those ( completely inadequate) precautions wouldn&#39;t work.

If you still decide to try though, you MUST post a pic of the modding process.
You could be as notorious as the "star wars boy".

[Joakim Agren]

Originally posted by clocker@9 July 2004 - 00:26
You&#39;d have to be nutz to try modding a HDD.
ONE spec of dust and it&#39;s history.
Although it&#39;s humorous to imagine you working on it&nbsp; in your underwear and wearing a hairnet, even those ( completely inadequate) precautions wouldn&#39;t work.

If you still decide to try though, you MUST post a pic of the modding process.
You could be as notorious as the "star wars boy".
Hello&#33;

I have already tried it with my friend a year ago. He did the technical stuff(beeing an electrician) I fixed the casing Window with a Dremell&#33;. It still works 1 year later&#33;. So it is possible to do&#33;. We did it in his balcony and he was only wearing his underwear and I fixed the Window in his livingroom. He has since moved to a different city to study to become an engineer so I dont have access to his computer and have not seen him in over 6 months so I cant take a picture of his HD but the HD on the link that I provided in my last post looks almost the same.

And as I said it is mostly done for its cool decorative effect(the most cool position would be to place it vertically in a case with a transparent front bottom so you could see it operate from the front but we placed it on the top instead). The most important data including Windows itself should be stored on the main not modified HD. Only store unimportant stuff on the modified HD. Several people online has been reported to succeed with this. But pretty much all of them have tried this mod on a old used HD ofcourse due to the risk when doing it&#33;.

So dont do it on a brand new drive unless you dont plan to store important data on it and can afford loosing the investment&#33;.

[sparsely]

Originally posted by clocker@8 July 2004 - 18:26
Although it&#39;s humorous to imagine you working on it in your underwear and wearing a hairnet, even those ( completely inadequate) precautions wouldn&#39;t work.

If you still decide to try though, you MUST post a pic of the modding process.
You could be as notorious as the "star wars boy".
omg&#33; :lol:
funniest thing I&#39;ve read all day

[tesco]

Originally posted by Joakim Agren+8 July 2004 - 22:46--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Joakim Agren @ 8 July 2004 - 22:46)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-clocker@9 July 2004 - 00:26
You&#39;d have to be nutz to try modding a HDD.
ONE spec of dust and it&#39;s history.
Although it&#39;s humorous to imagine you working on it&nbsp; in your underwear and wearing a hairnet, even those ( completely inadequate) precautions wouldn&#39;t work.

If you still decide to try though, you MUST post a pic of the modding process.
You could be as notorious as the "star wars boy".
Hello&#33;

I have already tried it with my friend a year ago. He did the technical stuff(beeing an electrician) I fixed the casing Window with a Dremell&#33;. It still works 1 year later&#33;. So it is possible to do&#33;. We did it in his balcony and he was only wearing his underwear and I fixed the Window in his livingroom. He has since moved to a different city to study to become an engineer so I dont have access to his computer and have not seen him in over 6 months so I cant take a picture of his HD but the HD on the link that I provided in my last post looks almost the same.

And as I said it is mostly done for its cool decorative effect(the most cool position would be to place it vertically in a case with a transparent front bottom so you could see it operate from the front but we placed it on the top instead). The most important data including Windows itself should be stored on the main not modified HD. Only store unimportant stuff on the modified HD. Several people online has been reported to succeed with this. But pretty much all of them have tried this mod on a old used HD ofcourse due to the risk when doing it&#33;.

So dont do it on a brand new drive unless you dont plan to store important data on it and can afford loosing the investment&#33;. [/b][/quote]
Instead you could have just used an old 1gig or something (find them everywhere) and just modded that very uncarefully then just plug in the power and let it kill itself...it will still be running, except that no data can be stored on it, so it would be just for looks.