Upgrade Time: Go for next-gen?

[byunews]

Hey all.
I've got about $350 on my hands right now, and thinking of a new video card to replace a broken Geforce4 MX. My system specs are as follows:

AMD Athlon Barton 2500 (Oc'd to 12.5*166 - 2800 speed)
512Mb generic DDR333 Ram
MSI KT4V Motherboard, integrated lan/sound

Before anyone yells at me for this, I realize the DDR33 ram and KT4V motherboard were kind of short-sighted buys. Anyways, in lieu of the X800 and 6800 series launches, I've been faced with kind of a connundrum. I can afford the Nvidia Geforce 6800 non-ultra, assuming that it costs the $300 everyone says it will. However, I can find a Radeon 9800 Pro for $200 at a store near me.

Given my processor, is it worth it to go for next-gen, or would it be better off to save that $100 and buy a Radeon 9800? I did some research, and the cards would be about neck-and-neck until the AA and AF come on, near 1280*1024, thanks to the CPU bottleneck of my Athlon. Of course, I want a future-proof card that will let me play Half Life 2, and Doom 3. The issue here is whether or not the 6800, with its 12 pipes and PS3, will be more future-proof than the 9800 to a degree that warrants its price.

I don't want this card to go out-of-date as soon as it hits my AGP slot, like my Geforce 4 MX did, and I'm willing to spend the big bucks.

What do you guys think? Splurge? Is it worth it?
Thanks in advance.

[MitaDC]

Well why don't u go for the 9800XT? Might be a little over budget but it will run all of the future games - I am sure of it. If not just wait and get the 6800NU

[byunews]

Dude, the XT is about $300, and performs negligably closely to the Pro. I don't think it's worth it to buy an XT right now, when the Pro does just as well for cheaper..

[Sixpac_XP]

I think the 9800 is a solid buy.. I have a 9500 Pro and it works like a charm.. I finished Far Cry on it with no problems at all at 1024x768 so I am sure the 9800 Pro will be a good card for the next year or two if you are a moderate gamer.

[byunews]

Yeah, the Radeon 9800 is a pretty solid sucker, and I don't really play that many games. I just want something to play HL2 on, and the odd game of BF:Nam and Ut2004 at LAN parties with my friends, with some nice AA settings, if possible. The 9800 can actually do 1600*1200 with AA on at very nice framerates.. I'm starting to think that the 6800 might not be necessary.

[MoboNewb]

ive been wondering the same thing actually, its a tough call with the 9800 getting so cheap, and the 6800 being so much better

[HeadBand]

it will be mid june-early july before you will be able to get your hands on a 6800 and even then it will not be $300 right away if you wait untill the 6800 is availible for $350 you will probobally be able to find an x800 pro for the same price or cheaper sooner than that

however a 9800 pro will still probobally be able to run hl2 and doom3 fairly well and you could use the extra money to buy a new motherboard and ram

[slinky]

I'd wait and see. In a matter of weeks, the new cards will hit stores and you'll start seeing some real reviews (and not previews). With that budget, you wouldn't want to feel regret after finding that you easily could have gotten twice the performance and much more future-proofing.

[byunews]

Also, I'm afraid I might waste $200 on the Radeon and have it drop in price a few weeks later. Thanks for the advice, I'll sit tight for a few weeks, maybe until the Geforce hits the stores.

[nwo75200]

If I had 300 bucks i would definitely spend it on the 6800 NU (isn't its 3dmark score like well over 10k!???) so that would mean its clearly twice as better than the 9800pro, don't go for the xt, its a waste, its pretty much the same as the 9800pro but costs a lot more-about 250 bucks min and the 6800 is $300 so the bottom line is go with the 6800!