Which video card? ATI AIW 9600XT or 9800 Pro? Please help!

[etecnifibre]

I'm having trouble here deciding which video card to get. I've had two ATI AIW cards (7500 and 8500 128MB), and now want to upgrade again.

The 9600XT shows a faster clock speed on the chipset than the 9800Pro, but a slower memory clock speed. Also, the interface with the 9600XT would be something a little different than what I have now.

The 9600XT supports dual monitors, correct? Also, the square DVI output on the 9600, does that include a line out for input to your sound card? I've also noticed that the 9600 has two coax jacks. What is that all about?

All I use my card for is video capture, no gaming. Any advice would be appreciated!!

One more question. Say I go with the 9600 XT, will I be able to buy a cable that will convert the square DVI output to a regular output in which to hook an LCD monitor to?

Once again, thanks very much.

[lordsmurf]

If you only capture, don't waste your money.

The cards you have now are Theatre 100 technology. The Theatre 200 technology on newer cards has not changed much.

If you have no problems with the old cards, no reason to upgrade.

[etecnifibre]

LordSmurf, just the person I was hoping for in this thread.
One trouble I have during video capture with my 8500 is that the video will sometimes "lag". It's a 4X and the clock speed, well, you know all this.
So do you think an upgrade will help? I'm running
p4c 3 ghz
Gigabyte 8ik1100
2 x 512 crucial
120 sata maxtor
80 sata maxtor (capture disk)
Thanks again.

[zod5000]

if you don't like the capturing.. maybe by a standalone capture card?

I run my 9800 pro all by itself (didn't want the all-in-wonder or whatever its called).. I run an old ASUS TV Tuner i got on ebay a year or 2 ago and it works great.

maybe another capture card will help... i also find my computer does better capturing if i used my 2nd hard drive as the working hard drive where it saves the data too.. rather then putting all the stress on the 1st hard drive.

actually i do that for alot of things.. let the first hard drive run the os, and save most things to the the 2nd hard drive. so if i need to copy it or save it again i go to the opposite drive. I find it makes capturing chunk free and smoothes things out.

[lordsmurf]

LordSmurf, just the person I was hoping for in this thread.
One trouble I have during video capture with my 8500 is that the video will sometimes "lag". It's a 4X and the clock speed, well, you know all this.
So do you think an upgrade will help? I'm running
p4c 3 ghz
Gigabyte 8ik1100
2 x 512 crucial
120 sata maxtor
80 sata maxtor (capture disk)
Thanks again.

Are you referring to audio sync? Or graphics delays? What exactly lags? Most of these issues are not at all related to the ATI.

[MOVIEGEEK]

My .02,
If you are only going to capture then get the 9600XT,if you are also a gamer get the 9800 Pro.Yes the 9600XT has a higher CPU and memory speed but only 4 pipelines,the 9800 Pro has 8 pipelines and can deliver higher fps.You can use the DVI connector for CRT,the interface cost $10USD.
In the meantime try lowering the resolution to 800x600 and refreshrate to 85hz when capturing.

[etecnifibre]

LS - Most of the time, just a small video lag. Every once in a while, I'll get audio that is real fast at the beginning of a basketball game, then will even out a few minutes into it. This is a real ass pain.
Thanks to everyone else for the input.

[lordsmurf]

Audio card ?

[etecnifibre]

Right now, I have a CT4750 Creative 16 bit card. I have a Gigabyte MB, 8IK1100, 20 bit sound (Realtek AC 97), but have been unsuccessful with my line in capturing sound very well. Do you recommend a new sound card, maybe a 24 bit? I have to admit, I don't know a whole lot about sound cards and such, and my computer knowledge, while probably more than most people, ends with really understanding what is going on electronically in the system (I worked electronics in the Navy pretty deep, but just have really never had much need to learn modern stuff on computers that deep.)

[lordsmurf]

Yes, get a new card. SoundBlaster or Santa Cruz make good ones.

[etecnifibre]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-102-166&depa=0
How's this? Thanks in advance for your help.

[lordsmurf]

Not Audigy.

[etecnifibre]

Looking down the list there on NewEgg, all I see by Creative are Sound Blaster Audigy's. I'm a little unclear on what you mean. Could you recommend one in the 40-50 dollar range? Do you mean a different brand than Creative?

[lordsmurf]

SoundBlaster Live series
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz