[ZmaN]

I'm really stuck on this one. I can't spend MORE than 200 and I want the best card for the value, even if it means I ahve to go for open box items on newegg.

HIS X1950 pro 256MB: 159.99 after rebate
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005265

HIS X1900XT 256MB OPEN BOX: 139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161028R

Sapphire X1900XT 512MB OPEN BOX: 189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102025R

PNY Geforce 7900GS 256MB: 119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133186

XFX Geforce 8600GTS 256MB: 189.99
https://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321122

XFX 7950GT 512MB: 189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150197

If anyone's got recommendations that I didn't list, then that'd be sweet.

which of those cards above would you think is the best value for the money?

PS: A review with most of those video cards I listed: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/486/1/
PPS: Toms VGA CHarts: http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html

[DragonClaw]

You sure you can't spend more? For $250 you can get the new 8800 GT which is amazing for its price(I've heard it actually outperforms the 'old' GTS, which is a bit backwards as far as naming goes, but they are releasing a new GTS in about a week which is better)

[CP5670]

All of those choices are bad at this point. You could wait a few weeks for the 3870 to be out, which is supposed to be priced around $200. There are also many people offloading their 8800GTS (especially the 320MB ones) on ebay and upgrading to an 8800GT, so if you're willing to go used, those are worth looking at too.

Also, I have noticed you keep asking about computer hardware on here, but this isn't really the best place to get information on it. You'll get a lot more responses at some place like ATF or Hardforum.

[BTAvatar]

the 8800 GT is a great, GREAT, value. Wait for it and only joy will come of it...

[BloodEagle]

EVGA has never let me down.

My 7600GS plays the Crysis demo on medium settings with no problems. I've seen an 8600GT play it on the highest settings with no problems.

Let me say this again. EVGA has never let me down.

[Scuddie]

An 8600GT?  Playing Crysis?  With no problems?

You, sir, need higher standards.

[Koth]

I'm still on an 7800GTX and I was amazed to I could play it on mid to high settings. Go Crytek!

[CP5670]

An 8600GT?  Playing Crysis?  With no problems?

You, sir, need higher standards.

Well, I've seen people with 7300/X1300 class cards saying it runs great.

From the framerates I see others reporting, there is no current hardware that runs it well on the "very high" settings - you would need something about 4x as fast as an 8800 Ultra for that - and it doesn't look remarkably better than other recent games on lower settings.

[ZmaN]

Alright.  Maybe I should spend the extra 100 bucks now instead of later.

Hows this card look:

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-XLR8-8800GT-512MB-Graphics/dp/B000XD1JJK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4313302-5820019?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1194362335&sr=1-1

[BloodEagle]

I've heard that PNY cards overheat like crazy.

[ZmaN]

I've heard that PNY cards overheat like crazy.

then i guess tis a good thing it sold out on me....


alright guys another dilemma.

2 HIS X1900XT's 256MB will cost about as much as a single 8800GT 512.

According to toms charts, two X1900XT's 265MB are about as fast as a single 8800GTX, meaning that they are faster than the 8800GT.


So should I do a crossfire setup instead?

[jr2]

How fast is a BFG 8600 GT OC2?  How about two of them in SLi mode?  $109.99 after $60 rebate, perhaps two of these would do you good.  IDK, just an idea for you guys to kick around.

Tech specs

[CP5670]

The PNY cards are identical to any of the other Nvidia brands with reference clocks. The cards are all manufactured by the same company anyway.

As for crossfire, you need a master card to crossfire the X1900s, which are way overpriced due to low supply. In any case, a single 8800GTX is much faster in recent games. You're probably looking at old reviews.

[jr2]

BFG NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS OC 256MB PCIe

Performance
GPU   NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS
Core Clock   710MHz (vs. 675MHz standard)
Memory
Video Memory   256MB
Memory Type   GDDR3
Memory Data Rate   2000MHz
Memory Bandwidth   32GB/sec.
Connections
Bus Type   PCI Express x16
Connector(s)   2 Dual-Link DVI-I, HDTV + TV Out
Multiple Monitor Support   Yes
HDCP   Yes (Requires other compatible components which are HDCP capable. Designed to meet the output protection management (HDCP) and security specifications of the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, allowing the playback of encrypted movie content on PCs when connected to HDCP-compliant displays)
RAMDACs   Dual 400MHz

[Bob-san]

Just try to afford a GeForce 8800GT--they're the best card for the money. According to the November "Best Card for the Money", there are no cards really worth buying, at least between $130 and $250.

[ZmaN]

Alright i'm going to buy this one:

XFX Geforce 8800GT Extreme
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10007128

zipzoomfly has it for 250.  idk how but new egg has it for 40 bucks more.

If I miss that boat then I'll just get the regular XFX 8800GT:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10007125

idk why the prices are like that.  I'm just gunna have to pray they stay that way, lol.


8800GT is my final choice.

Piar that with the Asus P5K-E motherboard and E2180 processor on a GeminII cooler and we're hitting 3 ghz!!!!  Maybe I can factor another 80 bucks to RAID the 250 GB sata I bought.

[Bob-san]

Nice graphics card choice. Anyway--if you use an E2160, you can hit 3.2+GHz with great ease. I'm using an E2140 because I'm going for a full 100% on a Scythe Infinity.

[ZmaN]

well i only said i wanted to use a 2180 because I am guaranteed an M0 stepping versus the older slower L2 stepping.

Bu if you know some loop hole around that please do tell!


edit:  anyways, since I had this wierd feeling that the Extreme 8800GT was NOT going to be at 250 once they get it in (if they ever do, i called them and they said they don't know when), so I decided I should jsut go for the regular one and overclock the extra 50 mhz core and 100 mhz memory myself.  It looks like a gorgeous card, and it comes with a copy of Lost Planet, totally free!

So basically I paid $140 more, but instead of saving i ended up with:

Brand new card (not open box)
Lifetime Warranty (30 days on the Open box)
All accessories (none in the open box)
free Lost Planet! (again, nothing in the open box)
and the 8800GT is still faster!

Oh, I bought my motherboard too.  It should be here around the same time.
Unfortunatly I went to buy the processor, and mistakened the processor for a pentium D, so I didn't buy it.  Only to find out an hour later that it was actually the E2180 i wanted anyway.

oh well.

[BloodEagle]

It looks like a gorgeous card, and it comes with a copy of Lost Planet, totally free!

[...]
free Lost Planet! (again, nothing in the open box)
[...]

I wouldn't get too excited about that. *yawn*

[ZmaN]

It looks like a gorgeous card, and it comes with a copy of Lost Planet, totally free!

[...]
free Lost Planet! (again, nothing in the open box)
[...]

I wouldn't get too excited about that. *yawn*

wanna hook me up with something else then?