Somebody buy me a new video card!

2006-11-25 23:17:23

#1

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME READING THIS UNLESS YOU THINK GRAPHICS CARDS ARE INTERESTING AND LIKE SHOPPING AROUND FOR THEM

I don't know anything about the GPU industry or what makes cards good and how to choose them. I also dont know where to get the best prices. I also don't have time or patience to learn all of this during finals so that i have a pimped out computer ready for me come winter break.

Conversely, I know many people that frequent this site love their GPUs and know all about how to choose the best ones for the best prices. I bet a lot of you could say what the best choices are for each price level at any given moment. Its you folks that i am hoping to hear from.

So here goes: I've got like $200 to spend on the best possible card. I have an asus a8n-e motherboard (939 socket) with pci express.

Just post links or your advice and i will be your friend forever.

2006-11-25 23:38:39

#2

RandomSchl: |\/|€|\/|ß€|2; +52|6452|California

at best a nvidia 7900 GS or an ati radeon X1800 GTO

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi … ategory=48

2006-11-26 00:08:32

#3

DeCon_1: Member; +16|6529|Atlanta, Georga U.S.A.

Here you go this card should do you fine:
XFX 7900GS
256MB 256-bit GDDR3
PCI Express x16
$184.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814150208

https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/14-150-208-03.JPG

2006-11-26 00:20:59

#4

slicknic: Member; +145|6634

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/10/31/ … page2.html

they are sayin go w/ the x1950

id but it from newegg too.

2006-11-26 00:34:27

#5

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

damn, i only see the x1950 pro on newegg for $240 or more... is the 7900gs better than the x1800gto? thanks so much.

2006-11-26 02:53:30

#6

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6501|N. Ireland

x1800gto ftw.

2006-11-26 03:04:48

#7

Bell: Frosties > Cornflakes; +362|6557|UK

Marinejuana wrote:
damn, i only see the x1950 pro on newegg for $240 or more... is the 7900gs better than the x1800gto? thanks so much.

Kind of, its down more so to a preference, some guys are loyal to the ati brand or nvidia, I my self would take the 7900 over the ati card, but that's me.

http://forums.bf2s.com/viewtopic.php?id=49638 ryan_14's very good guide, I am not sure how up to date the prices are but I suggest before you spend a dime, look at that.

Martyn

Last edited by Bell (2006-11-26 03:07:09)

2006-11-26 03:11:07

#8

=Karma-Kills=: "Don't post while intoxicated."; +356|6592|England

Take your pic

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi … ategory=48

TBH the 1st one doesnt look too bad even thought ive never heard of the brand it comes stock overclocked.

2006-11-26 03:22:50

#9

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

does brand of the card usually matter much or is it all about the chip?

I just dont know if i should be looking for the lowest possible priced x1950 pro made by whatever brand or if i should go for an x1800gto/7900 gs by somebody like asus or evga that ive heard of. The price ranges between these do overlap but im not sure if its smart to buy the one x1950 pro card that randomly costs $50 less. (i am also having trouble finding any sites that have $200 x1950 pros in stock. does this mean the x1950 pro is about to be discontinued or is it just a price point that sells out?).

And i really appreciate all the advice, i know u guys are going out of your way to be helpful.

Last edited by Marinejuana (2006-11-26 03:26:27)

2006-11-26 03:33:13

#10

Bell: Frosties > Cornflakes; +362|6557|UK

X1950 pro isn’t exactly about to be discontinued, but the new Dx10 card's are out, nvidia atm are the only one who have them and there something like $500 for the cheaper version. ATI do not have a dx10 card out so for now x1950 is there top dog, however it IS going to be replaced in around 2 months so site's are now beginning to offload there stock at sale prices. For us consumers this is great, better card's for lower prices, however, after you’ve spent your $200 on a graphics card, it will be completely out dated in 2 months. DX10 games are on the way and these older card's as far as I know the dx9 cards (like 7900 and x1950) are NOT compatible, tbh this is a bad time to buy a 'budget' card, what with the new gen on the way. If you MUST have a new card then I say get the 7600GT, brand etc hardly differ in what you actually get hardware wise, some offer better warranties, some over clock the card or offer a free game, so you need to consider that to.

7600GT will run almost every game on a high setting for around $100 and when dx10 are in full swing, you won’t be as pissed that you only spent $100 rather than $200 on an obsolete card.

Martyn

Last edited by Bell (2006-11-26 03:35:09)

2006-11-26 04:06:42

#11

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|6724

8800gt.

https://cache.www.gametracker.com/server_info/203.46.105.23:21300/b_350_20_692108_381007_FFFFFF_000000.png

2006-11-26 04:07:44

#12

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

whoa, that complicates things a lot.

how long will it be before most games are on dx10? just 2 months? that sucks then. it sounds like the only way into a newer, better card (than my 6800XT -- supposedly similar to the 6600GT) is by going with the 8800 series that costs way too much.

this just doesnt sound right. i believe you when u say that current cards wont work with dx10 games. but considering the hardware for dx10 games is only coming out this month, i would be so surprised to hear that game developers were, in the span of a couple months, going to release games solely for the group that had bought expensive new cards in the last 2 months. i mean wouldnt those developers just make no fcking money because most gamers dont own the newest most insanely expensive stuff?

can some other people weigh in on this? is there a good article i should read that addresses whether current cards are even worth buying right now? i cant help but assume that it will be another year before the current gen cards are so obsolete that games wont even run with them.

i think going from a 6800XT to a 7600 GT might not make as much sense as just going for something like the 7900 gs or x1800 gto.

2006-11-26 04:09:03

#13

MuseSeeker: 2142 Soldier: Behenaut; +110|6783|EUR

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
8800gt.

Way to read the post he was asking for one under $200

-

I would say a 7900GS or save a tiny bit more for the GT version

2006-11-26 04:26:22

#14

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814125038

after rebate thats $209 for a 7900gt. is that better than a $200 x1950 pro?

2006-11-26 05:20:07

#15

Bell: Frosties > Cornflakes; +362|6557|UK

What about just sli'n your 6800? Does your mb support that? Games like alan wake etc are all dx 10 WONT work on these old card's, its much like how consoles work, they still make the games for both gen's, but over a said period of time the older gen get's phazed out. Most of the big budget long awaited releases of this year are going to dx10, I would of thought theres some sort of dx9 support, but in computers they seem to chuck the old for new and if u dont upgrade the to hell with u.....

Between a 7900gt and x1950 pro take the ati card (I thought you where looking at the x1800 :S)

Martyn

2006-11-26 08:01:43

#16

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6609|132 and Bush

Hey I'm selling a 7950 for $150 .

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2006-11-26 08:04:52

#17

=Karma-Kills=: "Don't post while intoxicated."; +356|6592|England

Kmarion wrote:
Hey I'm selling a 7950 for $150 .

This man is what you want! Problem solved. 7950 > Any single 7 series

Last edited by =Karma-Kills= (2006-11-26 08:05:30)

2006-11-26 09:39:43

#18

doc. josh: Member; +48|6553

yea get the 7950GX2 its the best card so far. Except that one 8800GTs beats it in quad sli Just save up some more money and get a n 8800GTX like me

Last edited by doc. josh (2006-11-26 09:41:10)

2006-12-01 15:29:40

#19

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

i have always heard the advice: never buy the brand new top of the line PC upgrade. I couldnt possibly spend 500 on a card that will be 250 in 6 months. right now i just want to get whatever was pimp shit 6 months ago and im sure it will be awesome for bf2 and some other random games over the next year. I am not one of those gamers that has to try every game and needs to always have insanely high detail.

if i was still getting those magical living-with-my-parents xmas gifts, i would def push the 8800 issue, but there is no chance these days. Im gonna be lucky if i can get my parents to throw down 100.

I pretty much only play BF2 and i think its unfortunate that i sometimes get gfx slowdowns with my 6800xt. i figure with a 7900 or x1900 or something i will get pretty perfect bf2 performance. and maybe i will even be able to take some setting off of "low" or run fraps.

my MB does not support SLi so that wont work.

This $150 7950 sounds awesome. what brand and stuff is it? is there more to the model name than 7950 (ie, gs gt or something)? am i right in thinking that this is as good or better than the x1950 pro???

thank you guys so much, sorry i took a couple days to reply this time.

Last edited by Marinejuana (2006-12-01 15:34:09)

2006-12-01 15:38:33

#20

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|6590|SE London

How about an XFX 7900GT?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814150195

$190 (after rebate).

2006-12-01 17:01:21

#21

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,053|6780|PNW

BFG Tech GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 565/1430MHz - $260 ($240 after mail-in rebate)

My recommendation. Slightly more expensive than others, but worth the price for the extra memory. Two of these in SLI would be pretty sweet, though for $500 you'd be looking at a G80 instead.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-12-01 17:02:12)

2006-12-01 17:11:35

#22

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

thanks, ill think about the $240 one, i dont have sli though. im still really hoping to hear back from kmarion about the 150 one.

Last edited by Marinejuana (2006-12-01 17:12:05)

2006-12-01 17:15:21

#23

dubbs: Member; +105|6640|Lexington, KY

=Karma-Kills= wrote:
Take your pic

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi … ategory=48

TBH the 1st one doesnt look too bad even thought ive never heard of the brand it comes stock overclocked.

You my friend have not heard of BFG?

I recommend the 7900 as everyone else is. I have used both ATI and Nvidia, and think that Nvidia has a better product, comparted to their price tag.

2006-12-01 18:05:12

#24

majorassult: I <3 ak101; +307|6671|under there hayousaidunderwear

If I was you I would go with Kmarions card...and he's good with computers so you know the card is in good shape.

2006-12-01 22:28:31

#25

Marinejuana: local; +415|6593|Seattle

i forgot to check back here for the last four days, i hope he didnt already sell it!

BF2S Forums Somebody buy me a new video card!

Marinejuana wrote:

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

=Karma-Kills= wrote:

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