Need help with budget gaming card.

[johnnyb0yvba]

Hi, im making a new comp for my cousin and he wanted something similar to my comp. I have all the same parts, except for the 939socket board he has. His board has a pcie slot, while mine has an agp with a 9600xt card. What pcie card do u guys recommend i use that has the same performance as a 9600xt. thx

 

[cleeve]

You could find a geforce 6600 or Radeon X1300 PRO for about $100. Either of those would be a bit better than your 9600 XT.

If he can afford up to $150, an X800 GT would be even better

Around $200 would be the 6800 GS.

 

[johnnyb0yvba]

thx for reply, think imma get the x1300pro then. It sounds newer n prolly better.

 

[doublehelix]

Dude, go with a 6600GT. It's the best moneyerformace ratio. I've been very happy with my MSI 6600GT. In fact, running stock I was around 3400 on 3DMark05, with some good OCin' I brought the performace up to 4100+

Don't go ATI. I thought about 'em but after all the problems my friends have had I went with (and stuck through with) nVidia. It'll beat that x1300pro hands down...

I think you can find a solid 6600GT 128mb video card for <$160

 

[johnnyb0yvba]

isn't 128mb of ram a little too low.. and for a higher price.. i'll ask him what he thinks about it though o.o

 

[pauldh]

Dude, go with a 6600GT. It's the best moneyerformace ratio. I've been very happy with my MSI 6600GT. In fact, running stock I was around 3400 on 3DMark05, with some good OCin' I brought the performace up to 4100+

Don't go ATI. I thought about 'em but after all the problems my friends have had I went with (and stuck through with) nVidia. It'll beat that x1300pro hands down...

I think you can find a solid 6600GT 128mb video card for <$160

While I'll agree with the 6600GT being far better, I totally disagree with the don't go ATI bit. That's just plain rediculous noobish talk. Don't go ATI because your friend had issues? Oh brother, do you know how that sounds on a forum like this? I have used 50+ of each to give a safe estimate, and either company is just fine to go with. This forum is full of people happily using ATI cards.

Anyway, he'd be dumb not to consider ATI. Matter of fact, an X800 12 pipe can often cost less than a 6600GT and also outperforms it more often than not. My last one was well under $100 after rebate for a 12-pipe 256-bit memory card! Honesly, with every card I buy it's price/performance I look at. ATI or NV; it just doesn't matter, unless it's a specific game or feature you are looking for that would make you lean one way or the other.

Side note, maybe he doesn't want his friends system to be better than his.

 

[pauldh]

Don't worry about the amount of RAM. In a budget card, you don't want to go with a 256MB card as you will get a slower card for the money. Example, a 128MB GF6600GT is much better than a 256MB GF6600 (non-gt) But even the 6600 beats out the 9600XT. Put it this way, the X700 pro and 6600GT beat out the 9800 pro. Anyway go down the list as far as he can afford as the cards get faster as they go down. Here in the USA, these are all under $200.

GF 6600
X1300 pro/ X700 (trade blows)
X700 pro
GF 6600GT/ X800GT
X800
X800GTO
GF 6800GS

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/digest3d/index0510.html

 

[johnnyb0yvba]

ok, he didn't want to spend much over 100, so guess im picking the x800gto now, lol. it's just 10 bux more and i guess it seems a lot better than the x1300pro. the 6800 is probably a bit too much. this is getting a little confusing though. Lets hope no one gives any more diff suggestions.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102620

this a good deal?

 

[bobbydamm]

x800gto.
Reminds me of a very fast car.
way to go.
GTO.
You can press 16 pipes outa those if ya try .....
good choice.
Budget Card.

 

[pauldh]

Wow, that's a nice card for the money. You won't get better performance for $100. They don't list the clocks, which I'd like to see. It should be higher than a plain X800 128MB. Only other issue with that card, is I suspect the X700 style heatsink/fan might get loud.

OK, it seems the 128MB GTO is clocked 400/700 as opposed to 400/980 like the 256MB version. SO it's basically just like the 392/700 X800 128MB. Still beats out a 6600GT in all but a few games, so it offers a good bang for the $110.