Is this a good card?

[rochin]

Hello,

I have been doing some checking and have found this HIS x800gto.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=50002058&Subcategory=&description=x800gto&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice=

I am leaning more towards the refurb because of cost. So for the 135.00 is this a good deal. Do not start saying refurbs are crap, I have had many many many refurbs and have had no problems at all. I will be building a new system about this time next year so I am thinking this card should get me through till then. If this card is not a good deal, please give me another option.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Here are my system specs

P4 3.4 H/T
1.5 GB DDR2 400 Ram
Nvidia 6600 128 MB (plain)
160 GB HD
~400 Watt PSU

 

[sleepdeprived82]

yep its a nice card, huge overclocking potential normaly.
I cant comment on the price but here they are £135 or about $250.

I got mine as a gap filler untill I can warrant the £400 on the top cards, but also for the huge ocing they offer.

Also the HIS has a nice cooler, mine has the standard cooler and still allows decent ocing

 

[spontayo]

Go for the Saphire GTO2, is will unlock to 16 pipes and X850PE speeds.

 

[rochin]

Well newegg does have one of them for 120 bucks. As far as messing with the card, I am not a "hardcore" gamer or overclocker so why would I need the extra 4, besides to say I did it?

 

[spontayo]

To increase the performance of the card. Imagine if you will a 16 lane highway with 4 lanes closed due to construction. By unlocking the 4 extra pipes it's like opening up those 4 closed lanes to traffic. It will increase data bandwidth and increase performance.

 

[rochin]

To increase the performance of the card. Imagine if you will a 16 lane highway with 4 lanes closed due to construction. By unlocking the 4 extra pipes it's like opening up those 4 closed lanes to traffic. It will increase data bandwidth and increase performance.

I understand, but if i wanted the 16 pipes I would buy a 16 pipe card. Problem with that is I do not want to spend over 150 bucks on a video card. As I have said im not a "Hardcore" gamer. If the game looks good and plays good I am happy. My current card works good, I am looking for a card that will last about a year. My 6600 is not such a card.

 

[dvdpiddy]

yes its verygood and for 2 hundred its a steal get it while their cheap!

 

[FlyGuy]

Definitely a decent card, the heatsink is made by Arctic Cooling and is kick azz.

 

[mdd1963]

"As I have said im not a "Hardcore" gamer. If the game looks good and plays good I am happy. My current card works good, I am looking for a card that will last about a year. My 6600 is not such a card."

If your current card is indeed fine at what you play at *NOW*, then I'd delay changing anything until you are unhappy with it's framerates delivered at your chosen resolutions....

Yes, a 6600 is getting a bit slow by todays standards....but you don't want to spend $140 on a card that is only marginally faster....do you? (most want a 50% improvement in video card upgrades)

Attempting to future proof your rig for future games while limiting yourself to $140 budget is admirable fiscal discipline, but not really feasible. I'd be looking to delay the upgrade until you can afford a PCI-e mb and at least a 7800GT....

 

[rochin]

ok lets compare video cards

current
6600
128 MB DDR
64 bit
8 pipes
clocked at 300/500 currently at 363/637

HIS x800gto
256 MB GDDR3
256 bit
12 pipes.
clocked at 500/1000

Edit: and yes I would love a 7800gt but it will be about a year until they get to be under 150 bucks. At that time I will be spending a great deal on a totally new system. For now I am just trying to get this current system through till next year. I currently have a PCI-E MB.
How in the world is the X800gto not much faster??