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Best GPU under $100

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Best GPU under $100

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lunyone   10-16-2006 at 03:36:48 PM

I was just wondering what would be the best GPU under $100 right now. I have a build coming up and need to put in a GPU under $100 including shipping. I found a x800GTO on newegg for about $92 and wonder if that is the best that there is out there. Thanks in advance for any responses:)

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mkaibear   10-16-2006 at 03:51:52 PM
- 0 +

Sounds good. Have a look at the Toms Hardware video charts and do a quick $/fps analysis in the games you play to find out what's best for you!

Reply to mkaibear
Cleeve   10-16-2006 at 05:26:52 PM
- 0 +

I think you probably found it.

Reply to Cleeve
frankienyc123   10-16-2006 at 06:59:12 PM
- 0 +

You have a few choices at the $100 range. But I think the x800gto and x850xt are the best nbang for your buck gaming cards out there right now. And even though they are already a generation old they still can perform very good with most games. Im not a gamer but I do play very ocasionally and I use an ATI AIW 800xl and it runs all the games ive treid very smooth at 1280x1024 at mid-high settings.,

One thing to consider is that DX10 cards should be out soon, u may want to save a few more bucks and see what happenes in the next few months after Vista is released. The prices of DX9 cards should drop and it would give u more options.

BTW what is the rest of your system like? What resolution is ur screen?

Reply to frankienyc123
lunyone   10-17-2006 at 12:57:49 AM
- 0 +

Okay this system is as budget as it can almost get. So here it is:

CPU $55
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1.8GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103537

Motherboard $73
MSI K8N Neo4-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130491

Case/PSU $77
Antec Solution SLK1650 Beige Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129149

DVD Burner $37
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache ATAPI/E-IDE 16X DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106013

Hard Drive $63
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3160811AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148149

Memory $120
G.SKILL 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231012

Video Card $93
POWERCOLOR X800GTO256MBDDR3 Radeon X800GTO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131007

I think I might try AM2 based system, but I would have to put in a Sempron processor, just because of the cost (<=$500 shipped).

With this setup (no tax) the total is $501.37, which I can talk the friend into the $1.37 more than budget.

What do you think of this setup for the money? I'm leary of other brands, just because of some experience with them (Chaintech mobo, POMAX cases/PSU's combo's, etc.) so if there is something better than this setup, please let me know. I think I have all the bases covered, but I'm not an expert by any means. I've only built like 8 systems in the last 2 years, so I'm always looking to improve where I need to, in order to make more stable and inexpensive systems.

Thank you in advance for your replys.

Reply to lunyone
Vinny   10-17-2006 at 01:03:48 AM
- 0 +

I had that card... it was a solid performer but you can find the Sapphire X850XT for the same price after rebate usually. It's a much better card (saw a 50% performance increase over my that PowerColor when I had it).

But you can't really go wrong with the X800GTO either, it's very quite and feels study. The Sapphire X850XT is loud... sounds like a freakin' hairdryer but I stuck a Arctic Silencer 5 (another $20) on it so now I can't even hear it.

Reply to Vinny
lunyone   10-17-2006 at 01:30:39 AM
- 0 +

oh and by the way, the resolutions should be around 1024x768, since my friend is using an older CRT for their monitor.

Reply to lunyone
rwaritsdario   10-17-2006 at 07:07:40 AM
- 0 +

Going AM2 should come up to about the same.
this 1GB stick is only $95 and its good mushkin quality.

The MSI K9N Neo-F is a great motherboard with a modern chipset and really cheap. Perfect for the budget.

The Samsung SpinPoint are really good reliable hard drives (not as fast ad the 7200.10 though) that will be cheeper than the seagate.

Try getting an Athlong 64 CPU with the few bucks youll save, even the cheapest is definetly worth the money over a Sempron.

Nice pick on the X800GTO.

Reply to rwaritsdario
lunyone   10-17-2006 at 07:35:59 AM
- 0 +

If I tweak it with what you mention, then the price goes up to $511.82 with shipping, which I could adjust if they are willing to get the 80gig hard drive, which is not worth the $10 difference (if you ask me). So I'm going to recommend the AM2 system, since that is the one that I'd prefer anyway. Thanks for all of your inputs:)

P.S. I forgot about the $10 MIR that would make the system the same price as the s939 system.

Reply to lunyone
rwaritsdario   10-17-2006 at 08:16:47 AM
- 0 +

Quote :


P.S. I forgot about the $10 MIR that would make the system the same price as the s939 system.



lol told you it'd come up to the same.
What Athlon 64 CPU did you pick?

Reply to rwaritsdario
lunyone   10-17-2006 at 08:26:52 AM
- 0 +

Just the lowest possible one, the 3200+ I think is what newegg had.

Reply to lunyone
lunyone   10-17-2006 at 02:40:44 PM
- 0 +

Is Mushkin good quality RAM? I usually buy Corsair, but I'm usually not the one limiting the budget for this build. I'm just not familiar with all of the different (lower priced) RAM out there. I hear that GSkill, Patriot, & A Data are probably good, but I don't know for sure (just what I've read).

Reply to lunyone
rwaritsdario   10-17-2006 at 03:07:22 PM
- 0 +

Mushkin is REALLY good quality. Corsair is just filled with marketing hype and blah. And if you take a closer look, that isnt "value" RAM theyve even got heatspreaders so maybe they even got some headroom for OCing. There was a couple of other for $5 cheaper but they didnt have the full specs and most ppl seem to have trouble with them now THAT I dont trust, but these sure ild buy them for myself hehe

Reply to rwaritsdario
lunyone   10-17-2006 at 03:33:13 PM
- 0 +

nice! thanks for the information. I aways try to use quality known products, so I don't have to go back and fix/replace them.

Reply to lunyone
enforcerfx   10-17-2006 at 08:58:06 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

Okay this system is as budget as it can almost get. So here it is:

CPU $55
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1.8GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103537

Motherboard $73
MSI K8N Neo4-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130491

Case/PSU $77
Antec Solution SLK1650 Beige Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129149

DVD Burner $37
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache ATAPI/E-IDE 16X DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106013

Hard Drive $63
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3160811AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148149

Memory $120
G.SKILL 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231012

Video Card $93
POWERCOLOR X800GTO256MBDDR3 Radeon X800GTO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131007

I think I might try AM2 based system, but I would have to put in a Sempron processor, just because of the cost (<=$500 shipped).

With this setup (no tax) the total is $501.37, which I can talk the friend into the $1.37 more than budget.

What do you think of this setup for the money? I'm leary of other brands, just because of some experience with them (Chaintech mobo, POMAX cases/PSU's combo's, etc.) so if there is something better than this setup, please let me know. I think I have all the bases covered, but I'm not an expert by any means. I've only built like 8 systems in the last 2 years, so I'm always looking to improve where I need to, in order to make more stable and inexpensive systems.

Thank you in advance for your replys.



Missing windows? The total for that CPU and motherboard comes to 128 bucks. Get this, and save the 28:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103023

Good luck :D

Reply to enforcerfx
pauldh   10-18-2006 at 12:00:04 AM
- 0 +

And then put the $28 into the GPU stepping up to a 7600GT or X850XTpe for $110-120.

Reply to pauldh
rwaritsdario   10-18-2006 at 12:48:29 AM
- 0 +

No because thats an s939 combo. And an OEM CPU, hell have to spend in getting a HSF and the DDR 400 memory that was about $20 more.

Reply to rwaritsdario
lunyone   10-18-2006 at 07:02:23 AM
- 0 +

Is ECS a good motherboard manufacturer? I've heard stories from friends who have bought them (from Fry's) and had to return them several times.

Reply to lunyone
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