Card to hold me over until 8600Ultra

[Xpyrofuryx]

Ok, well I am getting the 8600Ultra once that comes out in March. But what card should I get to hold me over until then. I have an integrated 7300LE. Which sucks ass. So, Ive decided im getting a new card. I was going to go with the x1900GT, until i found out my PSU might now be able to handle it. So what card should I get thats below $150? I was thinking either a 7600GT or a x1600PRO. or something along those lines

 

[lambofgode3x]

doesn't really matter which one you go with. either flip a coin, or do some research and see which one is the best back for the buck in that price range. they both perform basically the same.

 

[niz]

why don't you put up with it for 8 weeks, and save the $150, then get an 8800 GTX instead of an 8600 ultra with the money you saved.

 

[phamily]

haha, yeaa... save the money for the temp card and spend the money saved ontop of what you were originally going to spend on the 8600ultra. It is only until march. been waiting all this time, a couple of months wont hurt will it?

 

[jaguarskx]

Okay, you want to spend $150 for a GPU now that will last you a couple of months so that you can buy a 8600Ultra that will probably cost $200. That's a total of $350 + the cost of shipping for two GPUs.

If you can deal with a $35 mail in rebate, then you should buy a 8800GTS which will end up costing you $365 + the cost of shipping.

Be smart just get a damn 8800GTS for a few dollars more and better performance than the 8600Ultra.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122018

 

[niz]

>> why don't you put up with it for 8 weeks, and save the $150, then get an 8800 GTX instead of an 8600 ultra with the money you saved.

err.. .I just realised, he doesnt even have to wait 8 weeks if he already has the cash, as the 8800's are out already.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Now that's thinking! :tongue:

GTS makes alot of sense, and compared to the hassle of two buys and a resale at least, just go for the GTS or at least the cheap 320MB GTS, either way better now and will last longer and give better gameplay than the GF8600U.

The only way buying interim etc would've made sense is if the GTS wasn't already selling, or he was waiting for the R6xx series, which he doesn't seem to be.

 

[enewmen]

I would suggest the x1650 Pro.
this is one of the cheapest cards ~$100 that can play anything (at least on reduced settings).
If your 7300 sucks hard dogs and you need some muscle, get the x1950 XT or 7950GT.

I will personally just tough it out a couple of months. Maybe by then there will be a R600 board you like.

 

[Xpyrofuryx]

Well, see, the thing is. My 7300LE wont play the games I want. So I just wanted a card that could play them until I get the 8600U. So, yeash, i could wait the 8 weeks, but during those 8 weeks I cant play any of my games I want

 

[ikaz]

My question is what makes you think your PSU will be able to handle the 8600 when it comes out if you can't handle a 1900GT ? You may want to spend some money on a PSU and if you still can't wait go ahead and look for used cards on ebay or something.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Well, see, the thing is. My 7300LE wont play the games I want...

I doubt that.
It probably won't play near the settings you want, but I don't know of a single game that has a spec higher than the GF7300 as it's entry level min spec with low settings.

Hey if you need it now, then there's alot of options mentioned, and like NIZ mentioned, if you have to have it now then get a plain GTS instead of mucking about.

 

[Maxdad007]

I would probably just get the PSU now, since you will have to buy that any ways, and then get the best card you can with the remaining cash to hold you over.

 

[Maxdad007]

One other thing that I forgot to ask is what are the specs on the 8600? I have been looking to upgrade my 7800gt and was wondering what the differences are between that and the 8800gts.

 

[Talon]

You've suffered this long. I would have to say save the $ til then and maybe buy an even higher card than the 8600Ultra with the extra money you'd spend now.

If you insist on upgrading now then get the 7600GT vs the x1600pro. The 7600GT is not equal, it is most definitely the better card. Most benchmarks put the 7600GT at nearly twice as fast in OpenGL games and even in Oblivion which is usally ATI cards dominion the 7600GT trashes the x1600Pro.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

If you insist on upgrading now then get the 7600GT vs the x1600pro. The 7600GT is not equal, it is most definitely the better card. Most benchmarks put the 7600GT at nearly twice as fast in OpenGL games and even in Oblivion which is usally ATI cards dominion the 7600GT trashes the x1600Pro.

Actually that last part is wrong.
The GF7600GT does well on average but has far more deep trough of minimum fps in Oblivion. In everything else though the GF7600GT will beat the X1600Pro handily, but with Oblivion it's about stable framerates and the X1600P beats the GF7600GT there, and also offers features not available on the GT.

BTW they aren't the same price so the comparo is a little off. The X1650Pro (which is essentially and OC'ed X1600XT) is closer to the GT's pricing, as is the X1650XT. The X1650P has pretty much replaced the X1600P for most current lineups, but the X1600P is still widely available due to old stock.

However, the cheap GF7900GS out there ($145 after rebate) is a far better option that any of those though IMO.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150208
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814186003

And there's a bunch of others for around the same price with different features. Hard to beat that price.

And then there's the 'Extreme' for a few more bucks;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150202

 

[dos1986]

Yup agree with Great Ape get the 7900GS for $145 great card will be a incredible upgrade from the 7300LE

 

[zenmaster]

Sweetness :>>

I am building a system with the eVGA 7600GT now and did not realize the trade-up option. Gonna check that out big time :>>

[quote="logainofhades]

Get yourself any evga branded nvidia card 7600gt or higher and then use the stepup program to get the 8600. That way you do not pay more for the second card. Just the difference from the price you paid for the first card vs what the new card costs. That is how I received my 7600gt last year. Traded up a 6800gs for it and since the new card was priced the same as the one I already had, I was able to get the new card for just the shipping costs.[/quote]

 

[lambofgode3x]

yeah, i forgot about the step up program. thats a damn good point.

but, if he's gonna go with an evga card and step up, why not get a 7900gt? yeah, it costs more now, but its going to be less money to save up for the upgrade, and also, better performance NOW. and, if the 8600 doesnt come out before the step up expires, he can just step up to an 8800gts or gtx. either way, a power supply upgrade should probably be looked into.

 

[Katzhuu]

... I was going to go with the x1900GT, until i found out my PSU might now be able to handle it...

Hmm, aren't those DX10 cards supposed to be pretty power hungry? You'll probably need a new PSU if our old one can't handle X1900xt.

 

[Xpyrofuryx]

that step-up program sounds great. I think I'll do that. Ill see how much money I have total and see what the best card I can get is. I can prolly get a 7900GS, and then in March or at my step-up expiration date ill step-up to a 8600Ultra or a 8800GTS.

Thanks for this info. And also what all do I need to do to do this step-up program? and is it only for EVGA?

 

[Valtiel]

I think you need to go to the eVGA website to find that out, chief

 

[chuckshissle]

I'm with the Evga Step-up program, since OP would be upgrading in under 90 days.

 

[troy88]

what games will your Geforce 7300LE not play that you want?

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

And even more important to the eVGA step-up program it's upgrading to a new card, and therefore the eVGA prices will be close to NewEGG at launch.

As time goes on the eVGA step-up program becomes less attractive, but at this point it's pretty good/ideal.

 

[Xpyrofuryx]

And even more important to the eVGA step-up program it's upgrading to a new card, and therefore the eVGA prices will be close to NewEGG at launch.

As time goes on the eVGA step-up program becomes less attractive, but at this point it's pretty good/ideal.

Ok I was reading into it, and I think it says I can buy any EVGA card from any place, but so long as I register it within the 90 days of my purchase it will still be eligible. I am not sure if this so what it means though. Do I need to buy it from EVGA's store? or can I buy it from newegg? because on EVGA's store its about $200 for a card thats $100 on newegg. Its a rip-off