2600xt/pro or 8600gt?

If its in your budget u can try to get a 8600GTS it kindda outpace the rest.  Hope it helps
Neways, just my .02

hmm..if you're friend goes for the 8600gt make sure he gets one that has a step up program so that he may upgrade to a 256bit 8600gt if they come out, also have you consider a x1950PRO or 7900GS the both perform better then the 2600's and 8600's but are lack dx10 support and advanced dvd decoding (or some thing like that)

2600xt. they have similar performance in dx9, but in dx10 2400 and 2600 had twice as much frames than their nvidia counterparts( 7 fps vs 3.5 fps)

I wouldn´t call 3.5 frames a real advantage if the maximum under DX10 is 7 frames. All it means is that both cards are unable to do what they were meant to do under DX10 - play games.

Since there is no DX10 midrange yet, i estimate that developers will stick to DX9 for another year or two at least and thus a 1950 Pro or a 7900GS, if reasonably priced, would be a good buy.

sorry for reply late. the problem is that, here don't sell any mid game card anymore (7 series), it seem weird but really, can't get any 7 series unless 7950. well, i'm from malaysia, i don't think they will be able to send here if buy online. unless if i ask her to buy a mobo with built in graphic first? then at later stage just look for mid game card

Do they sell ATI DX9 cards or those are missing as well?

If you can get the 7950GT, then do it. Don't waste your time and precious money on crap like the 8600GT(S) or HD2600Pro/XT.

Considering your limited options, my opinion on choice runs GF8600GTS>HD2600XT (both GDDR3/4)>GF8600GT>HD2600Pro.

hmm,7950 gt is out of her consideration, it's too expensive for a non-gamer.. i notice that 7600gs is still around, will this be a good choice? oh ya..non-gamer.. or those small games

4 new cards coming at somepoint, just to let you know. A 2900pro mid range card, a 2600xt dual gemini midrange card, a 1gb memory 8600gt card and a 512mb model fo the GGDR4 2600xt.

They all got their own little uses.

Yeah the GF7600GS is fine, it's under the GF8600GT and HD2600Pro in performance but for a non-gamer it should be more than fine, heck I know casual gamers still rockin' it on Radeon 9800s.

i see..thanks ya guys.  

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

What does anyone think of this? To replace a 8600GT. It maybe too long for my case. It says it doesn't require the extra power connection the 8600GTS does.

The HD2600XT won't be much different than the GF8600GT.

In some games better, in some games worse.
Essentially same class of card.

Thanks, that's what I thought. My only hope then is for a 256bit-single slot card in-between the 8600GTS and the 8800's. Or the 8600GTS's come down like $40-$50 more. I had the unfortunate pleasure of getting my 8600GT when they first came out ($40-$50 ago).  

After the release of the 7.8 drivers, the 2600XT outperforms the 8600GT.

yeah... we should probably have asked what you want this card for?

i assume its for gaming/video editing...quite the hardcore huh?!

is there an ATI Crossfire edition of 2600?if so, can i put it side by side my x1950?sorry for the noob question...

CrossFire requires the same card....like for 2600xt CF u will require another 2600xt...u can't put the 2600PRO or any other card....and in my opinion i would go with the gainward Bliss 8600 GT 1024MB TV DD or the 2600xt...

I have a 256mb gddr3 2600xt and it seems to do very well in 3d games. The bioshock demo played real smooth at 1024X768, and with the settings at high. (didn't have option for higher res for some reason) I don't think there's as big a performance difference between the 2600xt and the 7900gs/x1950pro as when the first comparisons were made using early drivers. Also, most of the 2600xt's have HDMI out and an HD 5.1 sound chip so you can pass video and sound over the HDMI. For the money, I'm very satisfied with my 2600xt.

You started off close and finished incorrectly.
It requires the same general architecture, but you CAN put a PRO and XT together.

Here's the chart to make it easier to understand;

http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/CF_combo_chart_Aug07-1.jpg

You can do combos like an HD2600Pro + HD2600XT as you can see from the list, but missing is the slightly a-symetrical combos from the old list, like the X1800CF+X1800XL, and X1900CF+X1900GT.

To get the expected answer...Which I think, you do expect a good answer from your question ..
So please answer.
How much money are you really going to spend on this VGAcard ?
Do you need the High Definition support ?
Do you really want a DX10-VGAcard or DX9 is enough ?
Want to wait a little longer or do you need it ASAP ?
These questions can narrow down some possibilty.