Cheap Video Card (80$ Max)

[blb2397]

Need a suggestion.
Was looking at HD 2600 Pro but was confused as I see them on Newegg as GDDR2 but on TOms Video chart I only see GDDR3 listed, so I'm not sure hwo it benchmarks. Its a gift. He just wants a card that will make everything playable even at low settings.
Is there a better choice instead?
Thanks

 

[pauldh]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161182
Nice card for $70. Much better than a X1650 pro or 7600GS, close but not quite as good as a X1650XT. I would say it should trade blows and maybe beat the GDDR2 2600 pro. Yeah, the GDDR 2 2600 pro is slower, see it comapred to the GDDR3 version at digitlife:
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/digest3d/index0711.html

 

[nvalhalla]

gddr2 will be slower. try to get an 8600gt with gddr3, they are often on sale for ~$80. other wise find a gddr3 version of the 2600. stay away from the gddr2s.

 

[pauldh]

If you can stretch that budget a bit, the 2600XT for $95 shipped would be nice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161099

otherwise here are some other options to the 1650GT above.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814122024

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150185

 

[nvalhalla]

do I need to link to the articles showing the 8600gt being as fast as the 2600xt, and the 8600gts beating it? if the 2600xt is the same or cheaper than the 8600gt. go for it, otherwise I'd take the cheaper 8600gt.

 

[cleeve]

2600XTs with ddr2... yuck. Slower.

nvalhalla, The 8600 GTs that are cheaper have DDR2 memory. They are much slower, the memory is about half the speed of DDR3 cards. huge performance hit.

It's the 8600 GTs with GDDR3 that can keep up with the 2600 XT with DDDR3.

 

[pauldh]

do I need to link to the articles showing the 8600gt being as fast as the 2600xt, and the 8600gts beating it?

Shall I link to reviews showing the HD2600XT often beating the 8600GTS in new games, never mind the GT? I'll be happy to do so.

Here is one example, but I'd be happy to post other games .
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=698&p=2

I agree they are close. Basically, without FSAA the 2600XT is better IMO, with fsaa the 8600GT is better. But I'd go more card than the 8600GT anyway if wanting to enable fsaa in modern games.

 

[djlazlow]

shooot....I'll sell you my card for $90...shipped.

 

[cleeve]

Just to clarify: There are no DDR2 versions of the 2600 XT.

All 2600 XT's are GDDR3

8600 GTs come in DDR2 and GDDDR3 flavors, though. Stay away from DDR2!