Choosing a graphics card around $150 budget

[rozar]

I want to upgrade the video card in my system. I want to stay around $150 for the upgrade. I am looking at either a 8800GS or a 9600GT but am open to other options.

These are the 2 I have been looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261002

I have never heard of this company but the reviews look OK.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150276&ATT=14-150-276&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Video+Cards-_-XFX-_-14150276

My card I have now is XFX.

So would you rather have a 8800GS from XFX, a 9600GT from Palit, or something totally different?

 

[boonality]

You could get an 8600GT for under 90 bucks. What do you have now? What is considered an upgrade for you? See for me I am running an X800XL so an 8600GT for $89 would be a vast improvement What card are you upgrading from?

 

[rolli59]

I would recommend the EVGA 8800GS over the XFX because of the quiet fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130332
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333

 

[eagles453809]

get the 9600gt

 

[invisik]

I agree get the nvidia 9600gt. Has 512 memory and memory interface is 256bit and the 9600gt overclocks more i believe.

 

[Onus]

Check out Cleeve's thread, the Best Gaming Video Card for the Money, or its monthly companion article. A new one will be out soon. Boonality asks a good question though: what do you have now? And, what do you want this upgrade to accomplish?

Edit: Be sure your PSU is up to the task of powering your new card.

 

[pchoi04]

As long as the rest of your system checks out. I'll also recommend a 9600GT. Great card and it has amazing potential for SLI as well.

 

[rozar]

I have a 6200 now

It gets a 3.9 score in Vista. I just want a better video card to last a while. I do not really have a specific reason for any particular card. I also do not play any games at this time but may some day as I have played many in the past. I have 4GB ram and processors that most of you have not heard of. (Dual Sossaman 2.0 Ghz) They are the LV Xeons from the Lindenhurst era. I may upgrade soon too. I also use an Adaptec RAID controller and multiple drives. Would anyone recommend the 9600GT in the link above? Its a Palit.

PS wont be a problem

 

[pchoi04]

Palit isn't bad, but there not the best either. If your not playing games at the moment are you doing any HD playback of any sort?

If your not in a rush to get the latest titles I don't see any point in upgrading unless there is something specific you're looking at doing. You probably already know that this stuff changes pretty quickly and things go out of date just as fast.

I would just wait until a title really catches your eye and then upgrade then.

 

[rozar]

Part of the reason I want to upgrade now is like I said I may upgrade my Mobo, CPU and memory soon too. I just configured a system for a friend with a Q9450 and I like it. I also already have a board for it and memory.

 

[pauldh]

That Palit is a nice value. So is the evga 8800GS for $110. Also, there is a HD3850 256MB for $115 AR. Can't go wrong with any of these although at stock speeds in gaming it should be close but rank 9600GT first, 8800GS second, and HD3850 third. All depends on the game, resolution and settings though.

edit: HD3850 link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161211

 

[aznstriker92]

8800GS is more future proof with 96shaders compared to the 9600GTs 64shaders.
Also its a beast in OCing. Check out Marvelous's review.

 

[marvelous211]

8800GS is more future proof with 96shaders compared to the 9600GTs 64shaders.
Also its a beast in OCing. Check out Marvelous's review.

If you are on a 19" monitor like me it could be but if you are on a 20-22" monitor and you need the performance now I think 9600gts is better choice.

 

[jabberwhacky]

I bought an XFX 9600 GT from Newegg just a few days ago; try entering the promo code VGA15. It took off 15 bucks for me, so the final price after MIR and tax and shipping was 151 or so.

 

[rozar]

That code works for this card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150277

Which brings up another question. Keep in mind that I dont know much about video cards. The company I work for sells Office Desktop machines, A lot of Servers and some notebooks. I mostly work with Servers. Anyway the card in the link is a 650Mhz card and there are 2 that are faster.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+50001669+106792522+1067937365&name=XFX

Would that be the one to get over the other 2 faster ones? If I were going to spend a little more than $150.

 

[itheral]

If you're considering going over $150, I would suggest looking at the 3870. Little better than the 9600gt performance and feature wise