I have read through multiple posts and now I am more confused

I am looking at the following cards

3870 - MSI RX3870-T2D512E OC Radeon HD $159.00
9600GT - ASUS GeForce 9600 GT $129.00
8800GT - XFX GeForce 880 GT $179.00
8800GTS - MSI GeFortce 8800 GTS (G92) w/256 bus, so more on par with the 8800 GT - $194.00


I am running a e8400 on a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3l with 4 GB ram, so no secondary PCI-E slot to SLI or Crossfire.

I am limited now in my gaming abilities, but I want to run Call of Duty 4 on medium at least and WoW on high.

Thanks in advanced

get the gts.

WoW on high?!? Such lofty goals for a GPU purchase! I'm glad I quit the rat race.

Any of those cards will meet your needs, but if you've got the $ you'll obviously be better off with the GTS.

My opinion is that all of those cards will do a very fine job at what you're trying to accomplish though I suggest the 3870 cuz it has double slot cooler

I figured that would be easily met

Any of those would be good choices, but obviously the GTS is the best. Assuming you can afford it, go with the GTS.

The 9600GT will meet your needs.

Any of those cards are a fine choice. If you want a decent card for cheap though, here is another to throw in. It's the 8800 gs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130333

That one is the overclocked version from EVGA, it's 139.99 but has a 30 dollar mail in rebate as well. I think the overclocked ones are supposed to be about as fast, maybe slightly faster than a stock 9600gt in some areas. Which you know the 9600gt is close to the speed of the 3870. Based on that I don't know if I'd g with the 3870. If you go lower end of your specs, I personally think I would get either the 8800 gs or 9600gt. Depending what resolutions you play at. Double slot cooler? I think if you get a strong pci slot fan to go under your card you'd be fine. Course you can go up higher, but it depends how much are you wanting to pay. But if your on a budget, 8800 gs or 9600 gt depending on resolution. Check out some reviews and see what you think.

If you can get it get the Gigabyte GV-NX96T512HP (9600 GT , passive, 2 slot cooling).
Idles on the desktop at around 45°C and in games it stays around 70°C in an average ventilated case (CM Centurion 5, 80mm front intake fan, 120mm rear exhaust fan, 120mm PSU fan).

Should be good enough, but since you didn't say what resolution you play at it's hard to say.
If money is not an issue just get a 8800GTS or 9800GTX but both are overkill for WoW.

Thanks everyone,

I ended up going Andrius suggested route on a passive 9600GT card. While not 2 slot cooled, I did also purchase a pci slotted exhaust fan. I couldn't find the Gigabyte card, but newegg had a ECS card with a 25.00 rebate, bringing it to 125.00.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814134040

sorry forgot: IT is HUGE

Out of curiousity, why did you buy a fanless video card, only to add a PCI fan? That PCI fan will likely be just about as noisy as a GPU fan.

It is a good price if the MIR works, though. Maybe that is why.

The point of a two slot cooler is the heat exhaust.
If you have a 120mm fan above the graphics card on the back panel the PCI heat extractor is better used as a cool air intake and directed upwards towards the graphics card.

This ECS card has a better bundle then the Gigabyte model (DVI to HDMI , SPDIF Cable) so it should be a great buy.
I don't need either so I didn't really care and the ECS model wasn't available here. The cooler looks like a better fit on the Gigabyte model IMO.
And I really like it's different 2D/3D clocks to reduce heat and power consumption.

Makes sense, I was just curious.