which mid range gfx card solution would you get and why? Sorry if some cards are not listed had to fit all the most mid-range cards into 10 answers
 
i would get 9600GT (SLI) because its rather cheap and has around the same performance as a 8800 ultra

^^Ditto, although I think they perform even better than an ultra.

I guess then what you call midrange.  I don't consider SLI/CF setups to be midrange.  Not only do you need to get an SLI/CF motherboard, but a PSU to match.  Depending on what you get, you are now spending quite a bit more money then if you had simply bought a bigger card.
 
The "best" mid range solutions are the 3850, and the 9600GT, as long as its cheap enough.  Either of these cards should do quite well for current setups.

i wish nvidia had released a 9600GTX or ultra... that'll teach ATI to mess with the mid-range line-up

To me, midrange means between $100 and $200 dollars. As 4745454b said, it's either the 9600GT or the 3850/3870.

You left out the 8800GS!

That is such a crappy question.  If I were to get a card? I'd get a good single card solution, because that is just me and my board isn't SLI and in crossfire only supports x8 x8.  However if I had an SLI mobo that ran x16 x16 my answer might be different.  What are you looking to play, what is the rest of the system, what PSU do you have, etc?

^Agree completley.
 
SLI is not midrange.
Crossfire is not midrange.
A GTX card is not midrange.
A 3870X2 is not midrange.
 
To me a midrange solution is ~ $200.

I agree, this is a weird question and it seems biased from the start by the proposed listed of GPU. Since mid range GPU is too vague an expression, a range in $$ would be a more appropriate way to present things. Dual GPU or dual processors on the same GPU doesn't qualify as Mid Range in my book. As far as I am concerned something between 150-200$ would qualify as a mid range GPU but then again other could disagree with that.....

I think the OP would be better served by stating a budget and describing his other system components (e.g. a 380W PSU rules out Crossfire, but he might SLI a couple of 8500GTs        on it though).  What jay2tall said.
 
Then one person could point him to Cleeve's thread and be done with it.
 
(The Best Gaming Video Card for the Money; and an article update for May should be out next week)
 
That said, I've been happy with my 3850, and would not consider it anything other than "mid-range."

Seriously, A 3870X2 is not an mid range option neither is 3850 cfx, 9600gt sli or  8800gt sli. Mid range is $100-$200 and in most cases non dual card, so no  $200 card plus $200 card because that's high range NOT mid range

Ok after reading this thread again I think I can recommend something and tell you why.  When dealing with a "GAMING" system you have to deal with GAMING Cards. So that basically rules out all of the lower 8500,8600 nvidia cards, and the non 38xx ATI cards.  
 
- Everyone is correct when saying SLI and Crossfire are NOT midrange, that is usually a higher end system and the involvment with troubleshooting is there and much greater.
-I agree with Punisher and the crazy haired Fatcat, $150ish-$200 is a midrange card, +or- a few bucks.
-In conclusion you are basically looking at a few cards.  HD3870,9600GT, 8800GT, & 8800gts
-Performance wise the HD3870 and 9600GT swap punches, while the next in line would be the 8800GT then 8800GTS with a slight advantage.
 
In conclusion, (I feel like im in college again by starting a sentence with that) My recommendation would be the highest midrange card you can afford.  Namely the 8800GTS.  However if just over $200 isn't within your price range then jump down to the 8800GT, if that's to hight jump down to the3870/9600GT level.  REALLY! how hard is this guys? Get what you can afford.
 
Also, you have to figure in your PSU. Any of those cards will run off a decent non OEM/crappy PSU for the most part.
 
9800GTX starts the highend GPU's, along with the 9800GX2 and 3870x2.  So as far as this Thread is concerned they are excluded.  Well the 9800GTX is just a fancy 8800GTS with better memory anyways.  But I'd still buy it, haha.