Complex graphics card specifications and reviews are great if you have the time to do the necessary research. At the end of the day, however, what gamers really need is simply to get the best graphics cards that their money can buy. So, if you don't have the time to research and assess all the benchmarks, or if you don't feel confident enough in your ability to make the right decision, fear not! We at Tom's Hardware Guide have come to your aid, with a simple list of the best gaming cards available.

Just keep the following guidelines in mind while reading

• This list is intended for gamers who want to get the most for their money. If you don't play games, the cards in this list are more expensive than what you need.
• Prices and availability change on a daily basis. We can't maintain up-to-the-minute accuracy on pricing, but we can list some good cards that you probably won't regret buying at the price ranges we suggest.
• The list is based on some of the best US prices available from online retailers. If buying retail or purchasing in other countries, your mileage will most certainly vary, as the saying goes.
• These are new card prices, so no used or open box prices are in the list. Those might be a good deal, but they are beyond the scope of this article.

December Review And Updates

No new graphics cards of note were introduced in December. Probably the most interesting occurrence in the graphics card world was simply the dropping prices in the new Geforce 8800 line, with the 8800 GTS becoming available for as little as $420.

The AGP world is quickly sucking up the AGP X1950 PRO cards that hit retail shelves last month. These cards are still hard to find - at least, reasonably priced at $240 - because supply just can not keep up with demand. If you're interested in these cards, it's worth regularly checking online stores like ZipZoomFly, which offer these cards for low prices when they can get them in stock.

Check the The Best Gaming Graphics Cards for the Money Series Overview for more articles in this series.

Join our discussion on this topic