Best PCIe Card For ~$380: Tie

The GeForce 8800 GTS is the little brother of the 8800 GTX, with both being based on the same Nvidia next-generation DirectX 10 GPU. The 8800 GTS is slightly crippled compared to the GTX, but it will still beat powerhouse cards like the dual-GPU 7950 GX2 in many cases. The biggest downside to the 8800 GTS 640 MB is that its cheaper 320 MB cousin offers very close performance for much less scratch. However, if you plan to play your games at high resolutions - 1600x1200 or above - it's worth the extra money to get the 640 MB version.

The Radeon HD 2900 XT debuted with mediocre performance compared to the Geforce 8800 GTS 640, especially when price was factored in. ATI has stepped up to bat, though, and introduced fresh drivers that really bring out the 2900's potential, even allowing it to challenge the 8800 GTX in some arenas.

Even so, the 8800 GTS 640 MB is still a great card, and can approach the 2900 XT in some titles, and on average you will find the 8800 GTS for less money. With this in mind, both cards are recommended in this price segment.

Best PCIe Card For ~$510

The introduction of the 8800 Ultra - essentially an overclocked 8800 GTX - relegated the GTX to second-fastest-videocard-in-the-world status. But with the low-priced 8800 Ultras starting at the $610 mark, it's hard to justify an extra $100 for an overclock.

In all honesty, even the $250 cheaper 8800 GTS 320 MB would probably serve anyone well at resolutions below 1600x1200. If you've got money to burn, though, you play at high resolutions, and will only settle for the top of the line, this is the card for you.