a nice video card to play nice games

[Niflheim]

Eh well that's it, yet another thread where someone wants advice on video cards. But you guys like to answer these, don't you

So.
I want a new videocard. Something PCI-E (motherboard on its way). I used to have a x850xt AGP, but it disappointed me. Actually, I think it was my computer that wouldn't allow its full potential. Anyway I had to sell it two months ago because I needed money. But now it's all ok and I can get another video card. It's been a hard summer with my old TNT2, ouf.

Then that's it, I want something that will allow me to play stuff like Half-Life 2, Oblivion, euh Battlefield 2 and so on. But I'd like a card that I'll be able to keep some time because I want to play those pretty new upcoming games, such as all the Half-Life 2 episodes, Team Fortress 2 (been waiting for that one 8 years), Messiah of M&M... anyway, that kind of games. I don't exactly know what's happening with the x1900 or x1800 or geforce 9800. Which one should I get? Don't want to spend a fortune though. Would a x850xt PCI-E be enough? I never play games at a resolution higher than 1280x960. I really don't know.

So thanks to share your knowledge

Oh and just for fun, my pc is a P4 3.0 ghz with 1 gb of ram.

 

[OCNewbie]

What is your budget? That'll help get the suggestions started.

 

[nitromullet]

X1900XT is probably the best single card for the money that fits your needs. Not sure what a kidney cost in your world, but you can easily find an X1900XT for under $300. For a bit less cash, you could also check out the 7900GT. These can usually be found closer to $250 (often even as low as $220-230ish after a mail in rebate), and are really good cards also.

 

[Sniper82]

The best budget card IMO is 7600GT if you only have $150ish to spend. If you can spring for $200-$250 the the X1800XT and 7900GT are the way to go. So you figure up how much you have to spend and go with one of the 3 listed. The 7600GT will run anything you throw at it at that resolution but Oblivion will need to have some settings on medium for it to be playable. As for future games like Crysis and UT2007 it will play them but how good is the question no one knows the answer to. As far as the new HL2 episodes and TF2 will run them just as good as it does HL2.

But if you want something to last you and can spring for it go with the 7900GT. But I personally have the 7600GT and its fast enough for me and I game at 1440x900 with all my games and all of them maxed out except Oblivion which it still looks killer.

Of course the X1900XT is one of the best card out there but I am guessing its probably not in your price range.

 

[Captante]

Best card overall: X1900XT (Any brand... shop by price)
{both might be in kidney territory!}
Second best: 7900GT (EVGA KO model is best option)

Third: 7600GT (Again I'd go with EVGA KO)

Fourth: X850XT (If you can move quickly enough to get the deal linked below, this even beats the 7600GT IMO ... smokin @ $115 BEFORE $20 MIR!!!)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102688

 

[poohbear]

i'd wait till mid sept when atis 3 new cards come out, they should drop current prices even more.

 

[OCNewbie]

X850XT is an exceptional value, I'd go with that if you're wanting to keep it on the cheap, around $100 anyway. The best deal was the 7900GS from woot recently for $145 shipped, unfortunately those aren't avail at that price anymore though I don't believe..... I got one and am very pleased.

 

[happy medium]

Anything more than a 7900gs(200.00$) or 7900gt(250.00$) would be a waste of money in my opinion.
He has a pent 4 3.0.(bottleneck). At his playing resolution, a 7600gt (150.00$) is enough.

edit: that x850 deal is hard to beat

 

[Nightmare225]

Originally posted by: OCNewbie
X850XT is an exceptional value, I'd go with that if you're wanting to keep it on the cheap, around $100 anyway. The best deal was the 7900GS from woot recently for $145 shipped, unfortunately those aren't avail at that price anymore though I don't believe..... I got one and am very pleased.

He wasn't happy with his last one. I'd go for the 7900GT or X1900XT if you can swing it

 

[Niflheim]

Hey thanks, that's pretty clearer now
I've found a geforce 7900GS 256mb for 195$. What about a 7900gs, is it worth it? Is there such a difference between "gs" and "gt".
I've also seen some pretty cheap all-in-wonder x1900. Again, there's no xt or xtx, so does it sucks? Or a x1900gt?
All these little letters confuse me hihi.

 

[Nightmare225]

Don't get the All-In-Wonder. I would get a GT compared to a GS. But, if you don't got the money, the GS is pretty nice.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Niflheim
Eh well that's it, yet another thread where someone wants advice on video cards. But you guys like to answer these, don't you

So.
I want a new videocard. Something PCI-E (motherboard on its way). I used to have a x850xt AGP, but it disappointed me. Actually, I think it was my computer that wouldn't allow its full potential. Anyway I had to sell it two months ago because I needed money. But now it's all ok and I can get another video card. It's been a hard summer with my old TNT2, ouf.

Then that's it, I want something that will allow me to play stuff like Half-Life 2, Oblivion, euh Battlefield 2 and so on. But I'd like a card that I'll be able to keep some time because I want to play those pretty new upcoming games, such as all the Half-Life 2 episodes, Team Fortress 2 (been waiting for that one 8 years), Messiah of M&M... anyway, that kind of games. I don't exactly know what's happening with the x1900 or x1800 or geforce 9800. Which one should I get? Don't want to spend a fortune though. Would a x850xt PCI-E be enough? I never play games at a resolution higher than 1280x960. I really don't know.
So thanks to share your knowledge

Oh and just for fun, my pc is a P4 3.0 ghz with 1 gb of ram.

The 7900gs will run any game at 1280x960 at high settings with some af,aa easily.
I repeat anything more than that will require a faster cpu. Even a 7900gt is pushing it.

 

[Barfo]

Originally posted by: Niflheimgeforce 9800.

I want one of those

 

[Niflheim]

Oh euhm well yeah, geforce 9800 are when geforces have babies with radeons hihihi.
Hey I think you're right. My computer is getting old and having the best of best cards would have its performance limited anyway. I'll go for the 7900gs, it's cheap and nice.
Thanks a lot to all of you, really.
I'd pay you a beer.
mmm, beer.

Thanks again

 

[Captante]

I havn't seen any benchs comparing the 7900GS to the 7600GT, but I'd guess it'll fall in between it & the 7800GT in performance.. likly it'll be very close to the 7800GT, but the 7900GT will be faster.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Captante
I havn't seen any benchs comparing the 7900GS to the 7600GT, but I'd guess it'll fall in between it & the 7800GT in performance.. likly it'll be very close to the 7800GT, but the 7900GT will be faster.

The 7900gs is faster then the 7800gt but slower then the 7900gt. The 7600gt is 20-25% slower.

 

[homercles337]

The 7900GT is a GTX with slower clocks. Otherwise it is (nearly?) identical. I just bought a GT and plan on buying an aftermarket cooler and OCing the hell outta it.

 

[OCNewbie]

The 7900GS OC's very well too. I have mine running at 550/830 core/mem (default 450/660) and it can run the artifact scanning feature in ATITool for 25+ mins without errors. And mine is probably at best a mediocre sample of this card, some are claiming to get 600/900 oc's. Should also be v-core moddable like the 7900GT's to get the core to 650+ with some better cooling. With an Opteron 165 running @ 2.52GHz I get a 5,066 score in 3DMark06/1280x1024 (default) at these clocks. No matter how much you OC a 7600GT (from what I've read) it's not gonna come close to the max potential of a 7900GS.

A lot of the 7900GS's were bought through woot.com when they had the sale so might wanna check ebay for some of those that are selling. Could maybe get one for $175 shipped if you're lucky.

 

[Roguestar]

You'd trust the artifact scanner in ATi Tool on a GeForce card? Would it not leave out some tests GeForce cards should be put through given their different architectures?

 

[OCNewbie]

Have you used the artifact scanner much on ATITool? To me it seems like it's a generic 3D app that should work with just about any videocard, maybe I'm mistaken. It's basically like Prime95 for your video card was my assumption.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: Captante
I havn't seen any benchs comparing the 7900GS to the 7600GT, but I'd guess it'll fall in between it & the 7800GT in performance.. likly it'll be very close to the 7800GT, but the 7900GT will be faster.

The 7900gs is faster then the 7800gt but slower then the 7900gt. The 7600gt is 20-25% slower.

Link to benchmarks?

 

[Kromis]

The 7600GTS is also a good candidate. But just ignore the moniker.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by: Captante

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: Captante
I havn't seen any benchs comparing the 7900GS to the 7600GT, but I'd guess it'll fall in between it & the 7800GT in performance.. likly it'll be very close to the 7800GT, but the 7900GT will be faster.

The 7900gs is faster then the 7800gt but slower then the 7900gt. The 7600gt is 20-25% slower.

Link to benchmarks?

Dont even need to link.

7900GT (G71 90nm)
450 mhz core 1320mhz Memory 256bit 24 pipe 8 VS 256mb GDDR3

7900GS (G71 90nm)
450 mhz core 1320mhz Memory 256bit 20 pipe 7 VS 256mb GDDR3

7600GT (G73 90nm)
560 mhz core 1400mhz Memory 1286bit 12 pipe 5 VS 256mb GDDR3

As you can see, the GS is a OCed GT, fitted with 1.4ns ram meaning more bandwidth (higher OCability) than the 7800GTs 1000mhz clocked memory rated at 1.8~2.0ns.

So 7900GS should easily beat a 7600GT as you put up AA/AF plus res. This card is already going for ~180 while there was a deal going on for ~140. MSRP of 199 but NV might lower it.

 

[Captante]

Thanks for the reply, but I am familar with the cards individual specifications, what I'd like to see would be some benchmarks showing the actual performance of the cards head to head & so far I havn't been able to find any on the net.

I agree that on paper the 7900GS should beat out the 7800GT by a bit, especially in the overclocking department, but I'd still like to see it demonstrated... regardless of exactly where it lands in the Nvidia lineup, the GS is a solid choice.

 

[OCNewbie]

No clue the source of this info, but here's a graph supposedly showing various Nvidia cards, including the 7900GS, GT, and 7800GT running 3DMark06.

Link