I have never been a super 'hard core' gamer. I enjoy playing games, and do so often, but I've never felt the need to spend outrageous amounts of money on a video card. I have been running a Radeon 9600 Pro /256MB for the last 2 years, and it's finally time to upgrade (tried the FEAR demo....bad idea. 
)
Now, I spent $150 on my 9600 two years ago, and it has run pretty much every game just fine (I still run 2xAA 8xAF in a lot of current games)...but the newest games are bringing it to its knees. So, I began looking at the 'mid-range' cards, as I've always purchased a bit below the top end to save some cash....but during the last two years, it appears the 'mid-range' price point has moved from $150 to about $300. Is this right? I notice that the 6600GT, which was deemed 'best budget card' about 10 months ago, is STILL about $150, and nothing faster has come down to take its place, so it seems.
I don't want to shell out cash for a card that is already WELL into the product cycle, but I also don't want to blow $300 on a card. Are there faster alternatives in the $150-$200 price range? Is it worth going to a vanilla 6800 over the 6600GT...are any of ATI's offerings competitive at this price point? Thanks...
Oh - and it must be AGP. I will probably keep this card for a couple years, and by then, it'll be time for a mobo upgrade and I'll be on to PCIe, but until then...
) Now, I spent $150 on my 9600 two years ago, and it has run pretty much every game just fine (I still run 2xAA 8xAF in a lot of current games)...but the newest games are bringing it to its knees. So, I began looking at the 'mid-range' cards, as I've always purchased a bit below the top end to save some cash....but during the last two years, it appears the 'mid-range' price point has moved from $150 to about $300. Is this right? I notice that the 6600GT, which was deemed 'best budget card' about 10 months ago, is STILL about $150, and nothing faster has come down to take its place, so it seems.
I don't want to shell out cash for a card that is already WELL into the product cycle, but I also don't want to blow $300 on a card. Are there faster alternatives in the $150-$200 price range? Is it worth going to a vanilla 6800 over the 6600GT...are any of ATI's offerings competitive at this price point? Thanks...
Oh - and it must be AGP. I will probably keep this card for a couple years, and by then, it'll be time for a mobo upgrade and I'll be on to PCIe, but until then...
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