Best $200 video card

[diablofish]

Have a Biostar NF4-SLI board. On a bit of a budget here, and would like to be in the neighborhood of a $200 video card with the possibility of adding a second at a later date.

Recommendations on which card gives the most bang for the buck in this price range and will be a decent performer when the time for adding another for SLI comes?

Thanks...

 

[fierydemise]

6800GS

 

[hans030390]

6800gs all the way

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Since your best choices are all gonna be 6800 series graphics cards, the 6800GS is definitely a better idea . . . it's the newest 6800 design on nvidia thus it uses the 7800 PCB, and it can overclock easily to beat the 6800GT . . . it's only other competitor at it's price range is a 6800 vanilla which quite frankly it destroys . . .

 

[Nextman916]

6800gs dont go with the GTO or GTO2, its not guarenteed that they will unlock. And even if it were unlocked/overclocked, a gs which is on par with a 6800gt would still give it a run fors its money anyday. The gs is increasingly being recommended to those looking to buy a mid/high end card.

 

[buzzsaw13]

I'd say go with the C3D X800GTO and unlock the pipes and overclock. But since you want the option of putting the cards in SLI later, then go for the 6800GS

 

[Munky]

The only reason to chose a GS over a GTO/GTO2 is if you want to add a second one later for SLI. Otherwise, an unlocked and OC's GTO will destroy the GS, and it costs less.

 

[Corporate Thug]

gto

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: munky
The only reason to chose a GS over a GTO/GTO2 is if you want to add a second one later for SLI. Otherwise, an unlocked and OC's GTO will destroy the GS, and it costs less.

You also have to consider whether or not you want shader model 3 support. Can't forget that. If you dont want it, go for the GTO/2

 

[Nextman916]

An unlocked/overclocked gto is basically an x850xt pe which performs a little better than a 6800gt varying in diff games a 6800gt gets higher or few frames lower. Also as dark sharigan said the 6800GS is built on the 7800 pcb which im not sure if it benefits in oc'ing, but most people have acheived great oc's so it sure seems that way. And for those of you recommending the GTO2 that is no longer available for $200.

 

[dingetje]

go for this one ----> 6800GS
it oc's like a bad boy and beats the crap out of the gto's (except gto2)

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: dingetje
go for this one ----> 6800GS
it oc's like a bad boy and beats the crap out of the gto's (except gto2)

Oh, you mean like this GTO? :laugh:

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Well the Connect3D GTO @ $179 unlocked to X850XT PE (and yeah they pretty much all unlock unless you have a certain motherboard such as the Asrock) would beat the 6800GS pretty hard in most games (though a high OC on the GS would close that gap significantly) but you can't use that card for SLI which is why I suggested the 6800GS since the OP was looking for an a card that allowed for "the possibility of adding a second card at a later date."

Also SM 3.0 vs SM 2.0? That fact may not have been important six monthes ago but it is now an will be from now on . . . (The fact tht ATI included SM 3.0 in their X1000 series is testment to that fact . . .)

Ever tried playing Chaos Theory with HDR with SM 2.0 vs SM 3.0?

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: 1Dark1Sharigan1
Well the Connect3D GTO @ $179 unlocked to X850XT PE (and yeah they pretty much all unlock unless you have a certain motherboard such as the Asrock) would beat the 6800GS pretty hard in most games (though a high OC on the GS would close that gap significantly) but you can't use that card for SLI which is why I suggested the 6800GS since the OP was looking for an a card that allowed for "the possibility of adding a second card at a later date."

Also SM 3.0 vs SM 2.0? That fact may not have been important six monthes ago but it is now an will be from now on . . . (The fact tht ATI included SM 3.0 in their X1000 series is testment to that fact . . .)

Ever tried playing Chaos Theory with HDR with SM 2.0 vs SM 3.0?

I played Chaos Theory with HDR and SM2, and it worked flawlessly. You DO know they now have a patch that allows SM2 features?

 

[lifeguard1999]

You have to decide what you want to do. If you are comfortable with unlocking a GTO (which means voiding your warranty) then that is a good route to go. If you just want stock speeds, go with a 6800GS.

 

[Snakexor]

Originally posted by: Nextman916
An unlocked/overclocked gto is basically an x850xt pe which performs a little better than a 6800gt varying in diff games a 6800gt gets higher or few frames lower. Also as dark sharigan said the 6800GS is built on the 7800 pcb which im not sure if it benefits in oc'ing, but most people have acheived great oc's so it sure seems that way. And for those of you recommending the GTO2 that is no longer available for $200.

the 6800gt/gs almost never beats an x850xtpe except for maybe doom3, and we know where that goes....other than that, flawless victory gto...

 

[tuteja1986]

well my answer :
Noob\lazypeople\warrantypeople\nvidiafanboy\: 6800gs
enthastic\modders\ethingowanbie\atifanboy: moddable x800gto

either way you wouldn't loose ! so its a win

 

[Azndude2190]

Originally posted by: diablofish
Have a Biostar NF4-SLI board. On a bit of a budget here, and would like to be in the neighborhood of a $200 video card with the possibility of adding a second at a later date.

Recommendations on which card gives the most bang for the buck in this price range and will be a decent performer when the time for adding another for SLI comes?

Thanks...

Like everyone else;your best bet would be a 6800GS...its performance almost matches the 6800GT and is way cheaper....but I would suggest you get another 6800GS soon...and have two in SLI...thats were you get the best bang for your buck in the performance/price ratio for SLI's.

 

[GOREGRINDER]

6800GS,...

 

[the Chase]

Just don't wait TOO long to add that 2nd 6800GS card-Nvidia is going to be ending the production of these cards in Q1 of 2006 from what I've read at various sources. If you can stretch your budget now or wait and save up some cash the 7800GT is actually the better price/performance card right now and can be bought online for $299 after rebate.

 

[w00t]

X800GTO2

 

[Nextman916]

Originally posted by: w00t
X800GTO2

Hmm well w00t can you please link me to the sapphire gto2 because i searched for it and couldnt find it anymore. And last time i checked the card was available it was priced over $200.

 

[Kalessian]

6800GS is nV's best offering in the price range, for sure. The only problem, though, is that the SLi route probably won't payoff. I don't see the GS dropping to $100 by the time it's dead and buried, which will probably be scant monthes from now. I purchased my 6600GT before even the X800XL, when PCIe was more expensive than AGP. Now that I can grab another 6600GT for $120, it may be worth it for me, but not for the GS.

With the exception of warranty/linux, the GTO->XTPE is your best bet. Near 7800GT performance for almost half the price. I doubt that you will be unhappy with it.

 

[diablofish]

Well, holy hannah, haven't checked in here in a while due to the clunker at home clunking about.

Needless to say, upgrade plans have been expedited - which means the budget is even tighter.

I've narrowed it down to these three choices:

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...ct_Code=190533&Category_Code=ATI-PCI-E

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...30258&ATT=Video+Cards&CMP=OTC-d3alt1me

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...22233&ATT=Video+Cards&CMP=OTC-d3alt1me

And I'm leaning towards the first because it's the cheapest.

Thanks for all the input.