best bang for buck?

[wahoyaho]

which one?

 

[dug777]

the gto2 if you can find it for the original price is the best bang for buck, the 7800GT is anything from a bit more powerful to quite a bit more more powerful tho depending on the game.

 

[Eureka]

It also depends on what you're looking for in a card. Generally speaking, a GTO2 at $200ish is the best. Lowend would be the 9600XT256Mb.

Norm

 

[Diasper]

GTO2 really ....in the UK the 7800GT might be 70%+ more expensive - it doesn't give equal performance and therefore mathematically it's the GTO2

...though to be complicated I'd have to say it depends what resolution you game at ;p

 

[Diasper]

I'd say if the 7800GT is less than 50% more I'd definitely grab it over the X800GTO2

Beyond it, you have to really factor in warranty (or not having it in the case of the X800GTO2), extra noise+noise of the X800GTO2 when modded, lack of SM3 etc

 

[Munky]

Actually the gto2 was a good bang for the buck until greedy a$$ retailers like *cough* suckegg started charging $300 for it. I was gonna order one from atacom for ~$230, but those are even worse - they dont have em in stock, but they still sell it online like they have it.

Right now I have a c3d x800gto on order - costs $179 and also has a pretty high chance of unlocking to 16 pipes, but it's not guaranteed. I'll post my results when I get it.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

You could also look for a Connect3d x800GTO, which has been reported to have the ability to unlock to 16 pipes and to overclock to x800xt speeds. They're going for about $180 shipped (try Monarch). They're the PCI-E version of the 6800nu in AGP--you might be able to unlock it and overclock it.

 

[Rage187]

The $299 7800GT is probably the best bang for the buck deal if the GTO2's are getting price gouged at $300.