Best bang for the buck gaming card?

[CurseTheSky]

8800 GT / 9800 GT were fairly popular cards, so they should be easy to find used. I'd look for one of those personally.

Other good choices, if you can find them for the right price, are HD 4670, HD 4770, HD 4850 512MB (doubtful), 9800 GTX (doubtful), 8800 GTX (watch for dead cards, though), 8800 GTS 512MB, HD 3870, 9600 GT, HD 5670.

DO NOT go with a low-end card like an HD 5570, 9400 GT, etc.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

^5570 is about as fast as or faster than a 3870.

 

[HockeyZ]

The 4650 card I linked is gone sorry.

9800gt after discount is a very good deal. I'd get that.


Edit: JUST came accross 2 evga 8800gts 512 mb cards for 52$ each.
YOU MUST JUMP ON THAT! Even used thats a GREAT deal.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2097987

From what I have gathered from google the 8800gts gets about 8-9,000 marks in 3dmark06. I am getting 7100ish with my o/c'ed x1950. that doesnt seem like that huge of a jump. Am I missing something?

 

[happy medium]

From what I have gathered from google the 8800gts gets about 8-9,000 marks in 3dmark06. I am getting 7100ish with my o/c'ed x1950. that doesnt seem like that huge of a jump. Am I missing something?

8800gts 512mb is 90 percent faster in real games.

Here is a review of a 8800gt (slower then the 8800gts) and the 1950xtx gets slaughtered.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2365/11

Remember, a 8800gts 512mb is 98 percent as fast as a 8800gtx.

 

[Markfw]

Isn't the 8800 GTS the wimply version of the 8800 GT ? I know my 8800 GTS 320 meg are 1/2 the speed of my 8800 GT's

 

[cusideabelincoln]

From what I have gathered from google the 8800gts gets about 8-9,000 marks in 3dmark06. I am getting 7100ish with my o/c'ed x1950. that doesnt seem like that huge of a jump. Am I missing something?

7100 to 9000 is a huge jump for 3DMark. Their scores also factor in CPU speed with a pure CPU test, and this poorly reflects actual gaming scenarios and throws off doing any kind of percentage improvement calculation with just the score.

What you should do if you want a more accurate measure is look at the framerate for the SM3.0 and 2.0 tests for your card and compare them to other cards. That will be a better measure for performance gain.

 

[happy medium]

Isn't the 8800 GTS the wimply version of the 8800 GT ? I know my 8800 GTS 320 meg are 1/2 the speed of my 8800 GT's

8800gts 512mb (g92) is faster then the 8800gt but slightly slower then a 8800gtx.
It has the full 128 sp's, 8800gt has 112.

 

[Markfw]

hmmm. Maybe I have gts or gtx then... I guess I need to put them in a box and run gpuz.

 

[happy medium]

hmmm. Maybe I have gts or gtx then... I guess I need to put them in a box and run gpuz.

I would love to go to one of your garage sales.
Thats alot of computer stuff.

 

[Copenhagen69]

460 and you can find how it tested with 20+ games Here

 

[HockeyZ]

So I found a EVGA 9800 GT locally for $55. Deff go for the 9800gt over the 8800gts right?

EDIT: There is actually quite a few 8800 gts/gt/gtx's local for around 50-70 as well.

 

[bryanW1995]

A GTX 460 with 1GB ram would go great with your system. Its only 200 dollars,,, good luck with your decision any other question let us know. Thanks and gg and gb

good idea. maybe he could buy 1/4 of one of these on his $50 budget. he could game every tuesday and 3/4 of the fridays. this could be like netjets. tweakboy, you're definitely on to something here!

 

[Markfw]

I would love to go to one of your garage sales.
Thats alot of computer stuff.

OK, whats the best freeware software that gives a good idea of performance (benchmark), like 3dmark05 ? I think I have that one.

I will bench a few cards, and let you guys know what I think.

 

[happy medium]

So I found a EVGA 9800 GT locally for $55. Deff go for the 9800gt over the 8800gts right?

The 8800gts is slightly faster (10/15 percent) but thats a good price for that card.

Just make sure the 8800gts is the 512 mb version, its as fast as a 8800gtx.

 

[Keysplayr]

OK, whats the best freeware software that gives a good idea of performance (benchmark), like 3dmark05 ? I think I have that one.

I will bench a few cards, and let you guys know what I think.

3DMark Vantage, but I think the free one only lets you run it once per free trial download.
3DMark06 might be limited features, but unlimited runs. Try 06.

 

[happy medium]

OK, whats the best freeware software that gives a good idea of performance (benchmark), like 3dmark05 ? I think I have that one.

I will bench a few cards, and let you guys know what I think.

Why not use a games built in benchmark?
I use far cry 2 or crysis, or half life 2.

or this..
http://downloads.guru3d.com/Resident-Evil-5-PC-Benchmark-Utility-download-2331.html


In order of performance
8800gts 320mb
8800gts 640mb
9600gt/gso
8800/9800gt
8800gts 512mb (g92)/8800gtx 768mb
9800gtx
9800gtx+/gts250
gt260 192 sp
gtx260 216 sp
gtx275
gtx285
gtx465
gtx460
gtx470
gtx295
gtx480

That should be real close.

 

[Markfw]

Why not use a games built in benchmark?
I use far cry 2 or crysis, or half life 2.

or this..
http://downloads.guru3d.com/Resident-Evil-5-PC-Benchmark-Utility-download-2331.html

I don't have Half-life 2 or crysis, and de-installed far cry 2. Also, the box I will using for testing, has NO games on it, just a F@H box.

I can do F@H PPD, but I doubt he cares about that !

 

[happy medium]

I don't have Half-life 2 or crysis, and de-installed far cry 2. Also, the box I will using for testing, has NO games on it, just a F@H box.

I can do F@H PPD, but I doubt he cares about that !

LOL.he he he, Yea I doubt it too.

 

[khon]

You can get a GT240 for $46 AR, hard to beat that for value.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130531

 

[HockeyZ]

You can get a GT240 for $46 AR, hard to beat that for value.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130531

Where is the GT240 on that list previously posted? Is it better than the 8800GTS?

Also why is the 8800GTS 320mb faster than the 8800GTS 640mb? faster memeory?

 

[cusideabelincoln]

GT 240 will roughly be equal to an 8800GTS 640MB or 9600GT.

 

[edplayer]

Where is the GT240 on that list previously posted? Is it better than the 8800GTS?

a gt240 is about the level of a 9600GT

 

[happy medium]

Also why is the 8800GTS 320mb faster than the 8800GTS 640mb? faster memeory?

The 8800 gts 320 mb is the slowest and as you go down the list the cards get faster.

In order of performance
8800gts 320mb
8800gts 640mb
9600gt/gso
8800/9800gt
8800gts 512mb (g92)/8800gtx 768mb
9800gtx
9800gtx+/gts250
gt260 192 sp
gtx260 216 sp
gtx275
gtx285
gtx465
gtx460
gtx470
gtx295
gtx480

That should be real close.

 

[tweakboy]

I would say ATI 5750. Will dish out and comes with a nice price tag too. gl and gb

 

[HockeyZ]

Pulling the trigger today. This is my choice so far:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814127483R

This should be a solid card that gets the job done correct? 1gb ddr5 seems crazy