best bang for the buck video card to hold me off till next generation cards?

[demenion]

i am looking to spend under $150 new or used on a video card to hold me off till the next generation video cards.

i am running a core 2 duo @ 3.5 ghz currently on a 6600 GT.

what is the best bang for the buck card you guys can recommend?

thanks.

 

[f4phantom2500]

i'd say go for a 7900gs, you should be able to find one for sub-$100 shipped in the fs/ft forum without much hassle. if you look around hard enough you may be able to get an x1950xt for $150, or maybe an x1900xt.

 

[yuppiejr]

The MSI X1950 Pro, 512 meg with dual slot cooler is the card I'd go with - though it creeps your budget slightly at $159:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127246 - looks OOS until 6/16

The MSI 7900GS, 512 meg OC card is another good option and is under your budget at $143.99 AR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127277

IMHO - 512 megs is the way to go if you want this to hold up until jumping into a next-gen part.

 

[f4phantom2500]

yuppiejr, if he's fine going used, he should definitely check out the fs/ft forum, i can pretty much guarantee that he'll find a better card for a lower price (or at least one of the two) than newegg.

 

[yuppiejr]

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
yuppiejr, if he's fine going used, he should definitely check out the fs/ft forum, i can pretty much guarantee that he'll find a better card for a lower price (or at least one of the two) than newegg.

The risk is higher buying used but I agree he'll get more for his money - I always like to start with prices for new gear and then decide if the price diffy is worth the posibility that you will get a card that can't be RMAed or has been overclocked within an inch of it's life, etc...

This person, who seems to have good heat, is selling a 1900xt/512 meg card for $155 shipped which seems quite reasonable:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...key=y&keyword1=x1900xt

 

[demenion]

thanks a lot!