Best bang for your buck amongst high-end cards?

[rwilloug]

Built a new rig back in May (P4 2.8 800 FSB, 512MB RAM, ASUS P4P800). Based on this forum's recommendation, I stuck with my original GeForce 3 for video until it got closer to Half-Life 2 and Doom 3's release date. Fast forwarding to today, with what we now know about the 9800 XT and NV38 from Anand's review, what would people recommend as the best value for a new high-end card? I can afford the 9800 XT if its really the best choice , but I wouldn't mind saving money either. I've seen 9800 Pro 128MB cards going for around $300 now on the net, which seems like a pretty good value to me. What do people think represents the best bang for your buck?

Thanks in advance,

Rich

 

[Vonkhan]

I'd say go for the 9800XT if u can afford it and get a copy of HL2 for free while u're at it

else, buy a 9800np and then return/replace it till u get one with Samsung mem chips

 

[CJP]

Hands down the best deal on a high end card is the Radeon 9800 non-pro. I just bought a Saphire 9800 non-pro oem for $340 Canadian which I think was a great price. Of course it's much less in U.S. dollars. Games look 100% better than on my old Geforce 3 and I don't know how I went without AA and AF before. I had a screen flickering problem in IE while surfing a few days ago but the problem seems to have gone away by itself. Other than that it's run all my games like a dream. If you've got the dough for the XT though why not treat yourself, I would have bought it myself but I don't have the cash. I've read people say that the Radeon's run Half-life better than Nvidia cards but who knows how even the latest cards will run Doom 3 when it comes out.

 

[lifeguard1999]

Get a retail ATI Radeon 9800 non-pro for $250 at Best Buy. Or buy an OEM Radeon 9800 Pro for $306 at NewEgg.com.

 

[Genx87]

5900 for ~240 bucks on pricewatch.com isnt a bad deal either. Most people can get it upto ultra speeds without issue.

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by: Genx87
5900 for ~240 bucks on pricewatch.com isnt a bad deal either. Most people can get it upto ultra speeds without issue.

if you're planning on playing hl2, don't buy nvidia...but you knew that already didn't you?