Best card in $100 range?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
K

KnickNut3

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2001
2,382
0
0
Hey. Now that my GF4 Ti4400 crapped out (taking two motherboards with it) this week, I need to buy a new graphics card. (Couldn't jump on the CC 9800NP deal--someone hid the last one in both my local stores.) From what I hear it's best to wait until Doom 3 and HL2 come out before buying the next long-term investment (both to see which tech really handles the new engines better and because a price drop is expected). Right now I'm looking for the best card for my money in the $100 range (the best before you hop into the $150 range). Then if the big games come out in March/April, I can buy a brand new card after finals in late April and have a 24/7 frag fest as soon as school's out. I can also put this card in my dad's machine, so he can play a game or two better than he can on his GF4MX right now.

I've got some ideas, but would appreciate a fresh set of eyes on the current market. I look in the $100 range, and then I see the Powercolor 9600Pro for $139 at Newegg, but get leery of the 400MHz memory, so then I look to the 600MHz model at $159, and before I know it I'm nearly double my price range. Heh.

Thanks for the suggestions.


P.S. I will overclock, if that makes a difference. :)
 
nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
<whisper> 4200. OC the heck out of it. i dont want to say it too loud or blastman will accuse me of being a fanboy. <whisper>
 
nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: KnickNut3
Buy a card slower than the one I'm dumping? Is this a special version?
Click to expand...

well im sorry to break the news to you, but for 100 bucks you cant buy a card faster than the one you had. a 4200 will have no problems OCing to 4400 speeds. im living proof ;)

but if you are willing to go higher like you said i would look at the 9600pro, and if you are feeling like a high roller, look at the 5900NU for 190ish.


benchies galore for my pal
 
K

KnickNut3

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2001
2,382
0
0
Damn... one month over my crappy 1-year warranty, too...

Thanks for the info.

Is getting DirectX9 features a huge deal?
 
nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: KnickNut3
Damn... one month over my crappy 1-year warranty, too...

Thanks for the info.

Is getting DirectX9 features a huge deal?
Click to expand...

i would certainetly look into dx9 at this point in time. like i said take a look at those benchmarks and see where the 9600pro and the 5900NU stack against eachother and decide whether its worth the extra 40 bucks or not.
 
K

KnickNut3

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2001
2,382
0
0
Thanks. Just going to wait for one other person's opinion before I make an order (not that I don't trust you :)).

Again, best bang for my buck, pure speed--can do without AA or AF or DX9 for now :)
 
nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: KnickNut3
Thanks. Just going to wait for one other person's opinion before I make an order (not that I don't trust you :)).

Again, best bang for my buck, pure speed--can do without AA or AF or DX9 for now :)
Click to expand...

sounds fair ;) while we wait for more opinions, have a :beer: with me. <slides knicknut a :beer:>
 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
If you can spend the money on a 9600 Pro, I'd do that because you can use AA and AF with that at higher levels than the 4200. It will also allow you to play Doom 3 and HL2 when they come out, maybe not at the highest resolutions or quality, but decently.
 
R

Robor

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
16,979
0
76
I'd say for < $100 you're going to have a hard time beating that card you're looking at. Sure there's faster cards out there but the price goes up faster than the speeds. I've got a Gainward 4200 Golden Sample in my 2nd box but I haven't been playing around with it since I upgraded my main rig to a 9800 (now pro). It worked flawless for me as my primary gaming card though.

Oh, and as far as the vomiting goes. I've never done it from drinking. There's been times I wished I had but I didn't. ;) :p :Q
 
K

KnickNut3

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2001
2,382
0
0
Well, I tried to jump on the 9800np CC deal a couple weeks ago, got shut out, and then attempting to fix my Ti4400 caused my current mess. I don't see a 9800np for under $240, and my Dad will need a new one in 6 months anyway (he kinda needs a new one now--I was hoping to get the 9800 and give my 4400 to him). Getting a $100 now and getting a 2nd-echelon card in 6 months for hopefully (and likely, according to some hypothesizers) half the price of today.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom