Best card out for under $200 right now?

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Isocene

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
694
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Let me first apologize for making one of these topics I think everyone hates to see. I am completely out of the video card game and have no idea what is good at the moment. But I do trust the people on anandtech to have a great reputation for being up to date on what is great and what is a smart buy.

specs:

Core2Duo E6400
GA-965P-DS3
2GB DDR2 800 PC2 6400 Patriot extreme

(I upgraded a year ago, is this still "fast"?)

I'm looking at the EVGA 8800GTS which is going for $190 on newegg right now. Is this the best card for me to get around this price range?

[edit:]

My old video card, a 7800GT died on me today. I'm running x64 vista but thinking about moving back to xp because I got a lot of crashes. I think it was due to the bad video card though.
 
I

Isocene

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
694
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Awesome I just looked at some of the reviews and it does indeed look like a great card.

Is there anything on the horizon that I should wait a month or two for or should I feel comfortable ordering this now?
 
P

programmer

Senior member
Mar 12, 2003
412
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0
Either the 8800GTS 512 (g92) or 8800 GT 512 (g92) are the best available nVidia cards at the moment, but neither will fit your budget. The card you linked is the older g80 320MB version which I've read has some issues (and is not as fast, not even as fast as the 8800GT 512 in some cases).

Maybe you should save a few bucks and consider the fastest 8600GT you can get? I have a very similar setup as far as motherboard and CPU are concerned and decided to splurge on the 8800GTS 512. No regrets! Even Crysis was smooth as butter, except for a few cut-scenes. At the time I got the card bundled with Crysis. You can now get the same card without the game for a lots less $260AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130325
 
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angry hampster

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2007
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www.lexaphoto.com
Originally posted by: programmer


Maybe you should save a few bucks and consider the fastest 8600GT you can get?
Click to expand...


This is a terrible idea. Those cards are slow and are easily outperformed by the earlier generation 7800/7900 series cards. OP: Check out offerings for ATI's 3850 or nvidia's 8800GS, or wait a week and snag a 9600GT.


 
BlueAcolyte

BlueAcolyte

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2007
2,793
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WRONG! Some 8800GT 512mb cards are coming down to the $200 or below pricepoint. There's one for $185 after rebate at newegg... But it's OOS. There's an overclocked MSI card with a better cooler for $210 AR.


Or you could get the 8800GS or HD 3850 512mb.
 
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nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
10,460
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Originally posted by: programmer
Either the 8800GTS 512 (g92) or 8800 GT 512 (g92) are the best available nVidia cards at the moment, but neither will fit your budget. The card you linked is the older g80 320MB version which I've read has some issues (and is not as fast, not even as fast as the 8800GT 512 in some cases).

Maybe you should save a few bucks and consider the fastest 8600GT you can get? I have a very similar setup as far as motherboard and CPU are concerned and decided to splurge on the 8800GTS 512. No regrets! Even Crysis was smooth as butter, except for a few cut-scenes. At the time I got the card bundled with Crysis. You can now get the same card without the game for a lots less $260AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130325
Click to expand...

I don't recommend that card, it's price performance ratio isn't good. I'd get a 3850 over the 8600GT.

The 9600GT coming out next week (supposedly) will be your best bet in this price range. As noted, an 8800GT would be better yet.
 
I

Isocene

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
694
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71
Although it's a bit out of my price range I don't mind spending extra to get the 8800GT. Especially after checking the charts on Tom's Hardware. It seems to be quite a bit ahead of the cards behind it.

This card is faster than the 9600GT that is coming out right?

[edit]

Although, the cooling on that card MarcVenice posted looks very nice! My computer is very quiet right now and it would be great if it stayed that way.
 
I

Isocene

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
694
0
71
That MSI looks like a great deal but it doesn't seem to have the same cooling the newegg one has. For me, keeping it quiet and cool is important. I've gone through a bit of trouble to keep my case quiet. But thanks!
 
PCTC2

PCTC2

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2007
3,892
33
91
Originally posted by: Isocene
Although it's a bit out of my price range I don't mind spending extra to get the 8800GT. Especially after checking the charts on Tom's Hardware. It seems to be quite a bit ahead of the cards behind it.

This card is faster than the 9600GT that is coming out right?

[edit]

Although, the cooling on that card MarcVenice posted looks very nice! My computer is very quiet right now and it would be great if it stayed that way.
Click to expand...

The card MarcVenice posted would be a lot quieter than the one you linked. The one Marc posted has a larger fan and thus can spin slower to cool the same and push the same amount of air. The stock cooler has a small whiny fan. Plus, the MSI card will keep it a lot cooler than the stock cooler. And it's cheaper.
 
Engineer

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,234
701
126
Originally posted by: Isocene
That MSI looks like a great deal but it doesn't seem to have the same cooling the newegg one has. For me, keeping it quiet and cool is important. I've gone through a bit of trouble to keep my case quiet. But thanks!
Click to expand...

Sorry, just read the OP and didn't realize that you wanted completely quite cooling. Good luck! :)
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
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I just seen some benchmarks for the 9600gt and I'd wait to see what price it's released at.
If it's around 160/170$ like they are saying it's a good deal.
 
zod96

zod96

Platinum Member
May 28, 2007
2,860
67
91
Hands down a 8800 GT. I sold mu 8800 Ultra while the price was still high. I got a 8800 GT, and at the resolution I play and the games I play, the GT plays exactly like the ultra did, max setting and its but smooth. And it uses less power takes up one slot. Its amazing how good this card is.
 
taltamir

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
76
Originally posted by: nRollo
Originally posted by: programmer
Either the 8800GTS 512 (g92) or 8800 GT 512 (g92) are the best available nVidia cards at the moment, but neither will fit your budget. The card you linked is the older g80 320MB version which I've read has some issues (and is not as fast, not even as fast as the 8800GT 512 in some cases).

Maybe you should save a few bucks and consider the fastest 8600GT you can get? I have a very similar setup as far as motherboard and CPU are concerned and decided to splurge on the 8800GTS 512. No regrets! Even Crysis was smooth as butter, except for a few cut-scenes. At the time I got the card bundled with Crysis. You can now get the same card without the game for a lots less $260AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130325
Click to expand...

I don't recommend that card, it's price performance ratio isn't good. I'd get a 3850 over the 8600GT.

The 9600GT coming out next week (supposedly) will be your best bet in this price range. As noted, an 8800GT would be better yet.
Click to expand...

hush! don't give sound advice telling people to get an AMD card in the ONE case its actually justified, you will ruin your "fanatic nvidia fanboi with no reason (other then them dominating right now)" street cred.
:p

nRollo is right here... the 8600 is a horrible choice, very bad bang/buck ratio. if you DO want to save a few bucks then the 3850 is a much better choice...

The 8800GTS 320/640 is not very good bang/buck either...

The 8800GT is a good choice, it is 210$... so 10$ over you budget, but it will be worth it.

The 8800GS has literally half the shader power of the new GTS 512.
It is not a very wise choice right now.

If the GT is too much for you, IF you can find a 3870 for less, it is a bit slower but still good choice... so is a 3850. I wouldn't go below a 3850 because everything below is gonna give you horrible performance and very bad bang/buck.


The link by lavaliant is the best choice I see...
at 198 for an 8800GT OC with an aftermarket cooler... and MSI is rather decent...
http://www.clubit.com/product_...l.cfm?itemno=CA9654059
This is actually CHEAPER then a 3870 and is a better card to boot.

Do NOT get the ECS one... ECS stands for Extra Crappy Systems... It is the worse budget stuff on the market that I know of and will probably explode on you or something.
 
Denithor

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,300
23
81
Anyone know what kind of warranty MSI provides on their cards? Any experience with their service? I was planning to pick up one of these cards eventually but was planning on EVGA or XFX because of their practically bullet-proof warranties. This one looks like a winner though due to the improved cooling and price.
 
Magusigne

Magusigne

Golden Member
Nov 21, 2007
1,550
0
76
Originally posted by: Denithor
Anyone know what kind of warranty MSI provides on their cards? Any experience with their service? I was planning to pick up one of these cards eventually but was planning on EVGA or XFX because of their practically bullet-proof warranties. This one looks like a winner though due to the improved cooling and price.
Click to expand...


Yeah I was wondering about that too.

I was also wondering how much better the G92 version would compare to this one?
 
AzN

AzN

Banned
Nov 26, 2001
4,112
2
0
Originally posted by: Denithor
Anyone know what kind of warranty MSI provides on their cards? Any experience with their service? I was planning to pick up one of these cards eventually but was planning on EVGA or XFX because of their practically bullet-proof warranties. This one looks like a winner though due to the improved cooling and price.
Click to expand...

Supposed to be 2 year on parts. 3 year service warranty.
 
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