best mid-range vid card ~$200

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weizilla

Member
Jun 9, 2005
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i'm looking for the best mid range vid card... as close to $200 as possible with $250 being the absolute max. I will not be playing games much.. but I would like to have a card that will last 3-4 years and especially work with Windows Vista.

First, I was going to get the 6600 GT, but then I was convinced to go to get the MSI ATI X800 Pro for $200. However, it recently increased to $240 and I would like to spend as close to $200 as possible.

Does anyone recommend something that's around the $200 price range? I would like it to be as future proof as possible...
 
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gac009

Senior member
Jun 10, 2005
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first off "OMG SM 3.0!!!" < ignore these post
secondly x800pro > 6600gt

if you can get the x800 pro for 200$ then Id go for it, if your talking about the refurbs from ATI, Id pay the extra for the x800xt myself.
there is no "future proof" video card, but the best performer in your price range would be the refurbs offered by ATI.
 
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wbynum

Senior member
Jul 14, 2005
302
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Newegg has the Leadtec 6800LE for $140 + shipping. Probably about the best deal going right now on a budget game card.
 
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weizilla

Member
Jun 9, 2005
58
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pci-e

i'm sort of reluctant in purchasing a refurb computer part... especially if i'm spending $200 on it
 
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mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
1
81
get a x800 then t has 12pipes like the x800pro and ocs very well on the memory(it uses 2.0ns memory just like it's big brother the x800xl, which is capable up to 1ghz, and the core is good up to around 450)
 
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johnnqq

Golden Member
May 30, 2005
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170ish= x800 vanilla
250 or higher= x800 xl

depends how much you want to spend. the x800 vanilla is a better value but the xl will give much better graphics for the games out TODAY.
 
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johnnqq

Golden Member
May 30, 2005
1,659
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think. $45 for a 128mb differnce...it probably won't be that noticeable because this isn't an ultra or an xtpe. think of othing things you could buy with that $45. more space, better speakers...dinner. besides for 30 more than that you can get an xl.
 
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hans030390

Diamond Member
Feb 3, 2005
7,326
2
76
Originally posted by: gac009
first off "OMG SM 3.0!!!" < ignore these post
secondly x800pro > 6600gt

if you can get the x800 pro for 200$ then Id go for it, if your talking about the refurbs from ATI, Id pay the extra for the x800xt myself.
there is no "future proof" video card, but the best performer in your price range would be the refurbs offered by ATI.
Click to expand...

third off "first off 'OMG SM 3.0!!!'" < ignore these posts
fourthly x800 > 6600gt
fifthly x800 runs Shader model 2.0, any Nvidia 6 series card (6600, 6800 etc) uses Sm3.

a 6800 would fit your price range well. In fact, its a great performer on current games and has shader model 3. x800 series doesnt. In fact, I think a 6800 is about equal to an x800pro. That is, in SM2 games. No, there are very very few Sm3 compatible games out, but just wait till next gen.

I mean cmon, its kinda weird to not consider a card because it has newer features! Last time i checked, cards with newer features play the newer games better than those with older features!

In fact, there was an article (only ask me for a link if you don't believe me) (and a rather good reliable source) that said "there is no sense in buying an ATI card at this moment."
Just because they don't have Shader model 3.

So sorry if I'm backed up with a known website. I dont recall any websites (and that was a pretty new article) that say "there is no sense in considering a 6 series card because they have shader model 3"...If you find a website that says that (and is new) tell me.

I do recommend however that you look into the 6800 and x800 cards on your own. Also, read about shader model 3 to see if you possibly want it.

And yes, it will be used very heavily in next gen.

And no, maybe it wont run it well, but in that case, the x800 series sure as hell wont do any better on SM2. So you might as well be "safer" and get a SM3 card.

Enough said.
 
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weizilla

Member
Jun 9, 2005
58
0
0
Originally posted by: hans030390
Originally posted by: gac009
first off "OMG SM 3.0!!!" < ignore these post
secondly x800pro > 6600gt

if you can get the x800 pro for 200$ then Id go for it, if your talking about the refurbs from ATI, Id pay the extra for the x800xt myself.
there is no "future proof" video card, but the best performer in your price range would be the refurbs offered by ATI.
Click to expand...

third off "first off 'OMG SM 3.0!!!'" < ignore these posts
fourthly x800 > 6600gt
fifthly x800 runs Shader model 2.0, any Nvidia 6 series card (6600, 6800 etc) uses Sm3.

a 6800 would fit your price range well. In fact, its a great performer on current games and has shader model 3. x800 series doesnt. In fact, I think a 6800 is about equal to an x800pro. That is, in SM2 games. No, there are very very few Sm3 compatible games out, but just wait till next gen.

I mean cmon, its kinda weird to not consider a card because it has newer features! Last time i checked, cards with newer features play the newer games better than those with older features!

In fact, there was an article (only ask me for a link if you don't believe me) (and a rather good reliable source) that said "there is no sense in buying an ATI card at this moment."
Just because they don't have Shader model 3.

So sorry if I'm backed up with a known website. I dont recall any websites (and that was a pretty new article) that say "there is no sense in considering a 6 series card because they have shader model 3"...If you find a website that says that (and is new) tell me.

I do recommend however that you look into the 6800 and x800 cards on your own. Also, read about shader model 3 to see if you possibly want it.

And yes, it will be used very heavily in next gen.

And no, maybe it wont run it well, but in that case, the x800 series sure as hell wont do any better on SM2. So you might as well be "safer" and get a SM3 card.

Enough said.
Click to expand...

The 6800 card that i found uses DDR instead of GDDR3:
MSI GeForce 6800 128MB
http://labs.anandtech.com/alllinks.php?pfilter=1753

How much of a difference would that be performance wise?

 
M

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
1
81
good company, bad card. with 256mb, the memory clock drops to a measly 600mhz .
DDR and DDRIII are all the same dont worry(DDRIII runs cooler, but that dosent realyl matter for memory all thatm uch).

really, though, ignore hans. SM3 wil do nothing for you since the 6800 will be too slow to run it effectively at any decent resolution. get a x800 and save some money.

I mean cmon, its kinda weird to not consider a card because it has newer features! Last time i checked, cards with newer features play the newer games better than those with older features!
Click to expand...

bs. It will be too slow to run. the only game it might un decently at 10x7 with SM3 on is Age of Empires 3, any other game like FEAR will be far to demanding unless you like 640x480 with SM3 on.
Hell in Farcry(last year's game), youll be playing pretty choppily if you try HDR/SM3 at 10x7.
 
Bartokomus

Bartokomus

Golden Member
Mar 15, 2002
1,430
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76
ask yourself this question in a week or so when the next nvidia release hits; prices should take a bit of a drop...
 
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weizilla

Member
Jun 9, 2005
58
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0
Originally posted by: Bartokomus
ask yourself this question in a week or so when the next nvidia release hits; prices should take a bit of a drop...
Click to expand...


good point. hopefully the 6800 gt or something will drop to $200ish
 
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Porter21

Golden Member
Oct 4, 2004
1,912
0
0
Originally posted by: weizilla
i'm looking for the best mid range vid card... as close to $200 as possible with $250 being the absolute max. I will not be playing games much.. but I would like to have a card that will last 3-4 years and especially work with Windows Vista.

First, I was going to get the 6600 GT, but then I was convinced to go to get the MSI ATI X800 Pro for $200. However, it recently increased to $240 and I would like to spend as close to $200 as possible.

Does anyone recommend something that's around the $200 price range? I would like it to be as future proof as possible...
Click to expand...


best card under 200 is the 6800
 
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