Best sub $100 video card

[KrillBee]

I'm looking to spend $100 or less on a pci express video card. I saw an 8600gt on newegg.com that falls within that price range. I'm thinking about going with that. Any recommendations?

 

[AzN]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814102061R

If you don't mind openbox.

Probably your best gaming card for $100. This would be in close range of 8600gts. 8600gt is slower.

Or if you want to stick to Nvidia.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814127287R

 

[milan03]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161179

 

[CZroe]

Consider used last-gen cards. 7800 GT, 7900/7950, etc. Even without DX10, these are still better than a DX10 8600GTS considering that the 8600 won't do anything decent in DX10 anyway.

 

[taltamir]

CZroe is right... the 8600 is atrocious. It is a really weak card... 7900GS is the best bang for buck from last gen and used ones now sells on ebay for under 90$.

Do consider the 3850 for 170$ (or the soon to be released 8800GT 256MB)... it is more then your budget. But if the reason for your 100$ target is "bang for the buck" and a policy of upgrading often then you would be pleased to learn that it provides more performance per dollar then any 100$ card on the market right now and thus is a better buy.

In fact, a brand new 3850 provides more value per dollar spent then any USED card you could find as wel (at least on ebay, if you have a buddy who will sell you a used 8800GTS for 50$ then good for you)l...

 

[BernardP]

The 8600GT is now a low-midrange card and will have to drop in price substantially when the ATI HD3850 becomes widely available. If you want a 8600GT, which is slightly faster than the older 7600GT, and a bit slower than the 7900GS, I would suggest to wait a few weeks to see what the price does.

NVidia is now in a bad spot with its 8600 line and they have nothing available in the short term to counter the HD3850. And in January, ATI will be coming out with the HD36xx series on 55nm process and DirectX 10.1 which will do further harm to the 8600 Series.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: taltamir
CZroe is right... the 8600 is atrocious. It is a really weak card... 7900GS is the best bang for buck from last gen and used ones now sells on ebay for under 90$.

Do consider the 3850 for 170$ (or the soon to be released 8800GT 256MB)... it is more then your budget. But if the reason for your 100$ target is "bang for the buck" and a policy of upgrading often then you would be pleased to learn that it provides more performance per dollar then any 100$ card on the market right now and thus is a better buy.

In fact, a brand new 3850 provides more value per dollar spent then any USED card you could find as wel (at least on ebay, if you have a buddy who will sell you a used 8800GTS for 50$ then good for you)l...

Is that why 8600gts stomps 7900gs in crysis, COD, UT3 or any of the newer games and neck and neck with 2 year old engines?

Nvidia 7 series are the weak link for modern games.

 

[TC91]

the 7900gs vs 8600gts i think was a bit too overblown by ppl when the 8600 series launched. lots of people still believe the 7900gs > 8600gts in everything, but nvidia has noticeably improved the drivers of the 8600series compared to when it was first launched. the 8600 also has a better video engine, better fsaa/af quality, and is also less power hungry. some people also kind of forget that dx10 cards can also render in dx9 too, further overblowing the 7900gs vs 8600gts comparison.

 

[AzN]

8600gts really competes with 7950gt or 7900gtx in modern games so does 1950pro.

7 series have major shader issues.

 

[AzN]

http://www.pclabs.gen.tr/wp-co...10/crysis/image005.png

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: Azn
8600gts really competes with 7950gt or 7900gtx in modern games so does 1950pro.

7 series have major shader issues.

QFT

 

[omores]

Don't buy a low/mid range DX 10 card... DX10 rendering is only available in Vista. And...using Vista in games is not the smartest choice if every extra frame it's important.

In my opinion, buy the best second hand video card u can get for a 100$. 7900 GT for example. There is no reson to pay extra for a new video card when you are budget limited.

 

[jjj807]

yeah, the recent drivers have definitely improved the performance of the 8600 series but the higher end 7 series cards are more powerful imo. if you do go 8600 series go 8600gts if you can pick one up for cheap

 

[Doclife]

X1950 Pro 256MB for $83 after $50 MIR at Circuit City.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd...+pro&searchSection=All

Best video card for the money. It will kick the 8600GT butt.

 

[exar333]

I have seen some 2600Pros going for just over a hundred. I would agree with some of the people above that a 7800GT or 7900GT would be a good card. I am just replacing mine right now with a 8800GT; have been very happy with the card over the last 2 years.