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best video card for 300 dollars

X800XL.

Anyone who says 6600GT should be shot (that directed toward Mr. hans SM 3.0) 😉
 
6600gt!!!!!!!!!!!! or wait....you could get a 6800gt for around there or a 6800 😉 i would rather take that

dont get an x800xl. It only uses outdated shader model 2.0, where as the 6xxx cards use SM3.0 (needed for next gen games...trust me, you'll need it)

so i vote 6800 or 6800gt...you MIGHT be able to softmod the 6800 to a 6800gt...either way those are great performers and will do so for next gen...as for x800xl...maybe....not guaranteed...but SM2.0 wont be as pretty
 
X800XL.

And you can't softmod a PCIe 6800 into anything, as it has only 12 pipes on the chip, thus none to unlock. A PCIe 6800 also has slower memory than the AGP version, making it look even worse compared to an X800XL.
 
Originally posted by: hans030390
6600gt!!!!!!!!!!!! or wait....you could get a 6800gt for around there or a 6800 😉 i would rather take that

dont get an x800xl. It only uses outdated shader model 2.0, where as the 6xxx cards use SM3.0 (needed for next gen games...trust me, you'll need it)

so i vote 6800 or 6800gt...you MIGHT be able to softmod the 6800 to a 6800gt...either way those are great performers and will do so for next gen...as for x800xl...maybe....not guaranteed...but SM2.0 wont be as pretty
Click to expand...

Really depends on whether or not the OP plans on upgrading again by the end of the year. If one goes with the XL now then they will have arguablly the best graphics card for the money for the here and now. But as you said if one plans on keeping the card a while then the 6800GT makes more sense even if it is a little more. You won't be able to play future games with all the graphic goodness with the XL. Case in point, Age of Empires 3, you will want SM3 for this game and many more.
 
Originally posted by: ohnnyj
Originally posted by: hans030390
6600gt!!!!!!!!!!!! or wait....you could get a 6800gt for around there or a 6800 😉 i would rather take that

dont get an x800xl. It only uses outdated shader model 2.0, where as the 6xxx cards use SM3.0 (needed for next gen games...trust me, you'll need it)

so i vote 6800 or 6800gt...you MIGHT be able to softmod the 6800 to a 6800gt...either way those are great performers and will do so for next gen...as for x800xl...maybe....not guaranteed...but SM2.0 wont be as pretty
Click to expand...

Really depends on whether or not the OP plans on upgrading again by the end of the year. If one goes with the XL now then they will have arguablly the best graphics card for the money for the here and now. But as you said if one plans on keeping the card a while then the 6800GT makes more sense even if it is a little more. You won't be able to play future games with all the graphic goodness with the XL. Case in point, Age of Empires 3, you will want SM3 for this game and many more.
Click to expand...

And how do you know that an NV40 card will be powerful enough to play those games on SM3?

I'd get an X800XL any day.
 
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
Originally posted by: ohnnyj
Originally posted by: hans030390
6600gt!!!!!!!!!!!! or wait....you could get a 6800gt for around there or a 6800 😉 i would rather take that

dont get an x800xl. It only uses outdated shader model 2.0, where as the 6xxx cards use SM3.0 (needed for next gen games...trust me, you'll need it)

so i vote 6800 or 6800gt...you MIGHT be able to softmod the 6800 to a 6800gt...either way those are great performers and will do so for next gen...as for x800xl...maybe....not guaranteed...but SM2.0 wont be as pretty
Click to expand...

Really depends on whether or not the OP plans on upgrading again by the end of the year. If one goes with the XL now then they will have arguablly the best graphics card for the money for the here and now. But as you said if one plans on keeping the card a while then the 6800GT makes more sense even if it is a little more. You won't be able to play future games with all the graphic goodness with the XL. Case in point, Age of Empires 3, you will want SM3 for this game and many more.
Click to expand...

And how do you know that an NV40 card will be powerful enough to play those games on SM3?

I'd get an X800XL any day.
Click to expand...

I don't, but at least the option is there. I think the XL is great, and if it had the latest features it would be the best pick, and it may still be if the OP plans on upgrading later on. Both cards will give great framerates on current games, and its true that the GT may be slow on SM3 games of the future but that is to be seen.
 
I don't, but at least the option is there. I think the XL is great, and if it had the latest features it would be the best pick, and it may still be if the OP plans on upgrading later on. Both cards will give great framerates on current games, and its true that the GT may be slow on SM3 games of the future but that is to be seen.
Click to expand...

Of course, you have to weigh that against a $100+ price difference now (at least in PCIe). I personally wouldn't pay that much of a premium (but then again, I haven't found any card this generation worth buying yet).
 
Originally posted by: Matthias99
I don't, but at least the option is there. I think the XL is great, and if it had the latest features it would be the best pick, and it may still be if the OP plans on upgrading later on. Both cards will give great framerates on current games, and its true that the GT may be slow on SM3 games of the future but that is to be seen.
Click to expand...

Of course, you have to weigh that against a $100+ price difference now (at least in PCIe).
Click to expand...

Yep, I was gonna say that.
 
ATI X800XL for non SLI configuration, BFG 6600GToc for about $250 for now for SLI and then buy another one when you can afford it
 
Originally posted by: hans030390
6600gt!!!!!!!!!!!! or wait....you could get a 6800gt for around there or a 6800 😉 i would rather take that

dont get an x800xl. It only uses outdated shader model 2.0, where as the 6xxx cards use SM3.0 (needed for next gen games...trust me, you'll need it)

so i vote 6800 or 6800gt...you MIGHT be able to softmod the 6800 to a 6800gt...either way those are great performers and will do so for next gen...as for x800xl...maybe....not guaranteed...but SM2.0 wont be as pretty
Click to expand...


6800 will never be as fast as 6800gt. PCI-E version is physically different core, wont EVER unlock. Also, memory will not reach 1ghz.

6800gt is more than $300
see here

6600gt is MUCH slower than a x800xl

besides, you dont NEED SM3.0 It is pratically the same as PS2.0B, just easier to code for. Sure many big games will spport SM3.0 in the future, but 95% of those games will also support SM2.0 too. just look at how when SM2.0 games came out, SM1.1 was also supported in almost all those games too. The difference in video quality between SM3.0. and PS2.0 is very similar. It is not needed, but nice to have, though i would never pay $40 extra to get 1 feature.

x800xl is the best bet.
 
As everyone has said so far X800XL for those who say 6800 for SM3 they are not thinking by the time games support only SM3 the 6800 will be a few generations old and mildly useable on the lowest of the low settings.
 
All the sm3 supporters forgot to mention that the x800 cards run shader code faster than their equivalent gf6xxx cards (too lazy to post link, just look at the huge video card review on xbitlabs), so that's 1 less reason to care about sm3 support on current nvidia cards.
 
Originally posted by: munky
All the sm3 supporters forgot to mention that the x800 cards run shader code faster than their equivalent gf6xxx cards (too lazy to post link, just look at the huge video card review on xbitlabs), so that's 1 less reason to care about sm3 support on current nvidia cards.
Click to expand...


Man, you guys are really determined not to move forward just for the love of a company.
 
Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
Originally posted by: munky
All the sm3 supporters forgot to mention that the x800 cards run shader code faster than their equivalent gf6xxx cards (too lazy to post link, just look at the huge video card review on xbitlabs), so that's 1 less reason to care about sm3 support on current nvidia cards.
Click to expand...


Man, you guys are really determined not to move forward just for the love of a company.
Click to expand...

Not really. If I could get a 6800gt for the same price as a x800xl, then obviously the gt would be a better choice. But I wouldn't pay $50-100 for a feature that may or may not benefit cards of this generation.
 
I am so sick and tired of the constant sm 3.0 bs that comes out of some people mouths. Who gives a rats ass? It makes virually no difference at this point in time, and when it does A 6xxx geforce will be slow anyways. I have a bfg 6800 gt OC and am very pleased with it, but I "upgraded" from and x800 pro expecting all the sm 3.0 greatness to fall upon me from the heavens above, only to be left waiting for it to happen. I admit it's a nice feature to have but not any reason to persuade a decision. The only advice I give is this. You play doom3= get 6x00, You play hl2= X8xx. Please no more sm 3.0 bs for atleast 1 year when It becomes a standard and the gfx card that utilizes it can use it with some serious balls
 
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