Best video card for my system

[AgentJean]

My current specs

Athlon 64 4400
2GB PC 3200 Ram
Asus A8N-SLI Mobo
Nvidia Geforce 6800 GT 256MB
XP Pro SP2

I want to upgrade my video card to the best possible for this system configuration. I do not need a direct X 10 card because this computer will NEVER see Vista. I doubt I'll ever see either. So I don't need anything super new.

What GPUs should I looking into? What are the best ones I could run without getting bottlenecked at the CPU?

 

[Creig]

I would simply get the fastest video card you can afford. The terms "CPU bottleneck" and "GPU bottleneck" are not lines etched in stone. Your system can go from being "CPU bottlenecked" to "GPU bottlenecked" simply by changing your resolution, AA, AF, in-game settings, etc. By getting the fastest card you can afford, you will effectively increase your overall framerates at all resolutions. The only time this would not be helpful is if you run an extremely low resolution or don't bump up the eye-candy.

 

[AgentJean]

What were the last direct X 9 cards produced?

 

[Laminator]

http://www.tomshardware.com/20...o_cards_for_the_money/
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814241063
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814153034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133186

The fastest DX9 card you can get is the X1950 XTX but it's no longer for sale at a reasonable price. The fastest DX9 cards you can get right now are the X1950 XT 512MB, the X1950 XT 256MB, the 7950GT 512MB, the 7950GT 256MB, the X1950 Pro 512MB, the X1950 Pro 256MB, and the 7900GS.

The X1950 Pro 512MB and the 7950GT models are wastes of money. The X1950 XT 512MB is an okay deal at $200 shipped but for that price you might want an 8800GTS 320MB for $250. The X1950 Pro's are good deals at <$130 and the 7900GS's are good deals at <$120 but I don't know if they'd be substantial-enough upgrades over your 6800GT.

 

[F1N3ST]

I got a used X1900xtx for 200$, that is equal to the 7900gtx and a little worse than the x1950xtx.

 

[nyker96]

why not a newer 8600GTS or 8800GTS 320? those pretty budget card with good performance.

 

[Laminator]

Yes, 8800GTS 320MB for $250 and 8600GTS for <$140 are okay deals, too.