Best video card under $200?

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MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
My friends' GF2GTS is giving up the ghost. Artifacts/shaky screen, the fan is dying and of course, he stripped the screws trying to get the fan off to oil it. (per my instructions...but he messed it up!)

Being the card is old and he does game, etc, he needs a new card.

ATI or NVidia. Does not matter.

Don't need VIVO/TIVO/XPIVO/SHMEEVO or any of that crap. Need a card under $200. Best bang. Thanks much!!!
 
D

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
The nV fx5900 non-ultra / SE cards are a good deal for buying brand new, they start at just under $200 at newegg, though Hot Deals or a check in the Video forum might find a better price. Something to pay a little attention to is the memory and core speeds, the $197 XFX at newegg is 700 / 390 while my Gainward card is 850 / 400 ($229, with the evil VIVO).

Edit: the EVGA GeForce FX 5900SE is 700 / 400 and $188 shipped ($14 cheaper) and the reviews are positive.


A used Radeon 9700 Pro is perhaps even better, until its fan dies too ;) .
 
S

Snoop

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,424
0
76
Is the 5900 non ultra faster than a 5700 ultra?
This Gainward card comes overclocked with a 500 core, 950 (effective) memory clock.

Edit, looks like the ATI 9700 pro, can be had for about the same amount as the 5700 (within 20) so I would probably get that.
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Hey, thanks for all the quick replies!! Awesome. :)

Well, I've got a lot of info to sort out. Haven't bought a video card since July when I got my 9800NP...thanks much and if anyone has any other suggestions/seconds, let me know. :)
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: LouPoir
9700 Pro - IMHO
Click to expand...

You know, I agree with you.

BUT, this guy is a non-techie that plays games. I built his rig. Ergo, I am his tech support.
rolleye.gif
We no longer live in close proximity, so anything I help him with is done over the phone...which is frustrating to say the least.

That said, you can't find a NEW, with a warranty 9700 Pro for under $200. USED (i.e from FS/FT) is not an option w/this guy due to his non-ability to troubleshoot, uninstall, reinstall, etc. We need new, this way if there's a problem, back it goes to Newegg or whomever.

As it is, I'm going to have to walk him thru swapping out this video card over the phone. If we go w/an ATI, we'll have to run Driver Cleaner and all that....a real PITA.

Anyway, I'm still looking. :)
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Thank you, NCX429. Can somebody please explain the diff b/t the new ATI "XT" cards and the regular ones? I.E. what's the diff b/t a
9600 and a 9600XT? :confused:
 
C

Corporate Thug

Lifer
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: LouPoir
9700 Pro - IMHO
Click to expand...

You know, I agree with you.

BUT, this guy is a non-techie that plays games. I built his rig. Ergo, I am his tech support.
rolleye.gif
We no longer live in close proximity, so anything I help him with is done over the phone...which is frustrating to say the least.

That said, you can't find a NEW, with a warranty 9700 Pro for under $200. USED (i.e from FS/FT) is not an option w/this guy due to his non-ability to troubleshoot, uninstall, reinstall, etc. We need new, this way if there's a problem, back it goes to Newegg or whomever.

As it is, I'm going to have to walk him thru swapping out this video card over the phone. If we go w/an ATI, we'll have to run Driver Cleaner and all that....a real PITA.

Anyway, I'm still looking. :)
Click to expand...

there are two 9700 pros for $209 shipped at zipzoomfly, can he stretch his budget $9?

 
S

ShawnReeves

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2000
3,346
0
76
BUT, this guy is a non-techie that plays games. I built his rig. Ergo, I am his tech support. We no longer live in close proximity, so anything I help him with is done over the phone...which is frustrating to say the least.
Click to expand...

Thats where Remote Desktop comes in handy. ;)
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: shady06
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: LouPoir
9700 Pro - IMHO
Click to expand...

You know, I agree with you.

BUT, this guy is a non-techie that plays games. I built his rig. Ergo, I am his tech support.
rolleye.gif
We no longer live in close proximity, so anything I help him with is done over the phone...which is frustrating to say the least.

That said, you can't find a NEW, with a warranty 9700 Pro for under $200. USED (i.e from FS/FT) is not an option w/this guy due to his non-ability to troubleshoot, uninstall, reinstall, etc. We need new, this way if there's a problem, back it goes to Newegg or whomever.

As it is, I'm going to have to walk him thru swapping out this video card over the phone. If we go w/an ATI, we'll have to run Driver Cleaner and all that....a real PITA.

Anyway, I'm still looking. :)
Click to expand...

there are two 9700 pros for $209 shipped at zipzoomfly, can he stretch his budget $9?
Click to expand...


Hmmm. Hafta check. He does have the WAF to deal with .
rolleye.gif


I own both ATI and NVidia cards and have been an NVidia guy for a long time. BUT at that pricepoint, the 9700 Prol is the clear winner. I will email him. His wife will prolly read it and reply back "it's not the cheapest card thingee! Why do we need it?" WTF- ever.
rolleye.gif

 
B

Bucksnort

Golden Member
Aug 17, 2001
1,062
0
0
compuplus has the fx5900 bfg brand for 169 bucks. 5900 and 5900se is faster than 5700 ultra. Also 5900 and 5900se have 8 pixel pipes and 256 bit.
 
R

RanDum72

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2001
4,330
0
76
That said, you can't find a NEW, with a warranty 9700 Pro for under $200. USED (i.e from FS/FT) is not an option w/this guy due to his non-ability to troubleshoot, uninstall, reinstall, etc. We need new, this way if there's a problem, back it goes to Newegg or whomever.
Click to expand...

Newegg has the Powercolor 9700pro for $219 (new, retail box with everything), ZipZoomFly has it for $209. Both comes with free shipping. It IS over $200 but not by much and IMO, the best buy of any video card right now in terms of cost/performance.
 
M

MangoTBG

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
3,101
0
76
If he could throw the xtra cash out for the 9700pro, I think we're all in agreeance that that's the best deal. I miss my 9700pro. :-D
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Dang. MWave has the 9600XT for $159! But the 9700 Pro is only $47 more.

How much better is the old 9700 Pro than this new 9600XT? Assuming no overclocking! Thanks again. :)
 
N

NxC429

Member
Jan 18, 2004
101
0
0
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Dang. MWave has the 9600XT for $159! But the 9700 Pro is only $47 more.

How much better is the old 9700 Pro than this new 9600XT? Assuming no overclocking! Thanks again. :)
Click to expand...


At MWave they are both OEM. The 9600XT OEM probably will not come with a coupon for HL2.
I would recomend getting a retail version video card, but 9700 pro retail are hard to come by.
 
H

Hurkie

Junior Member
Jan 16, 2004
5
0
0
The 9700 Pro is ALOT better than the 9600XT. The 9600XT is an overclocked 9600 Pro which a 9500 Pro easily beats. The 9500 Pro also beats the 9600XT in most benchmarks but overall performance are about par. As everyone else has stated, a 9700 Pro / 9800 non-pro are the best choice. I'm not sure what newegg sells the non-pro's for, but even if he can get a 9700 non-pro it's a heck of alot better than the 9600XT.
 
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