Best video card

[HybridSquirrel]

Im setting up a new rig soon, hope to get a Opteron 165 Dual Core, with a DFI MoBo, 2 gigs ram, but cant decide on a video card. A friend recommended a Powercool x850xt, but i have been thinking of going Nvidia based as i have a X700 pro right now. your input is greatly appreciated. Please help me i am in a pickle!!

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Do you want it for games? X1800 or 7800GT.

 

[Fern]

Budget?

 

[tyborg]

hmm. bang-for-buck is the 7800GT. it's only $300-350 and it's better than an x850xtpe. Above that, you've got the X1800XL, another somewhat-budgety card, and the X1800XT, which is on-par with the 7800GTX, and they both trade off in different apps. As for the best card on the market, it's the 7800GTX Ultra, the 512MB one. It's way overpriced though. Beyond that, you can use Crossfire/SLI for future-proofing, however the only crossfire board is the DFI one, which sux, so if you want to do SLI/Crossfire and want it right now, you haev to go nvidia. If you're okay to wait, the Crossfire boards that'll be coming out within the next month look good.

 

[Munky]

For around $300 - 350 I'd get a 7800gt. There are more expensive, faster cards, but in general the performance increase is not proportional to the price increase. Also, the gt can usually be OC'd to gtx performance levels.

Edit: check out some benches of the latest video cards here:
http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2005q4/geforce-7800gtx-512/index.x?pg=4

 

[Eureka]

7800GT, the x850 is not worth it unless you can find it for really cheap or stuck with AGP like some of us.

Norm

 

[Wreckage]

I would say at least a 7800GT (with out knowing budget).

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

X850XT is similar in price with the 7800GT and the 7800GT just kills it in most games . . . not to mention it is SM 3.0 and more future proof. As of now, the X1800XL is also a good card if you can find it for ~$350 (lowest price on Newegg is $359) but still the 7800GT is a better deal since it is still cheaper and the X1800XL does not perform better overall than the GT (rather it is the opposite) . . .

 

[HybridSquirrel]

my budget for right now is around $250 i play mainly CS:S DOD:S and battlefield 2

 

[Eureka]

At that price... x800xl? Wasn't there also a x800xt going for 275?

Norm

 

[compgeek89]

6800 GS or x800 GTO2

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

At that price get a Connect3D X800GTO . . . it should unlock to above X850XT speeds (even on stock cooler) and for $179, nothing can really touch it for its price . . .

If you can find the GTO2 for ~ $200 it would be worth it but if not, the Connect3D GTO is a better deal . . .

 

[Eureka]

Originally posted by: 1Dark1Sharigan1
At that price get a Connect3D X800GTO . . . it should unlock to above X850XT speeds (even on stock cooler) and for $179, nothing can really touch it for its price . . .

That's only if it unlocks...

Norm

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
That's only if it unlocks...

Norm

It's almost 100% guaranteed that it will unlock since it's not lasercut, it's a VIVO card + it has the external power connector (it's basically a downclocked X800Pro VIVO) . . . I think the only reason it wouldnt would be because of the use of certain motherboards (i.e. the Asrock)

 

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by: compgeek89
6800 GS or x800 GTO2

or by spending $50 more you can grab a refurbed 7800 GT for 299 or 309 for non refurbed GT. It would be worth it.

But if not, 6800GS or C3D X800GTO

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
or by spending $50 more you can grab a refurbed 7800 GT for 299 or 309 for non refurbed GT. It would be worth it.

But if not, 6800GS or C3D X800GTO

Yeah it would be worth it but some people just aren't willing to spend $300 on a GPU . . .

 

[Piuc2020]

Money No Issue: SLI 7800GTXs 512MB (1400$)
700$: 7800GTX 512MB
600$: X1800XT
450$: 7800GTX
329$: 7800GT
199$: 6800GS or XFX XXX 6800GS (219$)
100$: 6600 DDR2

In my opinion those are the best cards for each price range, the X1800XT is a tad bit more expensive than the 7800GTX and only offers a minimal performance increase but the 7800GTX 512MB is worth the 700$. The 7800GT beats the X1800XL in most benchmarks and is less expensive priced at only 329$, then comes the 6800GS which offers almost identical performance to a 6800GT at a very affordable price and for 20$ more you can get the XFX XXX version which is clocked higher and surpasses the 6800GT. Then comes the 6600 DDR2 which is one of the best budget cards out there.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

how does the 6800GT stack up against the others mentioned? I do plan on upping the Video Card in the future, like say after christmas or so here is what the rig looks like so far

Athlon 64 3700+ Venice
or
Amd Opteron 165
2 gigs ram
DFI NForce 4 lanparty Ultra-D
Zalman Heat Sink and a stock case
I have been considering a 6800GT but i dont know how well they benchmark in those games i play compared to the ATI based cards which are Half Life 2 preffered. This can be so confusing

 

[Munky]

Do you plan on OC'ing or unlocking a card, or just keeping it stock? If you're gonna keep it stock a x800xl would be a decent card. It about the same performance as a 6800gt, but cheaper, and in Source-based games Ati cards are faster. If you plan on modding the card, then get a C3D x800gto - ~$160 and can be modded to x850xt levels or faster. The 6800gs is also a good choice for OC'ing, but the gto is better.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
my budget for right now is around $250 i play mainly CS:S DOD:S and battlefield 2

Not a good ratio. Your video card should always be more (by about 50% or more) than your CPU or you will be limited by your video card. For an Opteron 165 rig, I would go with a 7800GT at minimum. The key to good value is proper balance. The rig you are building with an Opteron 165 and a $250 video card will be great for calculating a lot of complex formulas and maybe ripping a DVD while working with in M$ Excel. What it will not be the best rig for is gaming. It won't be a horrible rig for gaming, far from it, but it certainly won't be the best bang for the buck setup. If money is a primary concern with a gaming rig, opt for a single core CPU and a more expensive video card, you will have better gaming experience.

just my $.02

 

[HybridSquirrel]

i do plan on unlocking OC i am not sure about, so do you think i should go with the 3700+ venice core?

 

[HybridSquirrel]

does a monitor really affect the video card? as far as refresh rates go

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
does a monitor really affect the video card? as far as refresh rates go

Not sure what you mean by a video card being affected by refresh rates?

But choosing a video card could be dependent on your monitor if you have LCD and have a limited native res . . .

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
i do plan on unlocking OC i am not sure about, so do you think i should go with the 3700+ venice core?

Yes, this is a much better bet for a cost conscious gaming rig. Spend the left over money on your video card. Get a 7800GT if you can.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
my budget for right now is around $250 i play mainly CS:S DOD:S and battlefield 2

Not a good ratio. Your video card should always be more (by about 50% or more) than your CPU or you will be limited by your video card. For an Opteron 165 rig, I would go with a 7800GT at minimum. The key to good value is proper balance. The rig you are building with an Opteron 165 and a $250 video card will be great for calculating a lot of complex formulas and maybe ripping a DVD while working with in M$ Excel. What it will not be the best rig for is gaming. It won't be a horrible rig for gaming, far from it, but it certainly won't be the best bang for the buck setup. If money is a primary concern with a gaming rig, opt for a single core CPU and a more expensive video card, you will have better gaming experience.

just my $.02

Agree with nitro.. but again, that's just our .02