Best Video Card

[fstime]

Obviously I've been out of the whole video card thing for a while.

Whats the best thing out there.

Remember the 6800GT/Ultra, where the ultra was +$100 but only a few fps faster.

I'm looking for the card thats like the GT, not the absolute best which I can squeeze an extra 2 fps out of.

No SLI preferably.

 

[40sTheme]

The BEST thing out right now? The 8800GTX. Be prepared to drop $600 bucks though. Geez, you have been out of the loop.

 

[fstime]

Originally posted by: 40sTheme
The BEST thing out right now? The 8800GTX. Be prepared to drop $600 bucks though. Geez, you have been out of the loop.

Yep.

So theres nothing out there that can match the 8800GTX with a simple 50 mhz oc or flash like the old 6800GT/Ultra or is the 8800GTX in a class of it's own.

Once again, I want top of the line but don't need the most super duper card to get +3 fps.

Also, before I make a purchase, is the 8-series tech going to be outdated soon or is it a card that will last me a while?

 

[imported_blacken]

I'd wait up for a 8900 which is about to appear here soon before dropping 600 bucks on the G80. With the release of ATI's new R600, it may turn 600 bucks into 500.

 

[Captante]

Theres always somthing faster being released next month, so if you want the absolute fastest & are ready to buy now the DX10 ready Nvidia 8800GTX is the current king @ roughly $600 ... however if you want to move a notch or three down the food chain you can still have great performance & $200-$350 more in your pocket.

The equivalent of the 6800GT in todays market is called the 8800GTS, at default clocks its quite a bit slower then a GTX, but roughly $200 cheaper & also supports DX10 features, plus it overclocks well... the next step down from there is a DX9 card, the 512mb ATI X1950XTX which at the moment enjoys better driver support then the 8800's and can currently be had for a few bucks less then the GTS.

Then you can go down another level to what is in my opinion the sweet spot in video card bang-for-the-buck & snag an ATI 256mb X1950XT for around $250 which will deliver 85-90% of the performance of the 512mb XTX ... the only downside to this particular card is its noisy HS/fan, but aside from that it doesn't really have any competition in that price range from Nvidia other then the 7950GT which is considerably slower in most benchmarks, but can run a lot quieter & can even be had in a silent/fanless model.

 

[tuteja1986]

High END

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_8800_preview/
Half life 2 Lost Coast HDR 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 98.7
$450 8800GTS : 76.1
$400 X1950XTX : 53.7
$300 X1900XT : 49.5

Dark Messiah HDR 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 101
$450 8800GTS : 72
$400 X1950XTX : 49.4
$300 X1900XT : 45.6

BF2142 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 77
$450 8800GTS : 51.1
$400 X1950XTX : 46.3
$300 X1900XT : 41.4

Quake 4 Ultra Quality 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 83.6
$450 8800GTS : 63.7
$400 X1950XTX : 48.7
$300 X1900XT : 43.2

Lock On: Mordern Air Combat 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 83.3
$450 8800GTS : 68.7
$400 X1950XTX : 48.7
$300 X1900XT : 42.9

Pacific Fighter 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 55.6
$450 8800GTS : 51.9
$400 X1950XTX : 42.8
$300 X1900XT : 39.5

FEAR 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 69
$450 8800GTS : 50
$400 X1950XTX : 49
$300 X1900XT : 44

Oblivion Mountains HDR 1920x1200x32 0xAA 8xAF

$650 8800GTX : 101
$450 8800GTS : 79.8
$400 X1950XTX : 45.4
$300 X1900XT : 42.1

Oblivion Foliage Area HDR 1920x1200x32 0xAA 8xAF

$650 8800GTX : 52.7
$450 8800GTS : 38.6
$400 X1950XTX : 26.7
$300 X1900XT : 24.5

Oblivion HDR Mountain Area 1920x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF

$650 8800GTX : 70.5
$450 8800GTS : 46.5
$400 X1950XTX : 34
$300 X1900XT : 29.8

Oblivion HDR Foliage Area HDR 1920x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF

$650 8800GTX : 38.3
$450 8800GTS : 26.5
$400 X1950XTX : 23
$300 X1900XT : 20.6

Call of duty 2 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 55.6
$450 8800GTS : 41.3
$400 X1950XTX : 41.1
$300 X1900XT : 35.3

Farcry HDR 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 88.1
$450 8800GTS : 63
$400 X1950XTX : 48.7
$300 X1900XT : 43.1

Company of Heroes 1920x1200x32 4xAA 16xAF

$650 8800GTX : 70.8
$450 8800GTS : 57
$400 X1950XTX : 36.4
$300 X1900XT : 33.3

 

[tuteja1986]

MID RANGE

Battlefield 2 1600x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 80.1
$250 7900GTO : 77.3
$200 X1950PRO : 64.2
$250 7900GT : 59.7

Halflife 2 Lost Coast 1600x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 57.2
$250 7900GTO : 51.9
$200 X1950PRO : 43.5
$250 7900GT : 40.9

Fear 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 47
$250 7900GTO : 41
$200 X1950PRO : 35
$250 7900GT : 34

Quake 4 1600x1200x32 4xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 55.1
$250 7900GTO : 55.5
$200 X1950PRO : 40.1
$250 7900GT : 45.4

Call of Duty 2 1600x1200 4xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 40.5
$250 7900GTO : 34.9
$200 X1950PRO : 32
$250 7900GT : 30.7

Farcry HDR 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 54.1
$250 7900GTO : 50
$200 X1950PRO : 44.1
$250 7900GT : 39.5


Oblivion HDR Mountain Area 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 39.1
$250 7900GTO : 32.5
$200 X1950PRO : 31.3
$250 7900GT : 24.1

Oblivion HDR Foliage Area 1600x1200 0xAA 8xAF
$250 X1900XT 256MB : 26.8
$250 7900GTO : 16.9
$200 X1950PRO : 21.3
$250 7900GT : 12

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_x1950_pro/


X1900XT = 256MB , 625Mhz , 1450Mhz , 16(48 Pixel shader processor)
X1950XT = 256MB , 625Mhz , 1800Mhz , 16(48 Pixel shader processor)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102067

In conclusion the X1900XT 256MB beats all and X1950XT beats up X1900XT. Winner is X1950XT
I just keep on posting the same message ;(