buying new video card

[MidNiteMysT]

i know you guys get this alottttttttt but i just had to do it. i want to get a new geforce card and i have my eye on
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16814150140

that seems like the best bang for my buck. especially considering i barely play video games on my computer, but ide like to have a good card incase i find a cool game. i dont want to spend over $250, thats for sure. thats just wasted money for me. so what do you guys think, my linked card is a good deal?
or maybe you know a cheaper place to get it? or know that prices on video cards are going to drop really soon for some odd reason like a new video card release or something.

Thanks. any input is appreciated. unless youre just an a$$hole

 

[MidNiteMysT]

o yea. i have this power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103464

will that be fine for this video card? i just wanted to make sure. i have a p4 640, 1 hd, 2 cd/dvd burners

thats pretty much it. i dont put much load on my system.

i pretty sure it will be fine, but i just wanted to make sure.

 

[elpres05]

If you are not concerned with SM3, there is one option you can consider.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102646

A 16 pipe card for < $140... the best card for me.

btw, that PSU is more than enough.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

whats SM3?

 

[MechaSheeba]

I'd recommend the Sapphire X1800XT 512 from Newegg. With the "iloveati" coupon it's only ~$264 shipped. Very good value.

 

[Praxis1452]

Either the 7600gt or the X1800GTO. WHat res are you running?

 

[Munky]

I thought the 7600gt was going for around $180 these days. $200 seems too much for the card. Anyway, the gto2 potentially offers better performance for a cheaper price if you unlock and overclock it.

 

[CFP]

Some GTO's now even ship with 16 pipes enabled out-of-the-box.

 

[DeathReborn]

Originally posted by: MidNiteMysT
whats SM3?

These 2 links should tell you what SM3 is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shader_Model_3 (has a nice little comparison table too)
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2005/07/25/guide_to_shaders/1.html


I'd say the 7600GT or X1800GTO (X1800GTO is SM3 too).

X1800GTO List

That XFX 7600GT would be plenty for what you are after, the X1800GTO will just give you a bit more featurewise HDR + AA for example (7600GT can't do the 2 together).

 

[BassBomb]

i believe hte e-vga one is 180 dollars, and clocked at same speeds.. get that over the XFX

 

[MidNiteMysT]

1280x1024 on L90D

 

[MidNiteMysT]

ive always been bias to get a geforce but this card is looking pretty nice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102007

i didnt want to spend too much over $200 so that was my next option. what do you guys think? 7600gt or the x1800xt?

 

[Praxis1452]

Umm the X1800XT kicks the 7600gt's ass. It's competitor is the 7900gt btw.

 

[Cookie Monster]

You should be looking this at.

PNY 7600GT for $149 AR

Or

EVGA 7600GT with free AOEIII $164 AR

Or

HIS X1800GTO $223 AR (this is suugested because of the cooler)

Or

Connect3d X1800GTO $174 AR

7600GT and the X1800GTO is similiar in performance.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

okay, so i have to decide between
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1800XT 100134L Video Card - Retail $309-$50 coupon= $259
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102697
and
XFX Geforce 7600GT PV-T73G-UDD3 Video Card - Retail $199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150140
and SAPPHIRE Radeon X1800XT 100154 Video Card - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102007

is the x1800xt that much better and worth the extra money? and im kinda shaky on buying ati instead of geforce. this will be my first ati product. ive always loved geforce's.

 

[Praxis1452]

Use the IloveATI coupon if possible then and get the X1800XT 512mb

 

[MidNiteMysT]

Originally posted by: Praxis1452
Use the IloveATI coupon if possible then and get the X1800XT 512mb

yep i did. its that $50 coupon. thanks.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

and btw, i know theres a option for this on geforces software, but what about ati's? its called "digital vibrance" and i remember a friend had an ati but didnt have this feature. i love that feature. does the ati catalyst software have it?

 

[Praxis1452]

it's called saturation... nvidia and it's damn marketing -_-

 

[LW07]

I definitly would go for the ATI X1800XT 512mb.

 

[Cookie Monster]

There are cheaper 7600GT. Why XFX? EVGA/leadtek is much better.

If you want to spend more money, grab the X1800XT.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
There are cheaper 7600GT. Why XFX? EVGA/leadtek is much better.

If you want to spend more money, grab the X1800XT.

okay, then change it to the evga 7600gt. that would spread the gap even more to about $80 difference. now i just have to think about if i need such a powerful card for $80 more.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

maybe you guys can clear something up for me. theres cards that are basically the exact thing. but different prices. from same brand too. like for example.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102629
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102697
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102663
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102624
the last one is ATI
but they all look basically exactly the same. same stats. so whats up with that?
edit: btw, its the same with the geforce cards except like maybe 10mhz diff with each card.

 

[Munky]

All those cards are technically the same. The first one is cheapest because it's OEM - so no shiny box, and the warranty is only 1 month I believe. The last one is most expensive because it's branded as Ati, even though technically it was also built by Sapphire. If warranty matters to you, then get a retail version. Otherwise, get the cheaper OEM version - it's the exact same card.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

Originally posted by: munky
All those cards are technically the same. The first one is cheapest because it's OEM - so no shiny box, and the warranty is only 1 month I believe. The last one is most expensive because it's branded as Ati, even though technically it was also built by Sapphire. If warranty matters to you, then get a retail version. Otherwise, get the cheaper OEM version - it's the exact same card.

oh ok.