Card suggestions for new rig

[Mr Bob]

We are running two raptors in raid 1, two 250gb WD in raid 1, an AMD 3200+ cpu on the ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe mb.

Any suggestions for a card in the range of $150+ for a light gamer, but a pwer user?

 

[Munky]

I'd recommend a radeon x800, that's the most powerful card you can get for around $150. However, if you must have SM3 capability, then you'd have to get either a geforce 6600gt for $150 or a 6800 for $190+.

MSI x800 - $163 after rebate

 

[Topweasel]

If I were You I would get a 6600GT right now with it being in your price range and then later sticking another one in that secondslot of your when you need the performance.

 

[Mr Bob]

How would dual 6600gts perform?

Are there any benchmarks I can look at on these?

 

[Mr Bob]

I found some benchmarks on the 6800 gt compared to the x850 and it seems like the 6800 gt does quite well. Although the x850 is still higher, about 10-20 frames/sec faster doesn't justify double the price.

Here is the benchmark I was looking at: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2299&p=6

 

[Mr Bob]

Bump

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
I found some benchmarks on the 6800 gt compared to the x850 and it seems like the 6800 gt does quite well. Although the x850 is still higher, about 10-20 frames/sec faster doesn't justify double the price.

Here is the benchmark I was looking at: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2299&p=6

You've wandered off of the "light gamer", $150 card path with either the 6800GT or the X850's...

There is a 6600GT SLI review here if you want to see how that setup stacks up against the 6800GT and a few others. Too bad there are no single 6600GT benchmarks to compare to.

 

[Mr Bob]

I don't quite follow the review.... When the card is SLI, does that mean it is two cards in the SLI mode? And the ones without SLI are just singles?

 

[afoygel]

It depends on the game and benchmarks. The 6800gt is roughly equal to the x800xl which is a little cheaper. The 6600gt is probably half the price.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

If you already have a 9800 pro, I'd say stick with that unless you want to spend $250+. At that point, go for either x800xl or 6800 GT. Or $399 for 7800GT, Mmwahaha.

Don't go SLI, by the time you want to get a second 6600GT and SLI them, there'll be something far better for the money.....

 

[evilbix]

I'd go x800xt. That promo has them for sale (refurbs) from ati for 229 with a 3 year warantee. Sounds like a good deal to me, but it's on back order. Still worth the wait I think.

If you have some more cash I'd go 7800gt

 

[hans030390]

6800

 

[Mr Bob]

Well, I found the 6800gt for $280 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...etails.asp?EdpNo=1211889&Sku=E145-5116 and the x800 XL for $273 http://www.maincomp.com/shop/product.jsp?id=1220&pg=

I wouldn't want a refurb card, even if it saves half the money. Anyone know about the SLI questions above? I am wonder if it would be wise to have dual 6600gts instead of one really expensive card.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Anyone know about the SLI questions above? I am wonder if it would be wise to have dual 6600gts instead of one really expensive card.

Definitely not. Go with one card. Derek offers the good advice in the 7800GT article : "That being said, we have to come back to the SLI situation and stress that using SLI as an upgrade path isn't the best idea. SLI is best exploited as an ultra high end technology. For that reason, we won't recommend going out and buying a 7800 GT SLI system as spending less money on a single GTX..."

And, you said you were a power user... make sure that you get a card with the features you need, VIVO etc.... you might miss your AIW 9800 pro

 

[Mr Bob]

I'm keeping the AIW, this is for a new rig, a much faster one !

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
I don't quite follow the review.... When the card is SLI, does that mean it is two cards in the SLI mode? And the ones without SLI are just singles?

Yes, when a review says "6600GT SLI" it means two of the cards running in SLI.

edit, yeah I just noticed that... I was about to say, you would need a new mobo for pci-e