Chosing a graphics card

[Niv KA]

I am planing my new gaming system and I have eveything chosen exept for the GPU. My budget is around 200 Euros incl. tax (For the GPU) which is around 200 dollars without tax (21% VAT here in Belgium). I have also been wondering about DirectX10, should I go for something cheep like the 7300GS and wait for the DirectX10 or G80/R600 types. Thanks in advance!

My curent "gaming" system is a Celeron D 2.4GHz with an ATi Radion 9250SE so I can survive for a few months with a 7300GS

 

[JPB]

What are the other component's you have chosen ?

 

[Lord Evermore]

DX10 won't be a real requirement for some time after Vista comes out, and of course will only be usable if you also rush out to get Vista, so going for a somewhat better mid-range card might be a better plan, as it will last you a good bit longer. Of course even a 7300 ought to be a heck of a lot better than what you have now, but you may start to wish you'd gone with a 7600 or better within the next year, when you find that DX10 still isn't a requirement but that the 7300 isn't performing as well as you like. Although if you've been gaming and been reasonably happy with a Celeron and 9250, a 7300 would still provide adequate performance for you well past next year.

 

[Niv KA]

My chosen rig is a Core 2 Duo E6600 with 2GB RAM and Asus P5W-DH Deluxe.

And I normally game at 640X480 or 800X600. I dont feel too much differance between them and higher res. on my friend's X1950, and I tryed it out. I dont care about framerates and eyecandy as long as it's playable and I enjoy it.

 

[Fraggable]

I'd go with at least a 7600GT, preferrably a 7900GT if you can go a little higher, a 1800XT 256 wouldn't be a bad choice either. For gaming, I'm going to say you should spend a bit less on your CPU and put it towards a better GPU. C2D's are great but the bottleneck is definitely going to be the GPU.

 

[Niv KA]

If I wait a litle and with the 7300GS temporarily then I can get some more cash and spend upto 300 or 350 Euros

 

[Niv KA]

If you want to compair Graphics cards prices in Belgium this is a link to a store I get some of my parts from
http://www.padeg.com/list.php?lang=1&path=46&num=6&action=n&sort=Article&page=0

the site is in french but most things can be understood with some logic: Prix=Price,

 

[Nightmare225]

Originally posted by: Niv KA
My chosen rig is a Core 2 Duo E6600 with 2GB RAM and Asus P5W-DH Deluxe.

And I normally game at 640X480 or 800X600. I dont feel too much differance between them and higher res. on my friend's X1950, and I tryed it out. I dont care about framerates and eyecandy as long as it's playable and I enjoy it.

Then why wait for a DX10 card? You should buy a great one now that will be able to run games for the next two years until DX10 is required. Right now, all DX10 is going to offer is eyecandy.

 

[Niv KA]

I'm probibly not gonna get a new PC for the next 4 or so years, only occationally updates

 

[Nightmare225]

Originally posted by: Niv KA
I'm probibly not gonna get a new PC for the next 4 or so years, only occationally updates

Uhhh, k. Get a eVGA 7600GT and step up to G80 when it comes out. You'll save $150 off the purchase price and all you have to do is send your card back and they'll send you the enw one.

 

[Niv KA]

Thanks but I live in Belgium and eVGA isn't to be found here