Current video card deal?

[dman918]

My brother is looking for a new PCI-E video card. He does do some games, but not a ton or anything. Max resolution is 1280x1024 and he is willing to not have max details and stuff. He currently has a 6600gt, which has been ok, but he has been wondering what else is out there. I know there are some refurb x800gts for around $100, and gto2s for around $125 on newegg. Is that his best bet, or is there something else that may be better?
Thanks!
Mike

 

[tuteja1986]

x800gt and x800gto will not get you the great performance leap from 6600gt :! i recommend

x850xt : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102688

or

7600GT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130283

 

[dman918]

The x800gto2 isn't a big leap either?

 

[vois2]

He'll sell himself short if he caps his budget at $125 at this time, especially as he is coming from the 6600 GT. Tell him to wait another month to save more, or, wait until the 7600 GT price goes down to around $170. He'll want to skip over the 6800 GS (which I myself own) and he'll want to go for the much more powerful 7600 GT .

 

[Cabages]

Do what im doin. Sell the 6600GT on Ebay for around $115, then buy a 7600GT for $190 at Newegg.

I just hope it gets here in time for Oblivion.

 

[dman918]

Well, would the 7600gt be better than that x850xt? Also, why not a gto2? Isn't that right inbetween a 6600gt and these cards, and at $125 (refurb, but still). Most likely the refurbs were just not fully unlockable.

 

[v8envy]

Originally posted by: dman918
Well, would the 7600gt be better than that x850xt? Also, why not a gto2? Isn't that right inbetween a 6600gt and these cards, and at $125 (refurb, but still). Most likely the refurbs were just not fully unlockable.

That's one card to stay far far away from refurb. Overclocker Juniors are likely to have flashed it and cranked it to 600+ mhz core and ram. Either it didn't overclock very well, in which case it's < the X850XT you want, or it's fried. There's probably a scoop of Arctic Silver slopped all over, shorting things out as well. You will be paying shipping to RMA that thing, the odds of getting a perfectly functioning card are nearly zilch.

7600GT will be indistinguishable from a X850XT, except in opengl games (where it will be slightly better). And you'll be able to see what the HDR fuss is about at lower res. With the X850XT selling for $160 AR and the 7600GT for $190, it's a no brainer decision to go with the 7600GT.

If the budget is a hard $125, hang out and wait for the X850XT to hit that pricepoint, or the 7600GT to get to $150-ish.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: v8envy

Originally posted by: dman918
Well, would the 7600gt be better than that x850xt? Also, why not a gto2? Isn't that right inbetween a 6600gt and these cards, and at $125 (refurb, but still). Most likely the refurbs were just not fully unlockable.

That's one card to stay far far away from refurb. Overclocker Juniors are likely to have flashed it and cranked it to 600+ mhz core and ram. Either it didn't overclock very well, in which case it's < the X850XT you want, or it's fried. There's probably a scoop of Arctic Silver slopped all over, shorting things out as well. You will be paying shipping to RMA that thing, the odds of getting a perfectly functioning card are nearly zilch.

7600GT will be indistinguishable from a X850XT, except in opengl games (where it will be slightly better). And you'll be able to see what the HDR fuss is about at lower res. With the X850XT selling for $160 AR and the 7600GT for $190, it's a no brainer decision to go with the 7600GT.

If the budget is a hard $125, hang out and wait for the X850XT to hit that pricepoint, or the 7600GT to get to $150-ish.

:thumbsup:

That is some truely sound advice with reagrds to the refurb GTO... Last thing you want is poor man OC'er rejects.

 

[M0RPH]

nevermind

 

[Demoth]

I'd say bank that $125 and wait. The 6600GT is still a very good card at his resolution and maxxed settings with the exception of FEAR, Oblivion, and a handful of titles. Truth is, at the $125 price point, there is nothing that will outperform the 6600GT enough to justify an upgrade. If anything, I'd look to OC the 6600GT a bit.

Once the unified architecture cards are here, within this year, then we will see budget cards that will smoke the 6600GT and more then justify a $125 purchase plus more games that would need that power at 1280X1024.