Damnit: Too many names/numbers. Which card is the best "value" right now

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I'm looking at buying either one of the new AMD 3000+ .09s or the Semp 3100+

Looking for a board that is PCI-E

Now need a video card that is the best bang for the buck, and a big step up from the 9800NP I have.

So many cards out, 6200, 6600, 6600GT, 6800, 6800GT, etc

Ug.

Which of these is the big overclocker right now, and best bang for the buck?

I can sit and read reviews, but none compare them directly. Just to ATI stuff or whatnot. Need some clarification.

 

[RussianSensation]

If you want PCI-E and A64 you are going to have to wait for Nforce 4 just a bit longer (1 month?) Since prices of videocards can flucture from now and until christmas time, you should come back with this question in 1 month.

Edit: Latest news on Nforce 4 - Read Here

As Schadenfroh has mentioned, those cards arent yet available in PCI-E and when they do, expect them to carry a serious premium in price since a lot of ppl will want to upgrde to nforce 4 and pci-e cards, and intel users will now hav the option of getting pci-e high end cards as well.

If I was you, I'd just get A64 3400+@2.4ghz newcastle on DFI nforce 3 board or AOPEN 89Max board, or something from Asus or Abit and overclock it further; match this with 6800GT.

If you dont play games at 1280-1024 or 1600x1200 with 4AA/8AF, I would just recommend getting 6800 regular. Otherwise 6800GT is a good investment

Or you could go wtih A64 3000+ Winchester on .09 as you've said and 6800GT. Honestly, by the time you decide to upgrade your cpu and videocard, you'll most likely run into SATA 300, BTX form factor and DDRII, + other issues. Just keep this rig for 2 years and then upgrade to dual core.

 

[Schadenfroh]

you cant get any of the cards you listed in PCI-E flavour yet, the best card you can get with PCI-E is the 5900, IIRC

 

[JBT]

PCI-E or Express? I thought the 6600 GT's were out with Express right now.

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: JBT
PCI-E or Express? I thought the 6600 GT's were out with Express right now.

they are. Newegg had them. I also thought 6800gts were around also. Maybe it was just a paperlaunch tho.

 

[Pete]

A 6600GT is only ~15% faster overall than a 9800P, which in turn is only ~10-15% faster than a 9800. So you're looking at a mere ~30% speed boost going from a 9800 to a 6600GT. I'm not sure if that's worth the money, even if you sell your 9800 for $100 to make the upgrade cost on $100. I'd probably look for no less than a 6800GT or X800P, though I don't think either are on PCIe yet (and if they are, probably not for anywhere near AGP prices, which are now as low as $375 for a GT and $330-350 for a Pro).

I'm pretty sure GameVE (and probably others) have PCIe 6600GTs in stock already.

I don't follow CPUs that closely, but here's a review of the Sempron 3100+ that pits it against an A64 3400+. Just if you want to see the kinds of framerates you'll achieve with a 6800GT, and the improvement the faster CPU will offer you. I'd be tempted to with a .09 A64 b/c of TR's power numbers, but I don't think they've been reproduced elsewhere--at least, not what one would assume would be corresponding temp drops.

 

[Keysplayr]

amd 3000+
6600GT

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Thanks Pete

The only reason I want to avoid AGP is trying to sell the card in a year and a half and it being worthless since everything will be moved to PCI-E

 

[dbdynsty25]

I just got a AMD 64 3000+ and matched it with an X800 Pro and a gig of Geil Ultra DDR3200. Match made in heaven...for me anyway. Not top of the line, but by no means a dog.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
you cant get any of the cards you listed in PCI-E flavour yet, the best card you can get with PCI-E is the 5900, IIRC

WTH are you talking about SchadenfroH? People have already purchased 6600s, 6600GTs, and 6800Us in PCIE flavour?

 

[Goi]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones
I'm looking at buying either one of the new AMD 3000+ .09s or the Semp 3100+

Looking for a board that is PCI-E

Now need a video card that is the best bang for the buck, and a big step up from the 9800NP I have.

So many cards out, 6200, 6600, 6600GT, 6800, 6800GT, etc

Ug.

Which of these is the big overclocker right now, and best bang for the buck?

I can sit and read reviews, but none compare them directly. Just to ATI stuff or whatnot. Need some clarification.

None of the current "bang for the buck", "value" cards are gonna be a "big step up" from your 9800NP. For its price, your 9800NP is probably the best card you can buy. If you want something a big step up you'd have to go with the 6800/X800 which will cost you.