Decent Performance on the Cheap

[Stiganator]

Looking to play

Supreme Commander
FEAR
C&C 3
Flight Sim X

at 1920x 1200 with 24 fps or above.
can it be done for less than $120?


I have a Core 2 Duo 6600
2GB PC2- 667MHz RAM
just need a new video card.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
Looking to play

Supreme Commander
FEAR
C&C 3
Flight Sim X

at 1920x 1200 with 24 fps or above.
can it be done for less than $120?

Well, for less than $120? :Q I doubt it...heck, my 8800GTS 640 probably wouldn't be able to get a steady 24fps in FSX at that resolution...unless I turned all the settings way down.

However, your best bet would be this X1950XT for $168, which is a GREAT deal; definetly the best-bang-for-the-buck card in the market right now.

Just don't expect miracles at 1920X1200...you'd need a $500+ video card for that

 

[lyssword]

1950pro

 

[Stiganator]

Yeah, FSX I expect to kill it it, though they released a patch for it recently to improve performance.

 

[Stiganator]

Would the 8600 be a better choice since it is a DirectX10 part and similar in price.

 

[Sonikku]

Not really.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
Would the 8600 be a better choice since it is a DirectX10 part and similar in price.

The 7900s and X1950s will be faster than it in most games, other than a few like Oblivion that benefit from lots of shader-power. None of those cards will likely handle Dx10 games well that will start coming out in the next year or so.

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
Looking to play

Supreme Commander
FEAR
C&C 3
Flight Sim X

at 1920x 1200 with 24 fps or above.
can it be done for less than $120?


I have a Core 2 Duo 6600
2GB PC2- 667MHz RAM
just need a new video card.

I'm speaking from a flight simmer's experiences, myself.
With that resolution and the frame rate you specified, anything less than $300 need not apply
FSx currently (even with SP1) still brings my 8800gts to its knees especially when in final approach (closer to ground surface).
When you start cranking up your aa/af and slide your setting to the right or beyond 75% scale. Your frame rates start going to hell.
A pair of GTXes or even Ultra's may allow the max settings of this game, may be!

 

[Matt2]

No chance.

My $400 2900XT is borderline at 1920x1200.

For comparison's sake, my old X1900XTX was dog slow in newer games at 1920x1200.

 

[myocardia]

Your framerate in FSX is much more dependent on cpu speed than on gpu speed: link. And that's with an X6800 cpu.

 

[bryanW1995]

that's why we oc!!

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
that's why we oc!!

That's why you and I overclock, but it doesn't look like the OP does.

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
Would the 8600 be a better choice since it is a DirectX10 part and similar in price.

the x1950xt would be the shilling out of the 8600. 8600gts XXX would be even lucky to win one benchmark.

 

[RussianSensation]

Other than FSx where Nvidia cards perform better, for the other 3 games I'd go with $170 X1950XT 512mb on Newegg. The rebate on that card expires August 11th. The next step up for 1920x1200 is 8800GTS 640mb and it costs double. X1950Pro at $130 will be 50% slower at 1920x1200 and 8800GTS 320mb is going to face memory limitation above 1600x1200

Benches