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Doin' an Overhaul: Best Video Card for $200?

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Sorry! I would rather just play a game in my small limit of free time then spend it all learning the architectures of video cards. Its a pretty useless subject unless your going to school to learn how to work for a company making or designing them. As far as knowing to save money and get the bang for my buck ill just get on and ask the nerd who has 3245 posts and trys to make me look dumb for not spending time looking up the best card through researching benchmarks. Then I will spend 90% less time getting the same job done by getting his answer and writen this small post and leaving.


BTW!!! Thanks!! for the info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 
Originally posted by: TrECeNTeRs
Sorry! I would rather just play a game in my small limit of free time then spend it all learning the architectures of video cards. Its a pretty useless subject unless your going to school to learn how to work for a company making or designing them. As far as knowing to save money and get the bang for my buck ill just get on and ask the nerd who has 3245 posts and trys to make me look dumb for not spending time looking up the best card through researching benchmarks. Then I will spend 90% less time getting the same job done by getting his answer and writen this small post and leaving.


BTW!!! Thanks!! for the info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

I don't think he was trying to make you look stupid.
Just remember numbers are one thing when comparing apples to apples but you'll need to learn how to read between the lines when comparing speeds of different processors. Using benchmarks is one of the best ways of doing this.
 
I gotta disagree with Mr Lee here tho.

I think the 6600GT is a huge upgrade over the 9800 pro. At least if you believe the AT benchmarks.

A Leadtek 6600GT would be a really good buy because of the very nice stock cooling.
The 6600 GT seemed to offer 20 to 40% better FPS over the 9800 Pro in the Vid card roundup on AT and THG. I'd pay another 20 to 30 bucks for that.

However if you can find a good 9800Pro used for 150 or so then it changes matters quite alot.
 
To summarize:

at $170.00-$180.00 9800 Pro 256 Bit is the best buy but not for $200.00

at $220.00-$240.00 6600 is a "good choice" but still only 128 Bit

But for $20.00-$40.00 more than the 6600 at $260.00-$270.00 the 6800 256 Bit is the best overall (for $200.00@compUSA an absolute steal)

So I would either go

9800 Pro for $180.00

OR

6800 for $270.00

the 9800 Pro and 6800 are ALL 256 Bit.
I would not buy a 6600 because it is only 128 Bit
To be honest I really don't know too much about the difference between 128 Bit and 256 Bit but I heard the color is better on a 256 Bit


 
Originally posted by: Edward Lee
Just curious, are you planning to upgrade a Dell?
Looking at the specs you look like a Dell owner. In that case you might have to beef your PSU as well.
Click to expand...

Ok you can't upgrade the PSU of a dell without upgrading the motherboard. So that is probally out of the question.

Originally posted by: Edward Lee
The 6600 is only 128Bit (Less color) In between the 9800 Pro and 6800 NU in performance. For the money you're better off chosing between the 2 (In my opinion $100 should be the cut off between performance levels)
Click to expand...

Less color? The 128Bit is the interface and has nothing to do with the color.

Originally posted by: Edward Lee
To be honest I really don't know too much about the difference between 128 Bit and 256 Bit but I heard the color is better on a 256 Bit
Click to expand...

Than dont post such things.


 
LeadFrog,

So what's the difference between 128 Bit and 256 Bit?
ie. Performance, color, speed?
BTW it's a little more than "the interface"
I don't think you have a clue either. If so explain...
(I'm honest enough to admit when I'm not sure)

Interface meaning? AGP?... enlighten me..
 
Originally posted by: Edward Lee
LeadFrog,

So what's the difference between 128 Bit and 256 Bit?
ie. Performance, color, speed?
BTW it's a little more than "the interface"
I don't think you have a clue either. If so explain...
(I'm honest enough to admit when I'm not sure)

Interface meaning? AGP?... enlighten me..
Click to expand...

No, it's the interface between the GPU and the memory. It doesn't give the card better color output! Where did you get that idea from by the way? Did you completely make it up for fun? For post count maybe? 😕

In a nutshell, it doubles your memory bandwidth. This has the most impact when AA/AF are enabled.
 
I thought I read it somewhere. But I did say I wasn't sure. What's the dilly?
So what else can you tell me? What are the performance advantage if any of a 256?
 
If it ever comes out in a timely manner (and I'm not holding my breath), the $199 X800NP looks like a beast.

The 6600GTs are a nice price if you have PCIe, but the AGP versions are still up there in cost. If you look around and wait for some specials (and check over in Hot Deals often), you can very likey find a deal on the 6800NU that puts it close to the price of a 6600GT AGP (if not cheaper).

I'd avoid buying a 9800 Pro right now. They are a price drop waiting to happen once the 6600GT AGP cards become more common in retail stores and drop in price to be closer to their PCIe cousins. I'm waiting for some serious closeout deals on these come springtime.
 

Is the overclocked BFG 6800nu for $250 from Outpost.com still available? That would be my first pick barring a hot deal on a 9800 Pro, 6600 GT, or 6800 GT.
 
Originally posted by: batmanuel
If it ever comes out in a timely manner (and I'm not holding my breath), the $199 X800NP looks like a beast.

The 6600GTs are a nice price if you have PCIe, but the AGP versions are still up there in cost. If you look around and wait for some specials (and check over in Hot Deals often), you can very likey find a deal on the 6800NU that puts it close to the price of a 6600GT AGP (if not cheaper).

I'd avoid buying a 9800 Pro right now. They are a price drop waiting to happen once the 6600GT AGP cards become more common in retail stores and drop in price to be closer to their PCIe cousins. I'm waiting for some serious closeout deals on these come springtime.
Click to expand...

I don't know much about the x800...but the rest of the advice here is the best. Don't get caught up in marketing speak about the interface, all that matters is the cards performance, not how it arrives at that performence. Its clear the 9800pro makes good use of its 256bit memory, and its equally clear that the 6600gt doesn't need it to offer even better performence.

The 9800pro is a good card, not saying it isn't. But its overpriced now, the card needs to come down in value before its a viable alternative to the 6600gt because it just doesn't have the performence against it. The 6600gt AGPs are abit over priced now as well, since they are in limited supply. Really, its hard to make a decision now. I say wait two-three months and you'll likely see $150 retail new 9800pros if ATi has a brain, and the 6600GT AGPs will get down to their MSRP which is like $200.

Both the cards are overpriced now because there's limited supplies, and extra holiday demand. I want a new card bad now too...but I'm holding out because I'm cheap.
 
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