How is this for a <$100 videocard?

[Jax Omen]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814102094R

It's a Sapphire X1950GT, $99.99 open box.

The person I'd be buying this for has really bad vision. Basically, graphical fidelity is more-or-less irrelevant. However, framerate is paramount. She wants it to be able to run TF2 at 1280x1024 (LCD native res, she's not THAT unpicky about graphical fidelity), and possibly be useful for future games.

Obviously it's no DX10 monster, but is it a good card?

Be aware: she only has $20 to spare in her budget, so whatever card would be better cannot be more than $120 before any rebates.

 

[SorryImLate]

look at the 8800GS from EVGA

 

[Lithan]

8800gs ~$105
9600gt ~$115

I wouldnt get a used card that's substantially slower for $5-15 less.

 

[Jax Omen]

I know, it's more of a situational problem. Those card prices are AFTER rebate. The current build plan leaves her with $20 to spare. While those are a much better deal after the rebate, you have to have the initial cash outlay to afford them.

Sorry, I'll be more clear in the post.

 

[Lithan]

Sell her your 8800gts for $120 and buy a 8800gt for yourself, total cost to you ~ $40 after MIR for a pretty sizable upgrade.

 

[Jax Omen]

Hehe... problem with that is that I'm going to be buying a pair of 8800GTS (G92) pretty soon, and giving the 8800GTS (320) to my girlfriend.

I appreciate the help though. I wish I could convince her to let me kick in the difference for the 8800GS.

 

[Lithan]

Call it a loan till the MIR gets back. You give her the value of the MIR and then fill it out and mail it in cause you're such a swell guy.

 

[Jax Omen]

Tried that. She won't go for it.

EDIT: Bah, it's only $10 over her budget after shipping for the 8800GS. I'm just not going to give her a choice in the matter. Here's hoping my girlfriend doesn't get mad about me "being mean" to her friend -_-

 

[Lithan]

Don't make me dig up my misogynist images from ebaums.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150275

She can't even go up $10?

 

[Jax Omen]

Damn, you posted right as I edited.

 

[Lithan]

That's good... I looked up that card (1950gt) in reviews... it looks a bit slower than a 7900gtx... which is ~ half the speed of the card you're buying. But maybe reviews are old. Still, I think she'll be much happier with the 8800gs in the end.

 

[Jax Omen]

It's hard building computers for other people. So many factors to consider V_V

She wasn't even going to let me overclock the C2D in the build until I promised to replace the CPU if I fried it. Even though I've had my own C2D overclocked for a year now.

 

[Lithan]

http://www.techarp.com/showart....aspx?artno=410&pgno=6

Here's a good review.

8800gs would be well above the 7900gtx but below the 8800gtx. The 1950gt is one of the cards tested.

Yeah I know, I actually sold my buddy a 900mhz core slot A tbird back in the day, and he ran it at 550 till he sold it because he didnt want to "overclock".

 

[Denithor]

EVGA 8800GS

Go for this model instead, those XFX cards are notoriously noisy. Unless she's blind -and- deaf she'll thank you for the EVGA card.

 

[taltamir]

isn't the GS also better in terms of noise and power consumption? It will probably pay the difference in a year of electric bills.

 

[OmegaShadow]

yes go with the evga 8800gs. it's way better than the sapphire x1950gt and only $15 more (counting shipment and taxes and after mail in rebate).

 

[Capt Caveman]

Get a 9600GT for $110 - http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...de=10007954&ps=homain3

 

[Lithan]

Read the thread guys. Price cap is $120 before MIR. He's gonna get a $130 one cause he cant bear to buy a crappy card, but $140 and $150 it seems are out of the question.