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Need a new video card

P

PaiMei

Junior Member
I need a new video card. My old one died from dust this past week. I'm looking at an 8600GTS or 7950GT. I've narrowed my choices down to these:

XFX 8600GTS XXX Overclocked:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150226


XFX 7950GT Extreme (Overclocked & Passively Cooled):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189


I hear ATI is releasing the HD2900XT this week, but not sure if it's a hard launch or just a paper launch. Even if it is a hard launch I can spend only $260. I don't think they're releasing their new mid-range cards until after the HD2900XTs.
 
At this time if you're not all that concerned about DX10 games (and by the time DX10 becomes really common in games you prob will want to update anyway) I say get the 7950GT, significantly faster then the 8600 (which can't even keep up with a 7900GS).
 
Well I need something quiet. The card that just died on me was a 7800GT that was pretty quiet once the NVIDIA drivers were installed. Last time I had an ATI card, it was loud, even after the drivers were installed. Also, the card can't have a cooler that will block the slot in front of it.
 
I would wait for the x2900xt to come out if you can. at the very least it will drive down the prices of nvidia cards. I agree ati cards are loud but you can use a program called ati tool and change your fan speeds to make it silent when you are not playing games. Between those two I would go with the 8600gt just because its dx10, its a little slower but its still one of the faster cards and it will keep its value better.
 
Originally posted by: Elias824
I would wait for the x2900xt to come out if you can. at the very least it will drive down the prices of nvidia cards. I agree ati cards are loud but you can use a program called ati tool and change your fan speeds to make it silent when you are not playing games. Between those two I would go with the 8600gt just because its dx10, its a little slower but its still one of the faster cards and it will keep its value better.
Click to expand...

My card is never loud...gaming or not.

The only time I hear it is on startup when it winds up to full for about 3 seconds.
 
So what's the general opinion here? 7950GT for now and when a better single slot DX10 card comes out upgrade to that? Or go with the 8600GTS now? I play WoW alot and my monitor is a 1920x1200 LCD. My dead 7800GT was just barely able to play it with the highest settings at that res.. I know the passive 7950GT takes up two slots as well, but I can put it in the top PCIe x16 slot and the big heatsink on it wouldn't be a problem. With other cards that have standard dual slot coolers, they would block the PCI slot next to the PCIe x16 slot. I also would like a silent card since I use my PC as a HTPC sometimes.
 
The X1950XT is more powerful than either of those cards and can be had for the same price. Or if you can spend a bit more go for the 8800GTS. I wouldn't go with anything less than the X1950XT with the resolution you are running.
 
Thanks again guys. I'll take a look at the X1950XTs. Also, I did mention earlier that I don't want a card that will block the PCI slot in front of it so the 8800GTS won't do.

Edit:
Hmmm... Looks like X1950XTs take up the PCI slot in front of them.
 
Originally posted by: PaiMei
Thanks again guys. I'll take a look at the X1950XTs. Also, I did mention earlier that I don't want a card that will block the PCI slot in front of it so the 8800GTS won't do.

Edit:
Hmmm... Looks like X1950XTs take up the PCI slot in front of them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, only certain X1950 Pro cards are single-slot. All XT's are dual slot cards.
 
dude that 8800 is the best deal and a really good card... what is your deal with can't block a slot?

also the 8600 sucks so that is totally out of the question

out of those 3 i would get the 7950 and ithink it should run all those highest settings
 
Originally posted by: Nnyan
At this time if you're not all that concerned about DX10 games (and by the time DX10 becomes really common in games you prob will want to update anyway) I say get the 7950GT, significantly faster then the 8600 (which can't even keep up with a 7900GS).
Click to expand...

You are most definitely correct and said everything I would have (and more).

By the time DX10 means anything you'd need to upgrade that X600XX. Y950XX (where Y is X-1) is going to be a lot better.
 
Hmmm... Just read that the 8600GTS can offload 100% of HD decoding from the CPU. How important is that if I already have an e6700?
 
I would at this point get the 7950GT, until you have the money to move up to DX10 and then get an 8800.
 
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