Need some help deciding on a budget video card

[zrush]

I'm putting together a new computer. These two cards seem like good deals, but they look incredibly similar, despite having huge naming differences. The most action the card will be seeing is some casual gaming and limited video editing.

Radeon HD 3650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102725

Radeon HD 2600 XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102703

Which one do you guys recommend?

 

[Fenixgoon]

they have about the same graphics horsepower, the 3650 should run cooler though. might as well go with the 3650, or get something like an 8800gs for slightly more (i think)

 

[Bill Kunert]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
they have about the same graphics horsepower, the 3650 should run cooler though. might as well go with the 3650, or get something like an 8800gs for slightly more (i think)

An 8800GS will run more like $90 to 100 after rebate.

 

[happy medium]

3450 for 39.00$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127336

 

[Sylvanas]

You can find 3450's for as low as $20 AR last I checked, that would be my choice for video editing but seeing as you want to some light gaming might aswell go the 3650 as it will have a little more oomph with the 128bit bus.

 

[tuteja1986]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814186036

GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB will beat them both and will cost only $64.99

this will play all the game you want , even crysis on low but playable frame rate. I completed crysis on X1650pro on a lan box. looked good and was playable at 40FPS in low.

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: happy medium
3450 for 39.00$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127336

he wouldn't be able to really play casual game on this.

 

[hans007]

the 2600XT at stock will be barely faster. the 3650 though will use less power.

it is somewhat difficult to find a gddr3 3650 though. most seem to be 512mb ddr2 models. almost all 2600XTs are Gddr3. so if it comes down to a 512mb ddr2 3650 or a 256mb gddr3 2600XT get the 2600XT

 

[zrush]

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814186036

GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB will beat them both and will cost only $64.99

this will play all the game you want , even crysis on low but playable frame rate. I completed crysis on X1650pro on a lan box. looked good and was playable at 40FPS in low.

8600
PCIe x16
32 stream processors
256mb memory

3650
PCIe x16 2.0
120 stream processors
512 mb

How does the 8600 beat them both?

Also, I've had bad experiences with GeForce and TNT cards and nForce motherboards in the past - especially the drivers. I'm open to the idea of using Nvidia again, but it's not my first option.

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: zrush

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814186036

GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB will beat them both and will cost only $64.99

this will play all the game you want , even crysis on low but playable frame rate. I completed crysis on X1650pro on a lan box. looked good and was playable at 40FPS in low.

8600
PCIe x16
32 stream processors
256mb memory

3650
PCIe x16 2.0
120 stream processors
512 mb

How does the 8600 beat them both?

Also, I've had bad experiences with GeForce and TNT cards and nForce motherboards in the past - especially the drivers. I'm open to the idea of using Nvidia again, but it's not my first option.

well i underestimated it, i just looked at benchmark and its pretty fast.