Need Your Thoughts (PLEASE)!

[vegettoxp]

Hello there guys, I just wanted to get your thoughts on something that been on my head for a while now. I just got my Vacation check today and my orginal plan was to get the following items:

BFG 8800GT OC Graphic Card

WD Raptor X HD or WD6400AAKS Hard Drive

But after reading about the upcoming 9800GT Graphic Card and the New Released Raptor, I my plan went down the drain. This is where I need your guys help.

Regarding the Graphic Card, from what I have read. the 9800GT should be released in July and if this is true, should I wait for the 9800GT or get the 8800GT. What is gona be the BIG difference between the 8800GT and 9800GT. Is the wait worth it? This new graphic card is gona be for my new Rig. Wating is gona suck, but if the price of 9800GT is gona be close to the 8800GT, then why not wait. I waited a year for my new rig, I think I can kill out two
more months assuming that the card will be out in July. Your Thoughts Please?

And regarding the Raptor Hard Drive, I have read all the reviews and the Drive is a Killer. Now instead of getting the old Raptor, I have my eyes on the new Raptor. I know the price is gona be crazy and I know WD will release a Single-Platter HD too, but I just have to have this Drive. I am willing to pay the price (Hopefully). So if you guys were to recommend me this New Raptor, Would you recommend it? Your Thoughts Please?

Also I was planning to get HD TV Turner Card for the rig. I just wanted to know if you guys have any recommendations. The connection is gona be Over-The Air for now and Cable Later. I looked at Leadtek and Hauppauge. I am looking for PCI-E 1x Interface and I am not looking at buying ATI Based Turner. Nothing against ATI, I just had bad experiance with the earlier turners. Your Thoughts Please?

THX

P.S. Fusion

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Get the 8800GT, it will be another year after the 9800GT is released before it will drop down to the current cost of a 8800GT by which time there will be another new and improved version.

The new ValociRaptor is a good drive for what it does. Just know you will pay a premium for early adoption.

I've got an older X1800XL-AIW that works just fine for me!

 

[Winterpool]

You might want to look at the 8800 GTS (the 512 MB cards with G92 cores), as most models are dropping towards $200. Even ASUS's version with its fetching warrior maiden costs only $215 after rebate.

What do you intend to do with your video card? If you don't play any games that will tax a midrange system (ie you don't play Crysis on a big screen), you could go with the 9600 GT and wait to see what happens this summer and after. What is your current card anyhow?

I've never understood the appeal of Raptors. Why do you find the Raptor X so compelling? The 640 GB dual-platter Caviars seem more rational to me.

 

[vegettoxp]

The usage for my Graphic Card will be Casual Gamer, 22" LCD Display, TV, HD/Blu-Ray Video View. One title that I know I will play for sure will be "Need For Speed."

I just wanted to know if the Hardware Spec are gona be REALLY BIG between 8800GT vs 9800GT.

Regarding the Raptor, I enjoy the 10,000RPM and the Quickness of the Raptor. The reviews that I have read of the new Raptor are of the hook. The new 640GB don't really stand up against the new Raptor. Heck like I said I was looking I saw looking at the WD 640GB as my Main HD.

Your Thoughts?

 

[chinaman1472]

We don't know what the big difference between the 9800GT and the 8800GT will be. It hasn't been released and we aren't psychics here. It should have a better design, but to say how much better is impossible right now.

I don't see the point in paying for a new Raptor unless you must absolutely have to have those extra few seconds saved on seek/write times.

If you have to choose between getting a new video card and getting the new hard drive, the new video card will prove more useful than the new hard drive for 95%+ of users. Since you're casually gaming and using it as a HTPC, you'll fall into that 95%+ category unless you have to do a lot of things that require fast seek/write times.

 

[vegettoxp]

Thx for the input on 8800GT vs 9800GT. I know we don't have any info on it yet. That why I just wanted to know if it would be a good Idea and wait untill the Specs are out for the 9800GT. And maybe then I should make my final decision. Your Thoughts?

Regarding the raptor, I was think really hard on the raptor topic and I might just wait a while and get it later. I need to follow my Blue Print for my rig. I need to get all the hardware that is need for my rig to be born. So I might just wait on the Raptor and Get it later. So I am guessing you would have no problem recommendtion the WD 640GB HD, Am I right? Your Thoughts?

THX!

 

[chinaman1472]

You could pick up the eVGA and use the step up program, it's good for 90 days. Depending on the resolution you play at, the 8800GT might be suffice for you until the generation after the 9800GT.

The WD 640GB is banging especially for the price.

 

[vegettoxp]

Just wanted to get your thoughts on these before I order them. Need Your stamp of approval.

Graphic Card: Which One (Prices are Final Including Tax+Shipping)

e-GeForce 8800GT 512MB (512-P3-N801-AR) (Final Price $211.00)

e-GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB (512-P3-N802-AR) (Final Price $218.48)


(BFGE88512GTOCE) - BFG NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT OC 512MB PCIe 2.0 (Final Price $ 200.00)

(BFGE88512GTOC2E) - BFG GeForce 8800GT OC2 512MB GDDR3 PCIe 2.0 Video Card (Final Price $ 215.50 or 220.70)


Hard Drives: WD 640GB


Your Thoughts?

P.S. Fusion

 

[Skraeling]

Ive got 2x 640's and i love em. this systems a beast lol... for shits i tried running two Eve-online clients, and BF2.... at the same time heheehe it worked flawlessly.

 

[chinaman1472]

I'd go with the eVGA 8800GT for $211.

 

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, I just did an update to my Hardware List and Wanted to know if the newly add Graphic Cards will do me good for 2 - 3 Years. Don't worry I about the Price, I think I should be able to get them. I just wanted to get your thoughts that if you were in my shoes, would you buy them. I have also have all the HD that I am looking at. Main HD and Storage HD. Take a look at the list and give me your recommendations. The Prices you see are Final (Including Tax + Shipping). Thanks for all the help guys!

Graphic Cards

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT Video Card - Superclocked Edition (Price - $218.48)

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT Video Card (Price - $198.48)

EVGA GeForce 8800GT AKIMBO 512MB (Price - $248.89) (Updated New Choice)

EVGA GeForce 8800GT AKIMBO SC 512MB (Price - $264.98) (Updated New Choice)


Hard Drives

WD Caviar® SE16 Drive (500GB - WD5000AAKS) (Price - $ 97.24)

WD Caviar® SE16 Drive (640GB - WD6400AAKS) (Price - $117.96)

WD Caviar® SE16 Drive (750GB - WD7500AAKS) (Price - $144.78)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 Drive (500GB - ST3500320AS) (Price - $ $105.03)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 Drive (750GB - ST3750330AS) (Price - $139.41)

Power Supply - Corsair 620W Power Supply (CMPSU-620HX) (Price - $ 146.74)

P.S. Fusion

 

[chinaman1472]

Depending on the games you play, what resolution, and what settings you desire, it might be tough to make an 8800GT last that long. Some food for thought would be if you were to buy a 7900GT when it launched (spring/summer 2005), would it still be suffice for your needs today? Of all those video cards, they're all pretty much same if I'm not mistaken; you can learn to do the overclocking yourself if you spend a day or two reading and running tests and save yourself some cash. I'm sure you could find another use for $20+ somewhere.

As for the hard drives, get the WD 640GB. It's the most space per dollar and pretty much the top performing drive out of the ones you selected.

 

[Roguestar]

Don't pay for a factory-overclocked card when you can do it yourself.

(argh beaten by chinaman)

Get the vanilla 8800GTS for now.

 

[vegettoxp]

Well as for the gaming titles, I know I am gona play one title for sure and that is "Need For Speed." I am pretty sure that some of you guys have played there titles too. My Favorite "Need For Speed Most Wanted." Like I said I have the Samsung 22" Display and resoultion goes up to 1680 x 1050 and i don't think I am gona play games on that resoultion, unless the games tell me too. But other then that, I am a Casual Gamer. My graphic card will be used more for TV, DVDs, and Videos.

And the only reason that I am looking at the OC Graphic Cards is because of the prices. If the Price between the vanilla card vs oc card are pretty close, then I would rather go with the oc card. This is just my opinion.

I am gona go with WD640 as my Main OS Hard Drive!

P.S. Fusion

 

[Urtho]

The 8800 GTS cards are dropping far enough now that if you play on a 22" LCD or better I wouldn't even consider the 8800 GT at this point in time. Latest cheap deal is an ECS card HERE for $177 AR/shipped. I'd forget about any step up plans personally and use it for 6 - 12 months and then sell for around ~ $150 or so to some fool on Ebay who doesn't know how to do price research.

The waiting game almost never pays off btw. Sure if something known to be dramatically better is right on the verge of release next week waiting is a good idea. Waiting for a potentially delayed, scarce (artificially or otherwise), or price gouged video card that's at least a month or two in the future with unknown comparative stats and performance when you're ready to buy now doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[vegettoxp]

I looked at EVGA 8800GTS Graphic Card and My First Choice would be the "EVGA GeForce 8800GTS KO 512MB (Price - $264.39) (Final Price) with ($30.00 Mail-in Rebate)." I am also gona look at the BFG 8800GTS Graphic Card and see if there is any price difference. Once again thx for all the help guys. You guys rock!

Also guys I know we have talked alot about the Graphic card Choice, but How about your thoughts on a Good HD TV Turner for my Rig?

Your Thoughts Please?

P.S. Fusion

 

[Roguestar]

If you want a TV tuner, get the Hauppauge WinTV.

PS: Fusion

PPS: What