New Build - Which Card?

[teddyv]

Hi Folks - Putting a new build together with Epox 939 Ultra Mobo and Venice 3000 and can't figure out which card to use.

eVGA 128-P2-N368-TX Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
eVGA apparently is one of the top card makers and apparently nVidia plays nicer with nF4 than ATI.

SAPPHIRE 100125L Radeon X800GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $134
Not sure about Saphire's reputation or warranty policies, seems like a great price though.

MSI RX800-TD128E Radeon X800 128MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $120 (after Rebate)
From reading the boards MSI has taken a real hit on quality and support lately, especially RMAs.

From what I've read, for web and video work, office stuff and basic gaming (Ultima Online) there should be no real difference between the three. I am looking for ease of install, reliability and stability - not much of a tweaker.

Any advice why one should be better than another, or any others I should consider? (X700?)

Thanks!

 

[kmmatney]

For ease of use and stability, the X800 card should be fine. I haven't has too much trouble with MSI video cards. Sapphire has an excellent reputation.

For the best warranty, it best to buy an ATI branded card, as you will get a three year warranty. However the prices of an ATI branded card usually make them not worth it, unless you can get them on sale. ATI currently has an ATI X800Pro on sale:

http://shop.ati.com/searchresults.asp?dept_id=39

It is marked at "refurb" but has a 3 year warrenty. This card is significantly faster than the ones you have previously selected.

 

[Dribble]

If you can stretch to it then the X800GTO2 is the killer card at the moment (basically an X850XT PE after unlocking and o/c):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102595

costs $200 so might be out of your price range.

Oh as for buying ati cards didn't ati just substantially lower their warranties?

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: teddyv
Hi Folks - Putting a new build together with Epox 939 Ultra Mobo and Venice 3000 and can't figure out which card to use.

eVGA 128-P2-N368-TX Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
eVGA apparently is one of the top card makers and apparently nVidia plays nicer with nF4 than ATI.

SAPPHIRE 100125L Radeon X800GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $134
Not sure about Saphire's reputation or warranty policies, seems like a great price though.

MSI RX800-TD128E Radeon X800 128MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $120 (after Rebate)
From reading the boards MSI has taken a real hit on quality and support lately, especially RMAs.

From what I've read, for web and video work, office stuff and basic gaming (Ultima Online) there should be no real difference between the three. I am looking for ease of install, reliability and stability - not much of a tweaker.

Any advice why one should be better than another, or any others I should consider? (X700?)

Thanks!

X700 lol . . . you're kidding right? XD

But yeah the X800 vanilla is definitely the best choice (12PP vs. 8PP? No competition)
and would give both the X800GT and the 6600GT a good beating.

If you don't want to spend $200 for a Sapphire X800GTO2 then the X800GTO can be had for about $30 lower and if you get one with an R480 core (a little research can determine which cards should have R480 cores) you can overclock it like a mother (we're talkin' to 600 Mhz here) this essentially equates an X800GTO to an X850 Pro (which is $250) But you need to make sure you get one with an R480 core. Otherwise, the X800GTO is pretty much the same as the X800 vanilla.

 

[teddyv]

So it looks like the X800 is a winner, my only hesitancies are MSI's bad reputation for customer support, the lack of any info I can find concerning the MSI warranty (2 yrs?), and eVGA's excellent support (and longer warranty?)

Thanks folks.

PS - How do pipelines affect performance?

 

[teddyv]

Also - where the heck do you find warranty information? I cannot find it at the Egg or the manufacturers' sites.

 

[Corporate Thug]

http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product...3&sid=NCGT5CT27A0Q9M6DPG6V1D2DANJ46TA3

 

[teddyv]

Wow, eVGA now has a lifetime warranty on the card. I still cannot find any info for the MSI X800, the other card I am seriously considering.

 

[Kogan]

Here's MSI's warranty info:
http://www.msicomputer.com/support/sup_genwar.asp