PCI-E for under $300

[smorehou]

I was asked by my boss to buy him a new video card for his new computer. The new computer came with an integrated video/card and the games his son is playing is choppy. I don't know a lot about this stuff at all.

His computer can ONLY accept a pci-express version video card. He said he wanted to spend "two to three hundred" on it. That's Canadian, so under $250 USD please.

And I'm looking for the best bang for the buck, so if Video Card 'A' costs $100 and 'B' costs $200 with 10% more performance, then I'd hope you would recommend 'A' unless that extra 10% REALLY makes the difference between crappy game and good game.


Here are some prices locally (in CDN funds):

ATI x700PRO 256MB $279
ATI X600XT 256MB $275
Asus x600XT 128MB $275
ATI "Saphire" X600PRO 128MB $145
ATI "Saphire" X600PRO 256MB $195
Asus X600Pro 128MB $199
Asus EN5750 128MB $175
Asus EN5750 256MB $209
Asus EN5900 128MB $299

I don't know if it matters between ATI and ASUS, and is PRO better/worse than XT... does the extra 128MB matter and what does "Saphire" mean?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Todd33]

I wouldn't go under a X700 or 6600GT myself.

 

[Astu222]

Originally posted by: Todd33
I wouldn't go under a X700 or 6600GT myself.

that really didnt answer his/her question.

of those listed there the best peformer would be the x700 pro, go with the 128MB as the extra MB doesnt really matter for the midrange.

also the 6600GT (if oyu can find one) is probably the same price as the x700 pro and faster.

XT is better than Pro for ATI based cards but in this case the x700pro is better than the x600XT. Sapphire is a brand that ATI sells their chips to to make cards. so all it is is a brand name, they make good and reliable cards. the 128MB x700 pro is the way to go.

 

[nitromullet]

http://www.ncix.com/search/?qu...x=0&imageField.y=0

Go for one of those, the 6600GT would be a great bang for the buck.

 

[Todd33]

The X700 pro 128MB is $166 and the 6600GT is $186 (< $220 CDN) on Newegg, both are good cards. The 6600GT is better probably. I would not go down to the X600 or 6600 level.

 

[smorehou]

Alright... so I think I'm hearing that I should either go for the:

X700 Pro 128MB or
6600GT (128MB?)

And brand doesn't matter. Is that correct?

Also, does anyone have any insite into whether or not it is worth ordering from the US? I ordered a $20 book once and it came with a $55 brokerage and tax bill.

Thank you all very much for the input. I appreciate the help!

 

[bigal40]

I would go with the 6600gt. Company doesn't really matter but I've heard a few bad things about Albatron.

 

[bigal40]

i don't know if gameve.com ships to canada but here is one for 183USD which i think is about 220 Canadian dollars.

 

[Viper96720]

I would go with a Nvidia 6600GT. Sapphire is the company that makes that card. Like Asus, MSI, BFG, etc... You could get a sapphire brand x600 or an ATI one or Asus one. Just like how different companies make motherboards with the same chipset.

 

[Pollock]

6600GT. Although it also depends on what kinds of resolutions he'll be running.

 

[Pete]

I'd go for a 6600GT or a X700XT. Basically, buy whatever's cheaper. Each will excel in certain games, but overall they're quite close.

A faster 128MB card is still preferable to a slower 256MB card.

Sapphire is a card maker/reseller, like Viper said.

If you're going to get taxed out the wazzoo (edit: for importing), it seems self-evident that you'd want to order from Canada, if you have that option.

 

[jiffylube1024]

If you're anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area, canada computers has the Leadtek 6600GT for $269 CDN, which is about the best deal you'll find in Canada outside of a hot deal. They also have the XFX 6600GT for $261 CDN.

All they have on the ATI front for good cards is the 256MB X700 Pro for $319, which is a ripoff because the $269 128MB 6600GT is at least as fast (as Pete said).

 

[smorehou]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Its seems pretty clear that the 6600GT is the way to go.

I posted in the "general hardware" forum about a sound card, but not one response. Since you guys are so helpful, maybe I'll ask here. I know it is off topic, but I'd appreciate it.

The case he's gone with has NO pci slots... only one pci-e for a video card, and one extra pci-e slot.

The onboard sound chip is pretty basic, so I've suggested we get a dedicated card... however, it doesn't seem that S/B has a pci-e version (which suprises me). Does anyone know of a pci-e sound card? I've Googled it but can't seem to find much.

If not, then anyone know anything about the NX external one that Creative Labs has? It connects via USB2... I don't know the ins and outs of all this, so I wonder is the NX an upgrade to the on-board audio?

Thanks.

Moderators: if this is too off-topic, I apologize.

 

[Rage187]

Yep the USB NX from Creative works great, I speak from experience

Major upgrade for on board sound.

 

[smorehou]

Ok... thanks a lot for all of your help.

I purchased the Leadtek WinFast PX6600GT 128MB pci-e card.

Now I have another problem - it won't fit in the case

I assumed (I know - never assume) that if it is a pci-e motherboard and a pci-e video card that everything would work... but it isn't even close. The case is very small and the video card width is about 50% wider than the case!

So now I have to fight with the computer store to take the card back, or try to sell it to someone else. Fine, that's my problem... what I want to know is...

IS THERE A MINI-PCI-EXPRESS VIDEO CARD???

Thanks.