Replacement for GeForce 7600 GT

[cronos]

Can someone please give me some suggestions?

Usage is for somewhat casual gaming (mainly WoW and maybe other MMOs supposed to be coming out this year) so no super crazy horsepower needed, I just don't want to get out there and buy something that's horrible/obsolete, while I really don't want to (read: can't) spend too much money on it (around $100 is best, I can probably spend up to $150 but not more).

The eVGA 7600 GT (256 MB DDR3 RAM) that is being replaced is something that I'm very happy with and probably won't get upgraded until mid-to-late next year if nothing happened to it, but two of its capacitors just blew on me (you know, the loud explosions and stuff. let me tell you, if it's the first time it happened to you, it's very scary). It's less than a year old so I'll try to send it out for RMA, but in the meantime I thought I'd take the opportunity to get an upgrade.

I'm pretty much completely oblivious to the latest graphics technology so any answer that point me to somewhere I can learn about the different types of NVidia 8-series and their plus-and-minuses will also be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[happy medium]

In your 100/150$ price range the 384mb 8800gs is the absolute best card right now for you. Newegg has them on sale.

It should be 3 times the performance of the 7600gt.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: happy medium
In your 100/150$ price range the 384mb 8800gs is the absolute best card right now for you. Newegg has them on sale.

It should be 3 times the performance of the 7600gt.

Agreed. Seems to be the perfect budget card.

 

[IL2SturmovikPilot]

I've seen a 9600GT from ECS for $150,and a XFX 8800GS for $140,you could aim for one of those.

 

[Dream Operator]

http://en.expreview.com/2008/0...9600gt-review/?page=13 (9600gt vs 8800gs)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127333 MSI 9600GT dual slot cooling $155 after MIR.

Keep the res at 1600x or lower and this card rocks!!

 

[Piuc2020]

Well there's that ECS 9600GT with an Accelero S2 (passive cooling though still better than stock if you have good airflow) for only $149 (no rebates involved) but if you are into rebates a 8800GS can be had for as low as $110.

 

[happy medium]

8800gs for 139.00$ + $30.00 rb = 109.00$ (newegg free shipping)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150275

 

[bryanW1995]

if the card has not been oc'd and is less than a year old you should easily get an rma approved. You will probably get an 8600gt replacement card, which should tide you over until your next upgrade.

If you decide that you can't wait or you fear that the rma is going to either be turned down or take several months, the 9600gt would probably be a better bet than 8800gs. It is closer to the $150 price point but should enable you to skip upgrading for several years.


edit: um, if it's really only $110 for the 8800gs then, uh, forget what I said. That's a smokin' deal!!!

:thumbsup: happy medium

 

[cronos]

Thanks everyone for all of the responses.

I'm getting that 8800 GS, that looks like a sweet deal!

And Bryan, no the 7600 has not been oc'd at all. I just thought I might as well upgrade and if the RMA comes back I can use it to upgrade another computer.

 

[gpgofast]

I personally made the decision to get the XFX 9600GT at Newegg. $130 plus about $6 shipping. I am in the same relative position as the OP, migrating from a 7600GT. I went with the 9600 GT mainly for the lower temperatures reported vs. the older 8800G(x) series cards. In either case with the 9600GT or the 8800GS it looks like a pretty big bang for the buck...GP

 

[bryanW1995]

that would be a better deal if correct, but it is up to 145 + 6.58 shipping right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&name=GeForce+9+series

 

[gpgofast]

There was a $15.00 off coupon.

 

[bryanW1995]

yeah, that's the bad thing about posting "hot deals" like that, they go away VERY quickly once people start going to lap them up.

 

[octopus41092]

9600GT