What is the best PCI-E video card for around $200-$250?

[DEredita]

I'm building a new pc, not the biggest gamer, more for software, but I'm a casual gamer. What video card would be the best deal for under $250? I will be using a MSI nForce4 Nero4 Ultra motherboard.

- Mike

 

[fstime]

6600 GT or 6800 NU for 50 bucks more.

 

[DusterAZ]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
6600 GT or 6800 NU for 50 bucks more.

He said PCI-E ... I don't see any decent deals for the PCI-E 6800 vanilla. The 6600 GT is a good deal on PCI-E though, anywhere from $20-$50 cheaper than the AGP version.

 

[BW86]

6600GT

 

[fstime]

Originally posted by: DusterAZ

Originally posted by: BouZouki
6600 GT or 6800 NU for 50 bucks more.

He said PCI-E ... I don't see any decent deals for the PCI-E 6800 vanilla. The 6600 GT is a good deal on PCI-E though, anywhere from $20-$50 cheaper than the AGP version.

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-127-149&depa=0

Good enough?

Im sorry I wasnt exact but thats a little over his max budget. And I dont know what your talking about, 335 for the MSI 6800 and 345 for the leadtek seem like good deals to me for new pci-e cards. Its only a little more expensive then the apg versions, but thats only because its psi-e.

 

[DusterAZ]

Originally posted by: BouZouki

Originally posted by: DusterAZ

Originally posted by: BouZouki
6600 GT or 6800 NU for 50 bucks more.

He said PCI-E ... I don't see any decent deals for the PCI-E 6800 vanilla. The 6600 GT is a good deal on PCI-E though, anywhere from $20-$50 cheaper than the AGP version.

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-127-149&depa=0

Good enough?

Im sorry I wasnt exact but thats a little over his max budget. And I dont know what your talking about, 335 for the MSI 6800 and 345 for the leadtek seem like good deals to me for new pci-e cards. Its only a little more expensive then the apg versions, but thats only because its psi-e.

Well his price range is $200-$250 ... $345 is a bit out of that range. Plus considering I got my BFG 6800 OC AGP card for $227 which included retail HL2 and the fact that CompUSA has been running the PNY 6800 AGP for $199 ... paying $345 is quite a jump for no real performance gain. Especially when you put the PCI-E 6800 vanilla up against a PCI-E 6600GT ... you are paying double for less than a 5% gain in performance.

 

[Pete]

Casual gamer? Get a 6600GT for <$200.

 

[Trizzay]

Yep, go with the 6600 GT.

 

[DEredita]

I guess I could save $80 to $100 on the ram by going with ok but decent ram instead of getting 1GB of Consair TwinX Xtra low latency ram (2-2-2-5) I could always get the MSI nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Video Card, 256MB DDR, 256-Bit for the money I'd save.

Would you guys agree?

- Mike

 

[DusterAZ]

Well ... I think it would be a good waste of money as the 6800 PCI-E is not much faster than a 6600GT ... less than 5% in most cases. Also ... the PCI-E version is based on the NV41 which you cannot unlock to a 6800 GT/Ultra core like the 6800 AGP. I would get a 6600GT and let it hold me over until prices drop on the 6800 GT PCI-E or ATI counterpart and possibly upgrade again as you could just sell the 6600GT. You have read the reviews on the ATI X800XL right ? When it is released @ $299 it will be the best value on PCI-E and hopefully Nvidia would answer by dropping prices as the X800XL matches up with the 6800 GT well.

 

[Xennon]

The XFX GeForce 6600GT It was the best it usually came last to to topp end video cards.

 

[DEredita]

Originally posted by: DusterAZ
I think it would be a good waste of money as the 6800 PCI-E is not much faster than a 6600GT ... less than 5% in most cases.

You have read the reviews on the ATI X800XL right ? When it is released @ $299 it will be the best value on PCI-E and hopefully Nvidia would answer by dropping prices as the X800XL matches up with the 6800 GT well.

Any word on the release date of this card?

- Mike

 

[DusterAZ]

Originally posted by: DEredita

Originally posted by: DusterAZ
I think it would be a good waste of money as the 6800 PCI-E is not much faster than a 6600GT ... less than 5% in most cases.

You have read the reviews on the ATI X800XL right ? When it is released @ $299 it will be the best value on PCI-E and hopefully Nvidia would answer by dropping prices as the X800XL matches up with the 6800 GT well.

Any word on the release date of this card?

- Mike

Here is the preview on this site, expected this month or next.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2299