Looking for a graphics card

[vanMould]

So I'm looking for a graphics card for my brothers computer. It's quite a budget rig, with a MSI K9N6SGM-V motherboard which has an odd PCI-E x16 bus running at x8 speed. Needless to say, I'm not looking for any high-end card. Just a step up from the internal GeForce 6100 chipset (right now, he can barely play Portal with absolute minimum settings).

Right now, I've got my sight set on a Sparkle GeForce 8600GT for about 600 sek (~100 usd). Would it possibly be worth it to step up to the GTS model (900 sek ~150 usd), or would the bus limit the performance anyway? Or could maybe you get more bang for the buck with an ATI card?

[ferret]

Just read a great run down of latest vid cards on Tom's Hardware today. Worth a read: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...card,1923.html

According to them, it's a good time to buy a video card. Some high-end stuff has apparently started to appear in the sub-$200 range. Don't know what you'd end up paying in Sweden, but still probably some great deals out there. I'm partial to the 8800 GT that they seem to like so much. Or, I would be if I was building a PC right now.

[MadCow809]

Depends on how much you want to spend.

I'd say the HD2600XT or 8600GT or even the GTS, if the price is right.

[vanMould]

Well...it's going to be a birthday gift in lack of other ideas, and the 8600GT is actually pushing it already. In other words, we won't spend far over $100 on it. The biggest question is actually whether to buy a $100 card for him, or let him buy whatever he want himself later.

However, this thread is about how much we could get for ~$100 if we decide to go with it, and according to Tom's Hardware the 8600 GTS seems to be a good idea. I can get a Leadtek PX8600 GTS for just over 700 sek (~$120) here. The only concern is that it's a 256 mb card, but is it as much of a limiter as it sounds?

[Solberg]

A 9600 card might be good for you.

[awdrifter]

I'm not sure if they cost over $100 in Sweden or not, but you can get a HD3850 from newegg for $105 after rebates, it's probably the best card for around $100 right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102715

[Kip_6666]

Originally Posted by awdrifter

I'm not sure if they cost over $100 in Sweden or not, but you can get a HD3850 from newegg for $105 after rebates, it's probably the best card for around $100 right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102715

Yeah, and the 3850 kills the 8600gts

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=704&p=0

Here's one for about 100 euros:
http://www.komplett.se/k/ki.aspx?sku=344816

[Dann]

if you can find one cheap enough a 9600gt could be nice

[db2450]

I've got a 256MB 8600GT and I can run Portal on the pretty much the highest settings under Vista smoothly, so anything near an 8600GT will be fine.

[Andrewticus]

What kind of games does he play?

If you're talking about a gamer that plays new games as they come out, you might want to sacrifice a bit of cash for a DX10 capable card, and a good one at that.

That 8600 is a tad underwhelming.

[MadCow809]

3850 512mb > 8600gts > 8600GT = HD2600XT

They are all around the similar price bracket, so just pick the best one.

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by Andrewticus

What kind of games does he play?

If you're talking about a gamer that plays new games as they come out, you might want to sacrifice a bit of cash for a DX10 capable card, and a good one at that.

That 8600 is a tad underwhelming.

Originally Posted by vanMould

So I'm looking for a graphics card for my brothers computer. It's quite a budget rig, with a MSI K9N6SGM-V motherboard which has an odd PCI-E x16 bus running at x8 speed. Needless to say, I'm not looking for any high-end card. Just a step up from the internal GeForce 6100 chipset (right now, he can barely play Portal with absolute minimum settings).

A 8800GT, etc. would be a complete waste on that PC.

[vanMould]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

A 8800GT, etc. would be a complete waste on that PC.

My thoughts exactly. There is however the constant dilemma of not knowing if you're missing out on something.

I wan't to place the order tonight, and It's probably either gonna be a Sparkle 8600GT 512mb for 600 sek ($100), Leadtek PX8600 GTS 256mb for 700 sek ($120) or a Club-3D HD3850 512mb for 900 sek ($150). The biggest question is whether it's actually worth going into high-end territory, or is the rest of the computer (Athlon 64 3200+, 1GB PC2-5300 and that PCI-E x8 bus) gonna strangle it anyway?

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by vanMould

The biggest question is whether it's actually worth going into high-end territory, or is the rest of the computer (Athlon 64 3200+, 1GB PC2-5300 and that PCI-E x8 bus) gonna strangle it anyway?

I'd stick midrange. I dunno about AMDs, but 1GB of RAM isn't enough to play any high end games.

Plus, it's not like a 8600 is shit. It's very good.

[Kip_6666]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

I'd stick midrange. I dunno about AMDs, but 1GB of RAM isn't enough to play any high end games.

Plus, it's not like a 8600 is shit. It's very good.

And the 3850 is almost twice as fast then the 8600GTS, for a little bit of extra cash. I want to say that again, maybe it'll sink in. Twice... as fast! Twice. 200% Brand loyalty goes pretty far if you want to give up this kind of deal.

I can't see how the 8600GTS is "very good" here. Sure it won't burst out in flames when you put it in, but more cards have that feature going for them.

1GB is a bit of the small side, but it will still play most games. A 3200+ will have a bit more trouble keeping up. But he has a am2+ board, you can still fit a lot of better cpus in there if he decides he wants a bit more power on that side.

[Viper007Bond]

I just meant in general. I have no clue about the performance stats of current ATi cards and how they compare to nVidia cards. Their numbering system is 200% confusing.

[MadCow809]

HD3850 is overpriced at $150, try find one at around $130~140.

HD3850 gets my vote as well.


At around $130~$140, its the best card for money.

[otispunkmeyer]

why not hit up something used?

can u spy a X1900XT ob ebay for less than $100?

[vanMould]

Originally Posted by MadCow809

HD3850 is overpriced at $150, try find one at around $130~140.

HD3850 gets my vote as well.


At around $130~$140, its the best card for money.

Sorry. They don't come cheaper than $150.

Originally Posted by otispunkmeyer

why not hit up something used?

can u spy a X1900XT ob ebay for less than $100?

Sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry here. His birthday is on thursday, so we are gonna need a reliable and fast retailer.

I think I'm pretty clear on how the market looks now. My biggest concern right now is how much performance that PCI-E x8 bus can utilize.

[awdrifter]

You won't be bottlenecked by the 8x bus with these cards. Even the HD3850 shouldn't max out the bus bandwidth.