budget video card suggestions?

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:04 am

I'm thinking of getting a new video card for xmas. I'm looking for something that is fairly cheap (not more than $150) that is a good replacement for my current Radeon X600.

My card right now works well enough; it plays Oblivion fine on medium settings (skips when outdoors w/ multiple enemies). It plays HL2 very well on medium, Q4 ok (not great) on medium, and F.E.A.R. like shit on low. (duh)
It also does fine with Vista, though it struggles when I have lots (20+) of windows open at once.

I need something that will boost Oblivion playability a bit, and let me play HL2 and Q4 on higher settings. It doesn't need to be cutting-edge. Basically, what is a good choice for the next card I should get?
I don't keep up on vid cards at all, so any suggestions for manufacturer, extras, etc will be appreciated. Thanks.

Current card is: ATI Radeon X600 SE HyperMemory 256MB PCI Express x16.

Post by **Captain** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:17 am

I'm sure an eVGA 6600GT should fit your budget. I've got one atm and it runs BF2142, FEAR, Q4, etc. with absolutely no stuttering or fps loss. Playing at 1024x768 with full graphics.

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:21 am

Captain Mazda wrote:I'm sure an eVGA 6600GT should fit your budget. I've got one atm and it runs BF2142, FEAR, Q4, etc. with absolutely no stuttering or fps loss. Playing at 1024x768 with full graphics.

Does it run all the shader effects on FEAR, too?

Post by **Captain** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:03 am

Yes it does, uploading a screenie from Extraction Point in a sec.

Post by **Captain** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:05 am

Looks pretty good to me

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:54 pm

the 7600 is the same price as the 6600GT, ( if not a little more... $20 here in canada )

why wouldent you fit that instead of the 6600?

Post by **obsidian** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:27 pm

Yeah, I picked up a BFG 7600GT for $130 (CND) a few weeks ago.

Post by **Captain** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:58 pm

obsidian wrote:Yeah, I picked up a BFG 7600GT for $130 (CND) a few weeks ago.

ffs I hate you

Got my 6600GT in April for $165 CDN :E

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:12 pm

Cool.. thanks for the suggestions.
Anyone else want to throw in their 2 cents?

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:45 pm

Uhh, if i may,

the BEST Budget card out there is the Radeon X800 GTO according to a few sites.. the only thing that the 7600 has on it is Shader model 3, wile the X800 is still running 2.

those would be the two that i would say

btw, newegg has them on for a good price each

Post by **obsidian** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:55 am

Captain Mazda wrote:ffs I hate you

Got my 6600GT in April for $165 CDN :E

Don't you love progress? Mmm, mmm. 7600GT is a wonderful card, functions great and looks beautiful too.

Oh, and I love you too.

Post by **SOAPboy** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:46 am

AmIdYfReAk wrote:Uhh, if i may,

the BEST Budget card out there is the Radeon X800 GTO according to a few sites.. the only thing that the 7600 has on it is Shader model 3, wile the X800 is still running 2.

those would be the two that i would say

btw, newegg has them on for a good price each

Id still go Nvidia. At least imo.

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:26 am

SOAPboy wrote:
AmIdYfReAk wrote:Uhh, if i may,

the BEST Budget card out there is the Radeon X800 GTO according to a few sites.. the only thing that the 7600 has on it is Shader model 3, wile the X800 is still running 2.

those would be the two that i would say

btw, newegg has them on for a good price each

Id still go Nvidia. At least imo.

i am just trying to offer a choice, Rather then BUY THIS OMG!

but i do agree, i am sticking with nvidia for the time being.. ( Patts his old 9800 pro )

Post by **Captain** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:31 am

Fuck it, I'm going to buy the 7600GT for Christmas. That way I won't feel bad about shelling that much money for it.

Oh and I don't really hate you Obsi :lub:

Post by **obsidian** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:49 am

TBH, the 6600GT is a good enough card. Just buy a 8600GT (supposing they make one) in 6 months for $100 and then come back and rub it in my face.

Post by **Captain** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:42 am

8800 has been made already. I'm not planning on getting Vista so I'm saying "bye bye" to DX10. If the 8800 has a decent price, I'll definitely get it, just to play all my current games at 23109782x23109547 resolutions, lol.

EDIT: Never mind, I'm not planning on upgrading my mobo. Perfectly good and new ASUS P5P800SE AGP so no thanks. Basically, I refuse to buy Vista, a new PCI-E mobo, new PCI-E compatible RAM, and a PCI-E video card. Seems reasonable

Post by **Captain** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:46 am

Does anyone know if the 7600GS 512MB AGP runs Shader Model 3?

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph ... id=999.821

Don't wanna hijack your thread though :icon32:

EDIT: 7800GS is much better

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph ... id=999.821

If my 6600GT was 256MB, it would be much sexier.

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:15 pm

Edit:

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:16 pm

http://www.nvidia.com/object/7_series_techspecs.html

Post by **werldhed** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:06 pm

Thanks all for the suggestions. It got a bit hectic here at school the past week so I didn't get a chance to check out your advice.
I had been planning to stick with ATI just because it's what I've got and it's worked well, but since most people (IRL, too) have been suggesting nVidia, I might do that instead...

Anywhoo.. I found this deal recently:
EVGA e-GeForce 7600GT 256MB DDR3 HDTV PCI-E
Cost: $89.99.

Sounds pretty sweet to me... any reason I shouldn't go for this?

Post by **Captain** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:58 pm

$89.99???????????????

Post by **Magestic** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:38 pm

If you can get a 7600GT for $90, you should go for it.

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:06 am

Captain Mazda wrote:$89.99???????????????

(with rebate)

Post by **Captain** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:53 am

Damn Immortals

Grats on an amazing find :icon14:

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:36 pm

Oops.. forgot to post the link to the deal.
It's got free shipping, too, but I don't know if they ship out of the US.
Anyway, I don't know how long this will last. Might be over today.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/EVGA-e-G ... tDetail.do