Graphics Card??

[khayoz]

I need a new graphics card after upgrading my motherboard, ram and cpu. I've been looking at the 8800 GT, but I'm not exactly sure which version of it to get as such. Was wondering if anyone could help me out to which one is the best one to get? Or maybe another card all together? I'm looking to spend hopefully around 350 or so.

[V99]

If you can afford the 8800GT, grab the 512mb version with a solid brand, XFX, EVGA etc.
But there is always the 9600GT, which is just a little lower than the 8800 in terms of performance, but its also cheaper.

Both are excellent choices.

[Raccoon Mario]

What exactly are you going to be using it for? Gaming? Go for the 8800GTX or GTS (G92) 512MB.

[Haku]

Originally Posted by V99

If you can afford the 8800GT, grab the 512mb version with a solid brand, XFX, EVGA etc.
But there is always the 9600GT, which is just a little lower than the 8800 in terms of performance, but its also cheaper.

Both are excellent choices.

V99 summed it up in a nutshell. The GT is the best bang for your buck at the moment. Hell, it was the best bang for your buck this past holiday season, even when the price was jacked up extremely high (I paid $289.99 for mine). And since the holiday rush is over, you can a nice GT card for right at $200 (with the mail-in rebate). Since I own a EVGA, I personally recommend you going with that brand. However, XFX and Foxconn are excellent brands as well. Here's the one I have, and it works flawlessly.

Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Hope that helps. And I would stay far away from the GTX's. With the GT's out, it's basically ridiculous considering a GTX. You could basically get two GT cards (about $400 with the mail-in rebates) at the same price as a GTX, and get better performance with them than a single 8800 Ultra card (a $600+ value).

[GDwarf]

I have an ASUS 8800GT 512MB, and love it. It really is the best card you can get for that price.

Just out of curiosity, how much can you spend on this?

[Raccoon Mario]

Originally Posted by GDwarf

I have an ASUS 8800GT 512MB, and love it. It really is the best card you can get for that price.

Just out of curiosity, how much can you spend on this?

The poster said $350.

Oh, and the 8800GTS is the best card you can get at that price, not the GT.

The 8800GTS also has a double-width cooler which allows better overclocking, less noise and better temperatures.

[GDwarf]

Ah, I missed that.

At $350 the GTS would be your best bet.

[V99]

Originally Posted by Raccoon Mario

The poster said $350.

Oh, and the 8800GTS is the best card you can get at that price, not the GT.

The 8800GTS also has a double-width cooler which allows better overclocking, less noise and better temperatures.

Some people might prefer a single slot cooling video card, instead of taking over half the motherboard. From what I've seen, the cards don't overclock that well and you don't get a lot of benefit from it. My mate owns a 8800GT and it's pretty quiet and stays cool.

But if he's got the money, this is an excellent buy:
EVGA 512-P3-N841-A3 GeForce 8800GTS

[khayoz]

Originally Posted by V99

Some people might prefer a single slot cooling video card, instead of taking over half the motherboard. From what I've seen, the cards don't overclock that well and you don't get a lot of benefit from it. My mate owns a 8800GT and it's pretty quiet and stays cool.

But if he's got the money, this is an excellent buy:
EVGA 512-P3-N841-A3 GeForce 8800GTS

I don't plan on over clocking at all, just looking for a fairly decent card which will be able to run games now and games computer out at some nice graphics with stable fps.

[V99]

Originally Posted by khayoz

I don't plan on over clocking at all, just looking for a fairly decent card which will be able to run games now and games computer out at some nice graphics with stable fps.

Here's a question for you, what monitor do you have and what resolution do you play games at? eg 1280x1024.

[khayoz]

Originally Posted by V99

Here's a question for you, what monitor do you have and what resolution do you play games at? eg 1280x1024.

Fair questions. At the moment I've only got a 17" so playing games at 1280x1024. However I am planning on upgrading to maybe something around the 20" not sure exactly what resolution that turns out to be, maybe 1600x1200?

[Raccoon Mario]

Originally Posted by V99

Some people might prefer a single slot cooling video card, instead of taking over half the motherboard. From what I've seen, the cards don't overclock that well and you don't get a lot of benefit from it. My mate owns a 8800GT and it's pretty quiet and stays cool.

But if he's got the money, this is an excellent buy:
EVGA 512-P3-N841-A3 GeForce 8800GTS

Unless you plan on having a sound card, a physics card and two GFX cards, there won't be any space issues.

Also:

Cooler = Quiter because the fans don't have to be whirring so loud. Also, it allows you to overclock. Even if you don't want to, you can still enjoy the benfits of having a dual-width GFX card.

Gaming at 1680x1050 can be achieved with much cheaper cards though. The 9600GT/HD3870 can do that just fine.

[GDwarf]

Er, sorta. Resolution does matter, but even decent cards can choke at 800x600 if there's enough happening on the screen.

[Raccoon Mario]

Originally Posted by GDwarf

Er, sorta. Resolution does matter, but even decent cards can choke at 800x600 if there's enough happening on the screen.

Hmm, though that is possible, no game today does that so it's not an issue.

Also, could you clarify what you mean by "enough happening on the screen".

[GDwarf]

Best example: Crysis.

It doesn't matter what resolution you run Crysis at, unless you've got a $6 000 system it'll bring it to it's knees.

[Yami]

Crysis is still brought to it's knees, even with high-end hardware.

Best bet I feel is a 9600GT, overclocked a little.

[nighthawkx]

Originally Posted by Yami

Crysis is still brought to it's knees, even with high-end hardware.

Best bet I feel is a 9600GT, overclocked a little.

in DX9 on very high 720p is very doable with an 8800GTS640
the 8800GT is a faster card too.
and the 8800 GTS 512 with the newer g92 revision GPU is faster still.

if you're in the US, the GTS512 can be had for as low as $240 or so. It's basically the best card on the market, atleast below $400 and the new 9800GX2 is basically 8800GTS in SLI so no new thrills there.

take your pick
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
also don't pay extra for factory overclocked cards, you can overclock it yourself pretty darn easily and often exceed the factory OCed settings by as much as 10-15%

Originally Posted by GDwarf

Best example: Crysis.

It doesn't matter what resolution you run Crysis at, unless you've got a $6 000 system it'll bring it to it's knees.

really? I can play it almost maxed out at 1600*900 no issues at all and my system is a far cry from $6k and has a graphics card which is around a year and a half old.

Originally Posted by khayoz

Fair questions. At the moment I've only got a 17" so playing games at 1280x1024. However I am planning on upgrading to maybe something around the 20" not sure exactly what resolution that turns out to be, maybe 1600x1200?

20" widescreen LCds are 1680*1050
CRT side it's usually something like 1920*1200 or something higher