Best card to buy in the $250 range?

[musman]

I asked about some other cards in a previous post & some people brought up ATI, I was a Nvidia person myself but I guess ATI is back in the game. So now I will ask, what is the best card to purchase in the $250 range?

I was looking at 8800GT, 9800GTX, HD 4850. So, yea, I'm a little confused.

I'm running XP 32, 3gigs RAM, 1.86 dual core.

Thank You.

[muelo1000]

i would consider the 8800gt reason being is that in the future you could SLI it 3-way with the right Mobo http://www.evga.com/products/bstock.asp

[methimpikehoses]

For $260, you can get a GTX 260. These are the MSI cards at ZZF. By far the best deal.

A 8800GT is slower than that by a long shot, and also slower than the 9800GTX and HD4580.

[musman]

i would consider the 8800gt reason being is that in the future you could SLI it 3-way with the right Mobo http://www.evga.com/products/bstock.asp


Great idea, but I have a miniATX case & will not be able to do SLI.

[musman]

For $260, you can get a GTX 260. These are the MSI cards at ZZF. By far the best deal.

A 8800GT is slower than that by a long shot, and also slower than the 9800GTX and HD4580.


Could you provide a link? I could not find that.

Thank You

[methimpikehoses]

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10008782&prodlist=celebros

I'd get one if I didn't buy a card last week... ridiculous deal.

[musman]

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10008782&prodlist=celebros

I'd get one if I didn't buy a card last week... ridiculous deal.


Sweet! Thanks! A little scary that is don't specify that it will support XP.

[Mr_LoL]

Sweet! Thanks! A little scary that is don't specify that it will support XP.

It will support xp fine. Drivers are on the Nvidia page.

[Zapablast05]

i would consider the 8800gt reason being is that in the future you could SLI it 3-way with the right Mobo http://www.evga.com/products/bstock.asp

8800GT doesn't do tri-sli.


Dude, get the 8800GTS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325). It's at $184.99 right now.

[mullet]

Asus Radeon HD 4850 512MB $145.00 after MIR!!!!!!

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=115872

[jcrox]

8800GT doesn't do tri-sli.




confirmed. For once Zapa actually knows what he's talking about :p

[Medion]

Dude, get the 8800GTS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325). It's at $184.99 right now.

Absolutely not. HD4850 is around the same price (cheaper with the link in the previous post), and completely smokes this card.

[methimpikehoses]

Zapa always finds a way to fail. It is his density.

[musman]

So is it safe to say the this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253 will outperform this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150297

[Medion]

So is it safe to say the this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253 will outperform this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150297

At zero and 4xAA, yes. At 8x and higher, it significantly outperforms the GeForce. So yes, get the HD4850 (unless you want to splurge on the GTX260 deal listed a few posts up).

[musman]

At zero and 4xAA, yes. At 8x and higher, it significantly outperforms the GeForce. So yes, get the HD4850 (unless you want to splurge on the GTX260 deal listed a few posts up).

WOW, I have been reading the reviews on the 4850 and they look better than the 9800 GTX!
So I guess I will order one on Monday.

Knowing nothing about Radeon, what is the best brand?

[Medion]

WOW, I have been reading the reviews on the 4850 and they look better than the 9800 GTX!
So I guess I will order one on Monday.

Knowing nothing about Radeon, what is the best brand?

Visiontek is the only brand that offers a lifetime warranty, so can't go wrong there. Otherwise, they're all pretty much the same.

[MisterMister]

Check out the Nvidia price drops! The GTX260 is not going for $299.99 (USD) and the GTX280 is @ $450 USD! If you can cough up another 50 bucks, then go with the GTX260. You can't beat it for the price ATM.

[musman]

Well I ordered this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127359 I will have it on Wensday!!

[Medion]

Well I ordered this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127359 I will have it on Wensday!!

Let us know what you think.

Make sure you uninstall NV drivers, reboot to safe mode, run driver cleaner/sweeper, only after that, install ATI drivers. Better to be safe :)

[musman]

Let us know what you think.

Make sure you uninstall NV drivers, reboot to safe mode, run driver cleaner/sweeper, only after that, install ATI drivers. Better to be safe :)


Is this "driver/cleaner sweeper" the name of a program? Is the program open source or free ware? I do use CCleaner regularly. Thank you for your advice! :)

I will be sure to tell you what I think. I am upgrading from a XFX 8600 GT, so I think it will be a substantial upgrade...I hope.

[Medion]

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1655

[musman]

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1655


Looks good! Ill be sure to use it. Thanks again!
:)

[Zapablast05]

Zapa always finds a way to fail. It is his destiny.

Fail/Fixed.


Medion, I totally forgot about ATI :p, they're in the back of my mind along with "Sempron" processors.

[Medion]

Fail/Fixed.


Medion, I totally forgot about ATI :p, they're in the back of my mind along with "Sempron" processors.

They really did fade into irrelevance for a few years there, didn't they :)