Time for me to pick a new video card...can I please have some recommendations?

zekrahminator · Aug 31, 2007

Well, I've decided (again) that my old X850XT is getting...old. I want to play BioShock!

And Crysis. And all sorts of SM3 exclusive games... :laugh:

.

So anyways. I'm sick and tired of the DX10 hype, it's what's made me wait since this time last year to get a new video card. It's starting to make me...angry.

Lemme put out some facts:

-I'd rather not spend more than $200. I'm hoping to spend anywhere from between $75 and $150.

-I'm not looking for uber-resolution gaming with uber-details. I want medium-high details on games like BioShock, Half Life 2, Prey, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, and Call of Juarez (all non-DX10).

-I'd HATE to replace my 430W TT PSU with 18A on the single 12V+ rail.

-I don't play at uber-high resolutions. I mainly play at 1440x900, and can deal with 1280x720.

-I'd really like an ATI card, being a bit of an ATI fanboy myself...

-Overclocking does not matter to me. Silence does. If it doesn't come quiet stock, I had better be able to slap an aftermarket cooler on it.

So, that's the facts. I'm thinking... HD 2600XT GDDR4 on Catalyst 7.8? But really, I've been out of the loop so long, I don't know these things too well anymore. Any recommendations?

Edit: Just for clarification, I have Windows XP SP2, with all the late updates installed, and knowing my budget, it's prolly going to stay that way for a while...

.

pbmaster · Aug 31, 2007

I was just going to suggest the 8600 GTS, but after reading the part about you being a fanboy I think the Radeon 2600 XT would be the best one for you.

Agility · Aug 31, 2007

If you wanna spend more then get the GDDR4. However the performance isn't worth for the extra cash to get an GDDR4 type.

zekrahminator · Aug 31, 2007

Well, I dunno...I was DEEPLY betrayed by the GeForce 7 series (I swapped my X850XT out for a 7900GS once. The fact that I still have my X850XT kinda tells you something :laugh:

).

I hear that the image quality is much improved in the GeForce 8x00 series from the GeForce 7 series, and possibly all current ATI offerings. Anyone want to back this up with, say, a bragging screenshot?

.

Agility · Aug 31, 2007

Well it's quite true. There was once a time in TPU that people were talking about the 7XXX. I just somehow remembered it. Those that opened a thread calling peeps to help them decide what card to get, many turned the 7xxx series out.

nflesher87 · Aug 31, 2007

I have a Sapphire X1950Pro with a spankin new Zalman VF900-Cu on it if you're interested

pbmaster · Aug 31, 2007

I'll take a SS. What you want it of? I'll make sure to turn on my 16xQ AA for ya!!

Conti027 · Aug 31, 2007

i say a nvidia card since you want a ATI lol jk

DrunkenMafia · Aug 31, 2007

the way I see it bro you got 4 options....

1. grab a 2600XT - ~$150
2. grab a new psu and a X1950pro ~$300
3. Grab a new psu and a 2900XT ~$500
4. Grab a new psu and wait for the 2900pro/gt to come out in a month or so... they look promising (somewhat). ~$350 - $450

[I.R.A]_FBi · Aug 31, 2007

wait for teh hd 2950 pro or get a 2600xt gddr4

Widjaja · Aug 31, 2007

IF your'e going to get an ATi upgrade I would still get a new PSU with better amperage on the 12v rail to be on the safe side.

GLD · Aug 31, 2007

Well I have my new HD 2600XT running in my Antec NSK1300. It has a whimpy (but with PFC :rockout:

) 300w psu with 18a on the 12v rail. If you were to go with a 2600XT I would say your psu is golden. I was thinking of a Sapphire 512mb X1950 Pro, but I am really glad I got the 2600XT. The promo code (posted by devguy in hot deals) may still be good. It would only cost you $119 because you live in WA.

zekrahminator · Aug 31, 2007

Great news!

My X850XT can run BioShock after all. Special thanks to Racer_S for his magical little FOV/SM2 hack... :toast:

.

$150 in my pocket is $150 for gas/insurance/Led Zeppelin CDs...

.

hat · Aug 31, 2007

Or just keep the $150, put it twords a new rig.

HookeyStreet · Aug 31, 2007

zekrahminator said:
Well, I've decided (again) that my old X850XT is getting...old. I want to play BioShock!

And Crysis. And all sorts of SM3 exclusive games... .

So anyways. I'm sick and tired of the DX10 hype, it's what's made me wait since this time last year to get a new video card. It's starting to make me...angry.

Lemme put out some facts:

-I'd rather not spend more than $200. I'm hoping to spend anywhere from between $75 and $150.

-I'm not looking for uber-resolution gaming with uber-details. I want medium-high details on games like BioShock, Half Life 2, Prey, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, and Call of Juarez (all non-DX10).

-I'd HATE to replace my 430W TT PSU with 18A on the single 12V+ rail.

-I don't play at uber-high resolutions. I mainly play at 1440x900, and can deal with 1280x720.

-I'd really like an ATI card, being a bit of an ATI fanboy myself...

-Overclocking does not matter to me. Silence does. If it doesn't come quiet stock, I had better be able to slap an aftermarket cooler on it.

So, that's the facts. I'm thinking... HD 2600XT GDDR4 on Catalyst 7.8? But really, I've been out of the loop so long, I don't know these things too well anymore. Any recommendations?

Edit: Just for clarification, I have Windows XP SP2, with all the late updates installed, and knowing my budget, it's prolly going to stay that way for a while... .

Zek m8, if your looking to play games like BioShock and CrySis, I would recommend coming to the darkside and getting the 8800GTS 640mb, or if your on a budget, the 8600GTS (the 8800GTS 640 obviously pwning the 8600GTS)

zekrahminator · Aug 31, 2007

Ah, it RUNS BioShock, but...everything glitches like crazy :laugh:

.

Back to the drawing board

. I'm split between the 2600XT and the 8600GT.

HookeyStreet · Aug 31, 2007

zekrahminator said:
Ah, it RUNS BioShock, but...everything glitches like crazy .

Back to the drawing board . I'm split between the 2600XT and the 8600GT.

Get the 8600GTS instead of the 8600GT, trust me on this one m8

zekrahminator · Aug 31, 2007

*Trusts you*. This actually looks like a pretty good deal...

But, then again, so does this.

I'll wait 'till I have some more money lying around, then I'll decide

.

HookeyStreet · Aug 31, 2007

zekrahminator said:
*Trusts you*. This actually looks like a pretty good deal...

But, then again, so does this.

I'll wait 'till I have some more money lying around, then I'll decide .

What about this m8: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127284

PS: Im sure the 8600GTS destroys the 2600XT

zekrahminator · Aug 31, 2007

I'll keep that in mind, thanks

.

Hey, since you're the NVIDIA man, I got a quick question for you. Do you know any aftermarket coolers that you can stick on, say, an 8600GTS? I am a silence freak

.

DaMulta · Aug 31, 2007

This is what you need

Zek VERY Silent

Also you could buy a 790x board soon and add another 3 video cards here and there over the next year

Sovereign · Aug 31, 2007

HookeyStreet said:
What about this m8: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127284

PS: Im sure the 8600GTS destroys the 2600XT

I don't know what hole in the ground you've been living in but...

I might agree with that if you are talking about a 1st gen HD2600XT GDDR3 model with cat 7.7s or earlier but not against a newer HD2600XT GDDR4's. Also, I don't see how you can go with a GTS when you consider that you can get a new MSI HD2600XT GDDR4 Diamond OC Edition (@ $120 shipped after MIR, $140 before) card for less than any currently available 8600GTS! I wouldn't even consider a normal 8600GT because they can no longer even keep up with even sub $100 USD GDDR3 based HD2600XTs.

The only drawback atm from the HD2600XT being able to keep pace with a 8600GTS is that it is severly limited in overclocking (no current utility or program correctly supports OC'ing of the HD2600XT). If you take a look at 3DMark06 scores on hwbot.org, the 8600GTS cards are hugely overclocked from stock speeds. The guy in last place has a 300Mhz core OC!!! Just think if you could OC an HD2600XT GDDR4 card more than just a skimpy 50Mhz that it is currently limited to...

I honestly believe that with the new driver revisions that ATI has been working on for the HD series, the HD2600XTs GDDR4s are now at the very least on par with the 8600GTS. Is it really that hard to believe? Just have a loot at our official TPU 3DMark06 thread and you'll notice that the HD2900XT flat out beats the 8800GTS and keeps pace with the 8800GTX...

zekrahminator · Aug 31, 2007

Please, no fighting. I just want a video card that plays BioShock. All prejudices have already been made up, there's no convincing anyone of any different video card opinions

.

If I have enough money, I'll prolly get an 8600GTS with passive cooling. Most likely, I'm getting the $108 HD 2600. I'll look into HD 2600's with GDDR4.

But right now...I'm going to go eat lunch, and then make the money for this video card

.

Sovereign · Aug 31, 2007

zekrahminator said:
Please, no fighting. I just want a video card that plays BioShock. All prejudices have already been made up, there's no convincing anyone of any different video card opinions .

If I have enough money, I'll prolly get an 8600GTS with passive cooling. Most likely, I'm getting the $108 HD 2600. I'll look into HD 2600's with GDDR4.

But right now...I'm going to go eat lunch, and then make the money for this video card .

Not fighting, just trying to enlighten!

I too almost bought a GTS over the 2600XT but I changed my mind after doing a bit more research.

BTW, I almost bought that very card (The silent gigabyte card you are thinking about atm) and it would have only been like $90 shipped with the paypal newegg promo code (that ended a little while ago) but I just couldnt pass up the GDDR4 Diamond OC Edition with $20 MIR. Anyhow, good luck with whichever direction you decided to take.

devguy · Aug 31, 2007

Sovereign said:
Not fighting, just trying to enlighten! I too almost bought a GTS over the 2600XT but I changed my mind after doing a bit more research.

BTW, I almost bought that very card (The silent gigabyte card you are thinking about atm) and it would have only been like $90 shipped with the paypal newegg promo code (that ended a little while ago) but I just couldnt pass up the GDDR4 Diamond OC Edition with $20 MIR. Anyhow, good luck with whichever direction you decided to take.

That MSI card looks great, but why didn't they put a blower fan in instead of a regular one?? I would think the blower fan would be more efficient. It still looks cool though, as I'm only interested now in coolers that exhaust the hot air out of the pc (my vf900 does no such thing...).

Processor	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane @ 2.8GHz (224x12.5, 1.425V)
Motherboard	Gigabyte sumthin-or-another, it's got an nForce 430
Cooling	Dual 120mm case fans front/rear, Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, Zalman VF-900 on GPU
Memory	2GB G.Skill DDR2 800
Video Card(s)	Sapphire X850XT @ 580/600
Storage	WD 160 GB SATA hard drive.
Display(s)	Hanns G 19" widescreen, 5ms response time, 1440x900
Case	Thermaltake Soprano (black with side window).
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Live! 24 bit (paired with X-530 speakers).
Power Supply	ThermalTake 430W TR2
Software	XP Home SP2, can't wait for Vista SP1.

Processor	AMD Phenom II 955
Motherboard	Asus Crosshair III Formula
Cooling	Cooler Master V8 CPU cooler, 120 mm and 200 mm exhaust, 3 x 120 mm intake
Memory	4 GB OCZ DDR3 1600
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Radeon HD 4890
Storage	Western Digital 500 GB Blacks in RAID 0/ Wesdtern Digital SE16 250 GB
Display(s)	Acer 19" widescreen
Case	Antec Nine Hundred
Audio Device(s)	Supreme X-Fi
Power Supply	Seasonic M12 SS-700HM
Software	Windows Vista Home Premium x64 SP2
Benchmark Scores	3dMark 03-~62k 3dMark 05-~22k 3dMark 06-18268

System Name	Half-fucked overclockedd
Processor	Intel Core i7 2600k 3.40Ghz @ 4.20Ghz
Motherboard	Gigabyte P67 UD7 B3
Cooling	Antec Kuhler H2O 920
Memory	G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3 8GB X2 1866Mhz (Model F3-2133C9D-16GXH)
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte AORUS 1080Ti Extreme Edition
Storage	Samsung 840 Pro 256GB / Western Digital Black Cavier 2TB X2
Display(s)	Dell U2715H 2560X1440
Case	NZXT Phantom
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Professional
Power Supply	Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 1000W
Mouse	Logitech G510
Keyboard	Tesoro Excalibur Spectrum
Software	Microsoft Windows 10 Professional

Processor	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane @ 2.8GHz (224x12.5, 1.425V)
Motherboard	Gigabyte sumthin-or-another, it's got an nForce 430
Cooling	Dual 120mm case fans front/rear, Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, Zalman VF-900 on GPU
Memory	2GB G.Skill DDR2 800
Video Card(s)	Sapphire X850XT @ 580/600
Storage	WD 160 GB SATA hard drive.
Display(s)	Hanns G 19" widescreen, 5ms response time, 1440x900
Case	Thermaltake Soprano (black with side window).
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Live! 24 bit (paired with X-530 speakers).
Power Supply	ThermalTake 430W TR2
Software	XP Home SP2, can't wait for Vista SP1.

System Name	Half-fucked overclockedd
Processor	Intel Core i7 2600k 3.40Ghz @ 4.20Ghz
Motherboard	Gigabyte P67 UD7 B3
Cooling	Antec Kuhler H2O 920
Memory	G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3 8GB X2 1866Mhz (Model F3-2133C9D-16GXH)
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte AORUS 1080Ti Extreme Edition
Storage	Samsung 840 Pro 256GB / Western Digital Black Cavier 2TB X2
Display(s)	Dell U2715H 2560X1440
Case	NZXT Phantom
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Professional
Power Supply	Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 1000W
Mouse	Logitech G510
Keyboard	Tesoro Excalibur Spectrum
Software	Microsoft Windows 10 Professional

System Name	BumBumBox
Processor	AMD 5900x
Motherboard	ITX
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Memory	32GB
Video Card(s)	3080ti
Storage	2TB
Software	Win11

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Memory	4gb PI 6,8,6,18 1T 1706mhz / 4gb Crucial D9's 1400 @ 6,6,6,18,1T
Video Card(s)	3gb HD7950 / Onboard
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Audio Device(s)	OB / Auzentech cinema 7.1
Power Supply	TT 700w TR2 / TT 600w Litepower modded with Noctua S12 fan.
Software	7 Ult / 7 premium x64

Processor	C2Q6600 @ 1.6 GHz
Motherboard	Anus PQ5
Cooling	ACFPro
Memory	GEiL2 x 1 GB PC2 6400
Video Card(s)	MSi 4830 (RIP)
Storage	Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320 GB Perpendicular Recording
Display(s)	Dell 17'
Case	El Cheepo
Audio Device(s)	7.1 Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair TX750
Software	MCE2K5

System Name	Darth Obsidious
Processor	Intel i5 2500K
Motherboard	ASUS P8Z68-V/Gen3
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 212+ in Push Pull
Memory	2X4GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600
Video Card(s)	ASUS R9 270x TOP
Storage	128GB Samsung 830 SSD, 1TB WD Black, 2TB WD Green
Display(s)	LG IPS234V-PN
Case	Corsair Obsidian 650D
Audio Device(s)	Infrasonic Quartet
Power Supply	Corsair HX650w
Software	Windows 7 64bit and Windows XP Home
Benchmark Scores	2cm mark on bench with a razor blade.

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, AMD Wraith Prism.
Motherboard	ASUS TUF X570-Plus (Wi-Fi).
Cooling	Antec 120mm RGB case fans.
Memory	4x8gb, G.SKILL F4-3600C16D-16GVKC.
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Pulse RX 6700.
Storage	PNY XLR8 CS3040 2TB 4.0x4 NVMe ssd with Vantec ICEBERQ heat sink.
Display(s)	ASUS VP278QG 27", 1080p, 75hz, FreeSync.
Case	Antec GX202.
Audio Device(s)	Onboard sound, Logitech Z625 THX 2.1's, Logitech G430 headphones.
Power Supply	Seasonic Prime GX-750.
Mouse	Logitech G203 Prodigy.
Keyboard	Logitech G213.
Software	Windows 11 Pro, @ Day 1.

System Name	Starlifter :: Dragonfly
Processor	i7 2600k 4.4GHz :: i5 10400
Motherboard	ASUS P8P67 Pro :: ASUS Prime H570-Plus
Cooling	Cryorig M9 :: Stock
Memory	4x4GB DDR3 2133 :: 2x8GB DDR4 2400
Video Card(s)	PNY GTX1070 :: Integrated UHD 630
Storage	Crucial MX500 1TB, 2x1TB Seagate RAID 0 :: Mushkin Enhanced 60GB SSD, 3x4TB Seagate HDD RAID5
Display(s)	Onn 165hz 1080p :: Acer 1080p
Case	Antec SOHO 1030B :: Old White Full Tower
Audio Device(s)	Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro - Bose Companion 2 Series III :: None
Power Supply	FSP Hydro GE 550w :: EVGA Supernova 550
Software	Windows 10 Pro - Plex Server on Dragonfly
Benchmark Scores	>9000

System Name	Work in progress
Processor	AMD 955---4Ghz
Motherboard	MSi GD70
Cooling	OcZ Phase/water
Memory	Crucial2GB kit (1GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-16000
Video Card(s)	CrossfireX 2 X HD 4890 1GB OCed to 1000Mhz
Storage	SSD 64GB
Display(s)	Envision 24'' 1920x1200
Case	Using the desk ATM
Audio Device(s)	Sucky onboard for now :(
Power Supply	1000W TruePower Quattro

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Motherboard	MSI K8N Neo3-FSR (3 PCI, 1 PCI-E x16, 1 AGR, 2 DDR DIMM)
Cooling	Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 PRO + Various 80mm Case Fans
Memory	1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM, Hynix & Nanya Chips)
Video Card(s)	MSI HD2600XT 256MB GDDR4 Diamond OC Edition PCI-E x16
Storage	Maxtor 6E040L0 (40 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Display(s)	Princeton LCD1950 19" 8ms Digital LCD (1280x1024 @ 75Hz)
Case	Gateway (2000) Beige P150 ATX MidTower Case
Audio Device(s)	Aureal Vortex 2 SQ2500 "SuperQuad" Audio
Power Supply	HEC Orion 500 watt ATX Power Supply
Software	Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 w/ SP2
Benchmark Scores	SuperPi 1M @ You don't even want to know! ;)

Processor	AMD Phenom II 1055T @ 3.6ghz 1.3V
Motherboard	Asus M5A97 EVO
Cooling	Xigmatek SD1284
Memory	2x4GB Patriot Sector 5 PC3-12800 @ 7-8-7-24-1T 1.7V
Video Card(s)	XFX Radeon HD 7950 DD @ 1100/1350 1.185V
Storage	OCZ Agility 3 120GB + 2x7200.12 500GB Raid1
Display(s)	QNIX QX2710 27" LCD 1440p @ 120hz
Case	Cooler Master 690M
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC892
Power Supply	Enermax Liberty 620W Eco Edition
Software	Windows 7 Professional x64 / Ubuntu 12.04 x64

Time for me to pick a new video card...can I please have some recommendations?

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