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thorns · Jun 16, 2005

I'm looking for a mid price graphics card, which one would you recommend?
x700pro with 256mb seems cheaper than 6600GT with 128MB, and x700 pro with 128mb is even cheaper. Basically I want the card with the best price/performance ratio..

I have a decent cpu and ram (p4 3.0ghz prescott, 1gb ddr-2 dual channel ram).

Hajaz · Jun 16, 2005

wait a month or 2. new gen will come out. current gen will drop in price

Thraktor · Jun 16, 2005

Hajaz said:
wait a month or 2. new gen will come out. current gen will drop in price

With graphics cards, that's always true. Got to take the plunge at some point.

Hajaz · Jun 16, 2005

well, its always better to buy a card just after its launched rather then just before it gets replaced by a newer model.
Card refreshes dont happen every two months you know. its been a year since the current top cards came out (not counting x850 or ultra etreme witch were just clocked higher).

HokieJoe · Jun 16, 2005

thorns said:
I'm looking for a mid price graphics card, which one would you recommend?
x700pro with 256mb seems cheaper than 6600GT with 128MB, and x700 pro with 128mb is even cheaper. Basically I want the card with the best price/performance ratio..

I have a decent cpu and ram (p4 3.0ghz prescott, 1gb ddr-2 dual channel ram).

Thorns, from what I've read, at 1280x1024 and lower resolutions, the 6600GT SLI is the more powerful card. However, at 1600x1200, the x700 Pro is faster. It appears that the x700 cards are PCI Express only, while the 6600GT is available in AGP or SLI form.

You can have a look at some of the benchmark's over at Toms Hardware:

VGA Charts Summer 2005: PCI Express Graphics Cards

Slo · Jun 16, 2005

I'm not really seeing the value of buying an outdated card for cheap, ATI and nVidia make sure that that kind of upgrade is not the best bang for the buck. They have the pricing structure as such that the middle-of-the-road card from the current generation outclasses the top-of-the-line from last gen for the same price. Example: currently a ATI Radeon 9800Pro and the nVidia 6600GT are both around $150, and the 6600GT is the better card. Buying a 9800Pro today makes absolutely no sense.

After all, they want people to keep buying their new products, they don't want people to be able to wait around until last year's Ultra version is $99 and buy that instead of of their new Super-Duper Ultra card.

Dr.Guru of Peru · Jun 16, 2005

The x700 256 mb doesnt make it any better than 128mb 6600Gt. Id say go for the 6600gt unless you want to play alot of HL2. Even still, Id go for the 6600gt. Itll give you better performance in most games. Check out the benchmarks posted above, and youll see that the 6600gt(even without dual card setup) outperforms x700 256mb.

tedtropy · Jun 16, 2005

Why not spring for the baseline 128MB 6800? You can find one for $200 on Newegg and it should outperform both those cards.

thorns · Jun 16, 2005

So when are these new cards coming out? I can wait 1-2 more months, I guess.

Oh and I have 19" LCD, so the ideal resolution for all games would be 1280x1024..

and in that link 6600GT seems faster than 6800? Thanks for the charts anyhow..
I will probably either go for 6600GT or wait for the new cards..

Dr_Cogent · Jun 16, 2005

Personally, I splurge. PC tech moves so fast and it seems like a card is dated faster than ever so I always want to be as far ahead of the curve as reasonably possible. Got a 6800 GT shortly after they were released. I love it. So does the wife. Works great in BF2 and WoW.

Blazyr · Jun 16, 2005

tedtropy said:
Why not spring for the baseline 128MB 6800? You can find one for $200 on Newegg and it should outperform both those cards.

Seconded -- This card, for now, gives the best price

erformance ratio.

6800: 256 bit memory interface / 6600: 128 bit
6800: 12 pixel pipelines* / 6600: 8
* you might be able to unmask to 16 with RivaTuner, but don't necessarily count on it.

The 6600GT is the top of the mid-range cards; the 6800 is the bottom of the top-end.

thorns · Jun 16, 2005

Blazyr said:
Seconded -- This card, for now, gives the best priceerformance ratio.

6800: 256 bit memory interface / 6600: 128 bit
6800: 12 pixel pipelines* / 6600: 8
* you might be able to unmask to 16 with RivaTuner, but don't necessarily count on it.

The 6600GT is the top of the mid-range cards; the 6800 is the bottom of the top-end.

then why is it worse than 6600GT in all the benchmarks?

tedtropy · Jun 16, 2005

thorns said:
then why is it worse than 6600GT in all the benchmarks?

Good question, as the 6800 is a technically surperior chip in almost every way, with the big different being it's 256-bit memory access as opposed to the 6600's 128-bit. You may want to check out these benches as well. Don't go by one site alone...

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_e-geforce_6800/page5.asp

EGM92 · Jun 16, 2005

If you have a PCI-E board and want to save money by buying a AGP card, Albatron has made a AGP - PCI-E bridge, MSI is also doing the samething with their new cards but theres work both ways.

BTW the X700 256mb is the way to go if your comparing it to a 6600GT, I've had both cards before upgrading to a X800XT AIW card and the X700 was better of the 2.

adrockthekid · Jun 16, 2005

Alls I can say is that my x700 256MB works like all kinds of awesome. Raiding in WoW holds constant around 30fps once all the models are loaded (which, thanks to my dual-channel fast as hell gig of RAM doesn't take more than a couple seconds). Everything I play looks great. And I got it for $200 back in November. Can't really compare it to the nVidia cards, since I don't have one. But I've been supremely happy with my x700.

Hajaz · Jun 16, 2005

new nvidia cards are expected to be launched this month. New ati cards next month

Pimpbaa · Jun 16, 2005

EGM92 said:
BTW the X700 256mb is the way to go if your comparing it to a 6600GT, I've had both cards before upgrading to a X800XT AIW card and the X700 was better of the 2.

Benchmarks would suggest otherwise.

Leatherface · Jun 16, 2005

The memory speed on the GT easily puts it ahead IMO.

HokieJoe · Jun 17, 2005

Leatherface said:
The memory speed on the GT easily puts it ahead IMO.

The 6600GT should be faster at most all resolutions given it's CPU and MEM clock speed advantage. It makes me think that there may be a driver issue here. BTW. I love my XFX 6800GT. I haven't had problems running any games yet.

Bluemercury · Jun 17, 2005

Just got a Ge Cube x800 128meg pci- for 199 which means it will cost around what 170/180 $.............

mrklaw · Jun 17, 2005

HokieJoe said:
The 6600GT should be faster at most all resolutions given it's CPU and MEM clock speed advantage. It makes me think that there may be a driver issue here. BTW. I love my XFX 6800GT. I haven't had problems running any games yet.

Mine's great too. Never really set it up properly, or played games much, but BF2 looks great, with everything high except lighting, and thats at 1280x960.

good budget option.

ChennehCis · Jul 31, 2005

What is your budget? (when you say midrange, like 100-200?)

Are you going for AGP or PCI-Express?

bill0527 · Jul 31, 2005

I did a lot of research into this last month because I was looking to replace my Radeon 9200 with a mid-range card. I checked benchmarking at about 6 different websites and the 6600GT is hands-down the best mid-range price card you can get right now. I ended up picking one up off newegg for $150 shipped.

Gek54 · Jul 31, 2005

I just got a Chaintech 6800 LE for $139 and I was able to unlock all the pipes and shadders so now I am scoring higher than 6800GT and very close to 6800Ultra which are well over $300. I think Leadtek 6800LEs are running around the same price. Its by far the best price to performance ratio right now.

WordofGod · Jul 31, 2005

I thought I would pass along the best videocard deal I have seen in sometime:

http://shop.ati.com/searchresults.asp?dept_id=39

RADEON® X800 PRO AGP 256MB - REFURB*

Price: $199.00 Stock: Pre-Order Part Number: 100-435241

RADEON® X800 XT PLATINUM EDITION AGP 256MB - REFURB*

Price: $229.00 Stock: Pre-Order Part Number: 100-435240

Both will be in stock in the 12th of August. I bought two X800XT Platinum's today and I am so happy that I saved almost $600 bucks buying these refurb cards. Both cards come with a 3 year warranty.

Phoenix · Jul 31, 2005

Wait till Christmas and buy an XBox360 because either of the cards you mentioned will be heavily dated by the spring refresh. Premium pricing for videocards sucks ass and with consoles going high rez, I'm really not sure if its worth paying $200 a pop when most of those games are console bound now.

Just my 0.02, but I've gone from avid PC gamer to unwilling console gamer for next gen because this gen was just ridiculous when it came to upgrading.

Slo · Jul 31, 2005

Phoenix said:
Wait till Christmas and buy an XBox360 because either of the cards you mentioned will be heavily dated by the spring refresh. Premium pricing for videocards sucks ass and with consoles going high rez, I'm really not sure if its worth paying $200 a pop when most of those games are console bound now.

Just my 0.02, but I've gone from avid PC gamer to unwilling console gamer for next gen because this gen was just ridiculous when it came to upgrading.

Greg, I agree with your whole post, but it's completely off point and unnesessary in this thread.

Dr.Guru of Peru · Jul 31, 2005

Not to mention this thread is quite old :O

Vieo · Jul 31, 2005

I bought an eVGA GeForce6800GT 256MB (AGP) around the beginning of this year. I've got it running with P4 2.4Ghz, in 4x AGP mod, with 1.5GB of memory and so far it pretty much seems to be pimping everything (HL2, Everquest 2, BF2, GTA:SA, Sims2 - highest settings) at 1280x1024 with 2x AA.

The only drawback; you better use a 500watt or better powersupply.

Mrbob · Jul 31, 2005

ATI made a 256MB X800XT?

meelk · Jul 31, 2005

the x800gt (ati) is coming out, is priced in the exact same range as the 6600gt, and is more powerful.

marsomega · Jul 31, 2005

Mrbob said:
ATI made a 256MB X800XT?

All X800's come with 256MB. (R420).

meelk said:
the x800gt (ati) is coming out, is priced in the exact same range as the 6600gt, and is more powerful.

Second that...

WordofGod said:
I thought I would pass along the best videocard deal I have seen in sometime:

http://shop.ati.com/searchresults.asp?dept_id=39

RADEON® X800 PRO AGP 256MB - REFURB*

Price: $199.00 Stock: Pre-Order Part Number: 100-435241

RADEON® X800 XT PLATINUM EDITION AGP 256MB - REFURB*

Price: $229.00 Stock: Pre-Order Part Number: 100-435240

Both will be in stock in the 12th of August. I bought two X800XT Platinum's today and I am so happy that I saved almost $600 bucks buying these refurb cards. Both cards come with a 3 year warranty.

The X800 XT PE is the best deal. 229.00 this is almost too good to be true. Least its comming straight from ATI's store.

Mrbob · Jul 31, 2005

Yeah I don't know what I was thinking before. I wasn't! :lol

$229 for the X800XT? I was going to pick up an X800XL but I may just grab this instead!

marsomega · Jul 31, 2005

Mrbob said:
Yeah I don't know what I was thinking before. I wasn't! :lol

$229 for the X800XT? I was going to pick up an X800XL but I may just grab this instead!

May?

Are you smoking crack?!?!

ATI Store is selling X800 XT PE's refurb with a 3 year warranty for 229!

Diablos · Jul 31, 2005

http://www.gearxs.com/gearxs/product_info.php?products_id=2145

To be honest I'd stick with ATI for power, but nVidia for stability and overall compatibility. Sometimes one is more important than the other depending on your needs.

meelk · Jul 31, 2005

Diablos said:
http://www.gearxs.com/gearxs/product_info.php?products_id=2145

To be honest I'd stick with ATI for power, but nVidia for stability and overall compatibility. Sometimes one is more important than the other depending on your needs.

I've never once had a problem with an ati card, the whole "ati isnt stable or their drivers suck" was an issue 5 years ago, but not now, by a long shot.

Jacobi · Jul 31, 2005

Hasn't the 6600 gt newer shader models or something ?

ChennehCis · Jul 31, 2005

WordofGod said:
I thought I would pass along the best videocard deal I have seen in sometime:

http://shop.ati.com/searchresults.asp?dept_id=39

RADEON® X800 PRO AGP 256MB - REFURB*

Price: $199.00 Stock: Pre-Order Part Number: 100-435241

RADEON® X800 XT PLATINUM EDITION AGP 256MB - REFURB*

Price: $229.00 Stock: Pre-Order Part Number: 100-435240

Both will be in stock in the 12th of August. I bought two X800XT Platinum's today and I am so happy that I saved almost $600 bucks buying these refurb cards. Both cards come with a 3 year warranty.

Actually the deal is better than that.

Put in "1010" (w/o apostrophes) for 10% off in the coupon code section. I got the XT Platinum for around 221 shipped

satterfield · Jul 31, 2005

I have the X700 PCi express card in my 3.2 GHz PIV with a gig of RAM. I got the card for $200 about three months ago. Overall, I'm happy with the card. However, it has problems with Battlefield 2 at times with the terrain turning black, the whole screen turning black when you zoom in, and weird black squares around the propellors of choppers at times. All the Catalyst driver updates have yet to fix this. That said, the game runs like lightning with everything turned on full tilt.

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