Buying New Graphics Card

[loshon]

Hello, I'm buying a new graphics card and I want to spend in between 150-250 dollars. I can't get one with PCIe 2.0, becuase of my motherboard but power is not an issue. DX 10 is needed. I prefer EVGA, but mostly because I can't find an ATI card with a manufacturer that I like. If anyone has any suggestions of cards that will fit in an Antech Sonata II case, that would be great! This is for PC with these specs:


Intel E6750 2.66 Ghz (overclocked, slightly)

2GB GSkill RAM,

7600GT (overclocked)

Gigabyte Motherboard (I currently forget the model, sorry)

 

[Borealis7]

first of all i'd like to point out that PCIe 2.0 cards are backwards compatible with PCIe 1.1 boards. so that shouldn't be an issue with your decision.

as far as manufacturer goes, i think you should focus more on the actual card's performence and then pick a brand. i mean...you would want the best card in your price range, be it an ATI or an Nvidia card, and then choose the manufacturer.
in my opinion card brands (XFX, EGVA, Sapphire etc') are not very important except for warrenty issues and rebates. if you have a brand you like or some hidden political agenda then any one you get will be good. its the chip the counts.

in this price range (150-250) you could wait a week or two and get the new ATI 4850HD which should be a great card. otherwise go for a 8800GTS if you can find it around 250$.

what monitor do you have? what games do you want to play and at what resolutions?

for low resolutions (1280x1024 on a 19" panel) the GTS might be an overkill, so you could save 100$ and go for the 8800GT or save even more and go for the 9600GT.

 

[JPB]

The two cards that would matter to me in that price range would be....

HD 4850 -----> 9800 GTX

 

[Denithor]

Look here for some insanely good deals on graphics cards.

8800GT for $130 after MIR
8800GTS for $156 after MIR

Or, like JPB mentioned, wait about a week and see how the new 4850/4870 stack up against the GTX 260/280 in performance and price. Those four will cost more (4850 is rumored to fall around $200, 4870 around $300) but should provide a higher level of performance than offered by the cards available right now.

 

[tuteja1986]

Get 4850HD instead for $200. Much better buy and it goes on sale today. Good ATI vendor would be MSI , Gigabyte , ASUS , Powercolor and if you really had problem with these vendor then i don't get why you would buy a Gigabyte motherboard.

Wait untill tomorrow and then make up your mind.

 

[loshon]

Hmm, okay. Does anyone have any favorites/suggestions as far as brands for the ATI cards? And how do I know if my mobo has PCIe 1.1? I have only 1 PCIe x16 slot, so...don't I need two to use a 2.0?

And my moniter is really small at 17". It works for me, but I'm playing games like Crysis, The Orange Box, Company of Heroes, and Call of Duty 4.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[betasub]

Motherboard manual or Gigabyte website for your motherboard specs, including PCIe version (1.0a, 1.1 and 2.0 are all versions, not directly related to the number of slots/lanes you have).

17"LCD is usually 1280x1024 native (and it's unlikely anyone would hold onto an old 17"CRT for their main/gaming rig).

 

[loshon]

Thanks for the help! I appreciate it very much.


Yes, it is 1280x1024.

 

[praesto]

No, a pci-e 2.0 graphics card does not need to slots, if that's what you're asking about . One pci-e x16 slot will do.

Either go for a 8800gts 512mb for 150 bucks or a hd 4850 for 200 Imo.

 

[loshon]

Okay, this is what I understand: I have a PCI-E X16 slot. I can use PCI-E x16 2.0 cards on that slot? So, say I wanted this card, would that work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130335
EditL

Thanks again.

Edit: Oh dang, it was deactivated several minutes ago. Sorry. But in theory could I buy that card?

 

[Denithor]

Yes, but this is a much better value:

ASUS HD 4850 $165 after MIR

Simply the best performance in its price range. Better than 8800GTS ($150+), 9800GTX ($200+) and even rivals the GTX 260 ($300+) in some games. Really the only card in the specified price range worth considering.

 

[loshon]

Hmm... More things to consider....

Edit: Oooh. Looks very nice and it has good reviews too. I just don't know if it will fit in my case...(Antec Sonota II)