Need a new video card

[PaiMei]

I need a new video card. My old one died from dust this past week. I'm looking at an 8600GTS or 7950GT. I've narrowed my choices down to these:

XFX 8600GTS XXX Overclocked:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150226


XFX 7950GT Extreme (Overclocked & Passively Cooled):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189


I hear ATI is releasing the HD2900XT this week, but not sure if it's a hard launch or just a paper launch. Even if it is a hard launch I can spend only $260. I don't think they're releasing their new mid-range cards until after the HD2900XTs.

 

[Nnyan]

At this time if you're not all that concerned about DX10 games (and by the time DX10 becomes really common in games you prob will want to update anyway) I say get the 7950GT, significantly faster then the 8600 (which can't even keep up with a 7900GS).

 

[PaiMei]

So that passively cooled 7950GT still beats the overclocked 8600GTS?

 

[Captante]

Neither one ... get an X1950XT 512mb instead ... its considerably faster then either one of them.

POWERCOLOR X1950XT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 with Artic Cooling Fan @ $260 + $7 shipping

 

[PaiMei]

Well I need something quiet. The card that just died on me was a 7800GT that was pretty quiet once the NVIDIA drivers were installed. Last time I had an ATI card, it was loud, even after the drivers were installed. Also, the card can't have a cooler that will block the slot in front of it.

 

[Elias824]

I would wait for the x2900xt to come out if you can. at the very least it will drive down the prices of nvidia cards. I agree ati cards are loud but you can use a program called ati tool and change your fan speeds to make it silent when you are not playing games. Between those two I would go with the 8600gt just because its dx10, its a little slower but its still one of the faster cards and it will keep its value better.

 

[doggyfromplanetwoof]

You all think that 7950 passive cool will fit in a NSK2400 desktop case? looks pretty tall.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Elias824
I would wait for the x2900xt to come out if you can. at the very least it will drive down the prices of nvidia cards. I agree ati cards are loud but you can use a program called ati tool and change your fan speeds to make it silent when you are not playing games. Between those two I would go with the 8600gt just because its dx10, its a little slower but its still one of the faster cards and it will keep its value better.

My card is never loud...gaming or not.

The only time I hear it is on startup when it winds up to full for about 3 seconds.

 

[PaiMei]

So what's the general opinion here? 7950GT for now and when a better single slot DX10 card comes out upgrade to that? Or go with the 8600GTS now? I play WoW alot and my monitor is a 1920x1200 LCD. My dead 7800GT was just barely able to play it with the highest settings at that res.. I know the passive 7950GT takes up two slots as well, but I can put it in the top PCIe x16 slot and the big heatsink on it wouldn't be a problem. With other cards that have standard dual slot coolers, they would block the PCI slot next to the PCIe x16 slot. I also would like a silent card since I use my PC as a HTPC sometimes.

 

[Phantomaniac]

The X1950XT is more powerful than either of those cards and can be had for the same price. Or if you can spend a bit more go for the 8800GTS. I wouldn't go with anything less than the X1950XT with the resolution you are running.

 

[bamacre]

First off...

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321116

It helps to shop around.

If it were me, I'd spend a few more bucks and get this...
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe...sp?ProductCode=322850&prodlist=froogle

 

[PaiMei]

Thanks again guys. I'll take a look at the X1950XTs. Also, I did mention earlier that I don't want a card that will block the PCI slot in front of it so the 8800GTS won't do.

Edit:
Hmmm... Looks like X1950XTs take up the PCI slot in front of them.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: PaiMei
Thanks again guys. I'll take a look at the X1950XTs. Also, I did mention earlier that I don't want a card that will block the PCI slot in front of it so the 8800GTS won't do.

Edit:
Hmmm... Looks like X1950XTs take up the PCI slot in front of them.

Yeah, only certain X1950 Pro cards are single-slot. All XT's are dual slot cards.

 

[PaiMei]

So now I have three choices:

X1950Pro.:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103022

7950GT:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189

8600GTS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150226


I currently play WoW, CoH, and I still play some FEAR. My monitor is a 1920x1200 LCD. Can any of the cards above play these games at least at 1680x1050 with medium settings? What about 1280x1024 with the highest settings?

 

[KeypoX]

dude that 8800 is the best deal and a really good card... what is your deal with can't block a slot?

also the 8600 sucks so that is totally out of the question

out of those 3 i would get the 7950 and ithink it should run all those highest settings

 

[PaiMei]

Ummm... My motherboard has two PCI slots, a PCIe 1x slot and a PCIe 16x slot. Sorry I should have mentioned that earlier.

PCI Slot #1: Sound Card
PCI Slot #2: TV Tuner Card
PCIe x16 Slot: ...

Here's my motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131043

 

[bamacre]

What kind of sound card?

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: Nnyan
At this time if you're not all that concerned about DX10 games (and by the time DX10 becomes really common in games you prob will want to update anyway) I say get the 7950GT, significantly faster then the 8600 (which can't even keep up with a 7900GS).

You are most definitely correct and said everything I would have (and more).

By the time DX10 means anything you'd need to upgrade that X600XX. Y950XX (where Y is X-1) is going to be a lot better.

 

[PaiMei]

Originally posted by: bamacre
What kind of sound card?

I have a X-Fi Xtreme Audio.

 

[PaiMei]

Hmmm... Just read that the 8600GTS can offload 100% of HD decoding from the CPU. How important is that if I already have an e6700?

 

[ciproxr]

dont support ATI and any of their crappy products. Never again will i buy ATI

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: PaiMei

Originally posted by: bamacre
What kind of sound card?

I have a X-Fi Xtreme Audio.

What kind of speakers?

 

[Boyo]

I would at this point get the 7950GT, until you have the money to move up to DX10 and then get an 8800.