Video card selection

[KillerCharlie]

Okay I still haven't decided on what to buy but I bumped up my price range. I'm now willing to go to about 170 max. It looks like my options are the x1950pro or the 8600gts. From what I've heard (other threads), the x1950pro is superior (ignoring dx10)... should I still be considering the 8600gtx?

Any comments on these or other models?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102061

From my last thread it seems that it isn't worth paying extra for a 512mb card.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Even when DX10 is in full swing the 8600GTS prob won't compare to an X1950 Pro. But spend $185 and get an X1950XT and you'll love yourself in the morning.

 

[ItsAlive]

I just ordered, this card. Haven't recieved it yet so I cant comment on performance, but seems to be one of the best deals on a DX9 card.

 

[yuppiejr]

I agree with Dazed and Confused - the Sapphire ATI x1950xt, 256 meg model for $159 AR at newegg is hard to beat. You can also pick up a 512 meg equipped MSI version of the x1950 Pro (lose major RAM speed and some pipes though) if the titles you play are dependant on a larger quantity of video RAM.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Hmmm... I'm seeing that this review is showing the 6800gts and x1950pro about the same. I guess the pro is a bit cheaper though.

I would get that XT since it's $160 with MIR, but every review says it's loud, which is something I don't want... and I don't want to spend more than like $30 on cooling.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Zalman VF700LED-Cu $34 shipped

 

[manimal]

7900gs are nearing 100 bucks AR in alot of places so if you wanted to get alot of that 160 back I would get the 7900gs and use the 40 bucks on ram or something.While the 1950s are in fact faster the gs's OC like crazy.

 

[mruffin75]

Originally posted by: ItsAlive
I just ordered, this card. Haven't recieved it yet so I cant comment on performance, but seems to be one of the best deals on a DX9 card.

Just wondering.. but do anyone here actually shop around for deals before they buy from Newegg?

In the case above, yes they are cheaper.. but I've found sometimes that Zipzoomfly have cheaper deals (got my Cooler Master PSU for $50 less than Newegg, with free shipping, no tax etc.).

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Most of us are dedicated to newegg because the egg has earned our trust. Thier RMA pollicy is fn outstanding as is thier shipping and general buisenes practices. For most of us the deal would have to be outstanding to make us go elsewhere.

Personally I'd rather spend a few extra $ if I have to in case the item arrives DOA than save some $ and have to jump thru hoops for 2 weeks to RMA something only to have them say "Sorry, our policy states u have to get it back within 2 weeks, you'll have to send it to the manufacturer now" .

 

[ItsAlive]

I always shop around before making a purchase, as well as read plenty of reviews from review sites I trust and also reviews from end users. I have made purchases from zipzoomfly and I would definately suggest them if the price difference is substantial, but like Dazed said Newegg's customer service is unmatched in my opinion.

 

[dshodson]

i too just purchased the xt from the egg
i had a similar budget and got sick of waiting.
i think at the moment it is the best in the range u quoted
if u want cheaper or more expensive then go nvidia 7900gs for less or 320meg 8800gts for more

D

 

[mruffin75]

Originally posted by: ItsAlive
I always shop around before making a purchase, as well as read plenty of reviews from review sites I trust and also reviews from end users. I have made purchases from zipzoomfly and I would definately suggest them if the price difference is substantial, but like Dazed said Newegg's customer service is unmatched in my opinion.

I guess if you're happy with their service...

I was too until I tried to place an order with a different billing *name* as opposed to the shipping name (Which their site lets you do)..

Only to find that their site completely ignores the difference and replaces the billing name with the shipping name... so of course my order had "difficulty" because the name was wrong for the credit card..

Then I was told by their "outstanding" support that they could certainly change it for me.....in 6-8 hours... when I asked why it would take so long as I paid for "rush" processing.... you know what their response was??.......nothing....yes that's right...the "support" person completely ignored the question!!

So you may say that their customer service is unmatched...and in my case it is...poorly..

PS. Zipzoomfly's website gladly accepted the different billing name and my 2900XT was on it's way to me well before the 6-8 hours it took Newegg...

 

[coolpurplefan]

Originally posted by: Dazed and Confused
Most of us are dedicated to newegg... For most of us the deal would have to be outstanding to make us go elsewhere..

Uh, I'm in Canada so I don't shop at newegg. I could if they would establish themselves here but they never did like they said they would.

Second, I don't give a flying crap where I buy my stuff. I do a search on pricenetwork.ca, pricegrabber.ca and shopbot.ca
Whichever one has the best price etc will get my order. Besides, I'm kind of fussy and I can only find stuff I want certain places. Like, the LG H22N DVD burner I got, the Silverstone LC20 desktop case, JBL Duet speakers and the fanless X1650 XT I bought from different places because they were one of the only places I could get them.

To give one example, when I did a search for the passively-cooled HIS X1650 XT, they were all sold out in Canada where they were listed. I ended up buying from case-mod.com since they still had some in stock.

 

[RussianSensation]

X1950XT and $15 V-1 Ultra with ramsinks.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Ughh.... this decision is agonizing. Buying the rest of the computer was super easy - I ordered it two days ago. I'm still clueless on the video card.

x1950pro?
x1950xt + hsf (because it's loud)?
Or 8800gts? ($260)

If I went with the pro I guess I could update in the future? I guess the 8800 would be more future-proof. I'm not a hardcore gamer, I just like to play games at reasonable framerates. I will definitely be playing a lot of SC2 though.

Help!

 

[RussianSensation]

I am confident all those cards will play SC2 without issues. Did you check out benchmarks based on the games you currently play and resolution you intend to use?

 

[Zardnok]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
Ughh.... this decision is agonizing. Buying the rest of the computer was super easy - I ordered it two days ago. I'm still clueless on the video card.

x1950pro?
x1950xt + hsf (because it's loud)?
Or 8800gts? ($260)

If I went with the pro I guess I could update in the future? I guess the 8800 would be more future-proof. I'm not a hardcore gamer, I just like to play games at reasonable framerates. I will definitely be playing a lot of SC2 though.

Help!

If this is where your decision has come, 8800gts no question. It is the most powerful and future proof card on your list. If you can afford it, but it.

 

[Munky]

get the 1950xt and the Accelero X2 cooler. That cooler is quiet even at full speed, easy to install, and only costs about $20. The 1950xt is significantly faster than anything else at that price range. The 8800gts 320mb is on average 30-40% faster than the 1950xt 256mb, so you decide if it's worth the price difference.

 

[KillerCharlie]

I want a card that will last a long time. Like I said, I don't game hardcore, but I want to be able to player newer games that come out. Would I be just as safe with a 1950pro or xt, or would I need to upgrade them eventually (compared to an 8800gts)?

 

[Munky]

If you plan on keeping the card for 1 year or longer, I'd recommend the 8800gts, since it is faster and a whole generation newer. But if that's out of your budget, then get the 1950xt.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Really? An xt would only last a year?

 

[RussianSensation]

1) What resolution do you play at?

2) Must you always have AA/AF on?

3) What are you upgrading from?

4) System specs?

 

[KillerCharlie]

1) 1680x1050 (just because that's native)

2) No. I like AA, but I'll definitely sacrifice AF.

3) Doesn't matter

4) E6420, Gigabyte DS3, 2gb 800 ram