Graphics cards under $160

[WanganDreams]

what graphics card would you guys suggest for under $160.

Thanks for any input!
-GhostVR4

 

[emad]

radeon 9600 is an excellent choice
http://buy.ati.com/shopati/product....cription=Products&find_part_desc=&country=USA

 

[LoudMusic]

What all are you wanting to do with said card? I've never been much of an ATI fan, but NVidia doesn't have a great offering currently. Matrox doesn't do 3D very well, but their 2D is brilliant.

That Radeon 9600 would be nice, but again, I don't like ATI.

 

[Klostrophobic]

You can get that Radeon card at http://www.pricewatch.com for a hell of a lot less money. Check it out. You can get just about anything computer related there, actually.

I know nothing about videocards; I just thought I'd save you some money.

 

[Acid X]

Wow.... Pretty good site.

 

[Matrixhasu77]

Best Buy currently is offering ATI's 9600XT on sale this week for $179 Dollars(190 after sales tax). It's twenty(thirty after sales tax) dollars over your spending limit but well worth money.

 

[WanganDreams]

Originally posted by Klostrophobic
You can get that Radeon card at http://www.pricewatch.com for a hell of a lot less money. Check it out. You can get just about anything computer related there, actually.

I know nothing about videocards; I just thought I'd save you some money.

Yes, it is an excelent site! I've bought all my computer parts from it!

I'm looking into RADEON 9600 or NVIDIA FX 5600. Does anyone has experience or know about these two? which is better for 3D gaming?

Thanks,
GhostVR4

 

[Solid Fro]

Unfortunately, the Radeon 9600 owns everything that nVidia has for the mainstream market, except for the 5700 Ultra (~$185). I would definitly try to get a Radeon 9600XT. The performance is almost doubled compared to the standard and pro versions of the 9600.

Newegg.com has very good deals. They have 9600XT's for $159, right at your price range.

Radeon 9600XT
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...mit=property&mfrcode=0&propertycodevalue=5026

Also, check out Tom's VGA charts. It has benchmarks for every single video card being sold today.

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html

 

[darklegion_ca]

Originally posted by WanganDreams
Yes, it is an excelent site! I've bought all my computer parts from it!

I'm looking into RADEON 9600 or NVIDIA FX 5600. Does anyone has experience or know about these two? which is better for 3D gaming?

Thanks,
GhostVR4

I have the gf fx 5600 256mb vid card and it rules better than any crap ass radion.

 

[Klostrophobic]

Look at the Tom's Hardware benchmarks and you'll see that you are sadly mistaken, km.

It's actually a rather ****ty video card for 110+ bucks.

 

[darklegion_ca]

tell me why this looks so damn good then

 

[Klostrophobic]

Do you have a comparison picture with a "crappy ass radion"?

 

[Cobraboy]

Originally posted by Klostrophobic
Do you have a comparison picture with a "crappy ass radion"?

Who does that anyway? Biased opinions rule!

I'm going to get a 9600XT. 500/700mhz, mmmmm .

 

[darklegion_ca]

Originally posted by Klostrophobic
Do you have a comparison picture with a "crappy ass radion"?

I hate radeon they ****ed me over once and i have never gone back.

 

[xAkirax2004]

Originally posted by darklegion_ca
I hate radeon. they ****ed me over once and i have never gone back.

 

[darklegion_ca]

Originally posted by xAkirax2004

I was in a rush so w/e.

 

[2ez2KiLL]

hmm.. im suggesting maybe a card under 100 and spend ur other 60 on cooling like video card fans, pci fan, pci exhaust, thermal paste, case fans.. u should be able to get at least an extra 100 mhz on clock speed and memory

 

[Solid Fro]

Aquamark 3 1024x768 32-bit 60 Hz

GeForce 5600 Ultra - 19,374
GeForce 5600 - 17,812

Radeon 9600XT - 31,296
Radeon 9600 - 20,338

Call of Duty 1024x768 32-bit 60 Hz

GeForce 5600 Ultra - 69.2
GeForce 5600 - 61.1

Radeon 9600XT - 96.3
Radeon 9600 - 59.9

UT2003 1024x768 32-bit 60 Hz Custom Timedemo

GeForce 5600 Ultra - 51.5
GeForce 5600 - 56.5

Radeon 9600XT - 70.4
Radeon 9600 - 44.5



Take a good look at those benchmarks, darklegion. The Radeon owns.

Note: Viper Zero is a nVidia Fan Boy.

 

[Cobraboy]

Wow, now I'm certainly going to get that 9600XT .

 

[1mic]

told you...
at just about every comparison i see, the ati is always AHEAD.

 

[darklegion_ca]

Originally posted by Viper Zero
Aquamark 3 1024x768 32-bit 60 Hz

GeForce 5600 Ultra - 19,374
GeForce 5600 - 17,812

Radeon 9600XT - 31,296
Radeon 9600 - 20,338

Call of Duty 1024x768 32-bit 60 Hz

GeForce 5600 Ultra - 69.2
GeForce 5600 - 61.1

Radeon 9600XT - 96.3
Radeon 9600 - 59.9

UT2003 1024x768 32-bit 60 Hz Custom Timedemo

GeForce 5600 Ultra - 51.5
GeForce 5600 - 56.5

Radeon 9600XT - 70.4
Radeon 9600 - 44.5



Take a good look at those benchmarks, darklegion. The Radeon owns.

Note: Viper Zero is a nVidia Fan Boy.

that could be cuz there over clocked there is no way in hell that they would be that high.

 

[Cobraboy]

Originally posted by darklegion_ca
that could be cuz there over clocked there is no way in hell that they would be that high.

They weren't overclocked, if they were then THG would've said that they were overclocked.

Face it, that Radeon owns that nVidia.

 

[F1man]

Yes. Radeon ****ed me over too, so thats why Im going to get a Geforce FX 5600. Maybe an FX 5700.

 

[Klostrophobic]

I'll stick with my onboard integrated video memory. It works fine for me because I have a PS2.

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by Klostrophobic
I'll stick with my onboard integrated video memory. It works fine for me because I have a PS2.

I think that's a great choice. Although I think i'll stick with my 3 year old PCI Riva TNT 2 with 32mb video memory.

Buying a new graphics card/processor/memory/motherboard every year or so just to play games sucks.

 

[WanganDreams]

hmmm...so Im leaning towards a Radeon 9600XT

my next question is should I get a 128MB or 256MB?

If I get a 256 would there really be a lot of noticeable difference between the cards??

Thanks everybody! Really helpfull thread.
-GhostVR4

 

[xAkirax2004]

I don't think youll see an extreme diffrence, but it would be noticeable.

Althought I want to get either one of those in time for Doom 3.

And Half-Life 2.

 

[Boost Lee]

It looks like I'll be buying a 9600XT.

Anyone want to buy my 128mb 9000PRO that was only used for internet browsing?

 

[Acid X]

Soon, i will be getting an All-In-Wonder Radeon 9600 Pro..

 

[xAkirax2004]

Originally posted by Monster7
Anyone want to buy my 128mb 9000PRO that was only used for internet browsing?

AGP or PCI?