Best Video Card $250

[CeilingHoles]

Ok, I'm building a budget system and I have $225 to go towards a video card. I'm not that knowledgable about video cards so that's why I'm coming here . What's the best card I can get ofr that much money? Can it handle games like Far Cry and Doom 3? Thanks

 

[CeilingHoles]

my mistake in the topic title..it's supposed to be $225

 

[dheffer]

9800 pro for 200 is about all thats out there, unless you can find a 6800 really really cheap
you kinda have to spend ~200 or ~300

 

[Tab]

Bust down $50 more and buy a 6800GT or get a 9800Pro

 

[ZobarStyl]

9800Pro at or around 200 bucks. Just make sure it's got 256-bit RAM, that cheap Sapphire you'll find and think is so cool actually has 128-bit RAM and takes a huge performance hit accordingly.

 

[ja83]

Originally posted by: Tabb
Bust down $50 more and buy a 6800GT

Can you explain how he will do this?

 

[Rage187]

Spend $300 and get a 6800nu

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: CeilingHoles
Ok, I'm building a budget system and I have $225 to go towards a video card. I'm not that knowledgable about video cards so that's why I'm coming here . What's the best card I can get ofr that much money? Can it handle games like Far Cry and Doom 3? Thanks

you are in-between

For ~$200 is the 9800Pro 256bit/128MB; considered best-bang-4-buck

For ~$65 (265) more is the 256/256MB radeon Pro that is really a 9800Xt with a simple Bios Flash (maybe 10% more performance than a 9800pro)

finally, for ~$300 is the 6800 by nVidia - maybe 12-20% more performance than the 9800XT

they will ALL play Far Cry @10x7 or 11x8 with most of the details hi & enabled, some aa/af and good fps. From id's '03 benchmarks of Doom III you can expect similar results.

For ~$225, i'd search Hot Deals daily and probably settle for the 9800Pro

(i ACTUALLY did get the 9800256/256>'xt' for $223 on a really hot deal)

Your call

IF you can "wait", expect prices to slowly drop till mid-October when they will dive down.

 

[Corporate Thug]

a little patience and you should be able to get a 6800

 

[DoobieOnline]

Save just $63 more and get the 6800 shipped for $288 with a free copy of Far Cry at ZZF. I know coming up with the extra clams may hurt a bit, but you're getting one of the best games out right now and a great video card for your effort.

Doobie

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: DoobieOnline
Save just $63 more and get the 6800 shipped for $288 with a free copy of Far Cry at ZZF. I know coming up with the extra clams may hurt a bit, but you're getting one of the best games out right now and a great video card for your effort.

Doobie

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well if your serious about that max then the 5900XT and the 9800Pro are the way to go. Both cards perform horribly in comparison with the next gen card but both will get you by for at least another year.

-Kevin

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: Tabb
Bust down $50 more and buy a 6800GT or get a 9800Pro

Id like to know where you can get a 6800Gt for 275

you can get a standard at buy.com for 250

thats what I would recommend.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well if your serious about that max then the 5900XT and the 9800Pro are the way to go. Both cards perform horribly in comparison with the next gen card but both will get you by for at least another year.

-Kevin

horribly??!?



:roll:

actually, the "XTpe"/"Ultra" new ones are UP TO 2x faster . . . the new 'lower high-end' ones are ~10-20%faster then last year's top cards.


and the new mid range ones "aren't all that + a bag of chips".

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well if your serious about that max then the 5900XT and the 9800Pro are the way to go. Both cards perform horribly in comparison with the next gen card but both will get you by for at least another year.

-Kevin

horribly??!?



:roll:

actually, the "XTpe"/"Ultra" new ones are UP TO 2x faster . . . the new 'lower high-end' ones are ~10-20%faster then last year's top cards.


and the new mid range ones "aren't all that + a bag of chips".

That foul smelling 12% wind keeps on blowin through here, eh apoppin? What tabernacle do you preach at? I might drop in and catch your show...

:beer: Hope you have a sense of humor.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well if your serious about that max then the 5900XT and the 9800Pro are the way to go. Both cards perform horribly in comparison with the next gen card but both will get you by for at least another year.

-Kevin

horribly??!?



:roll:

actually, the "XTpe"/"Ultra" new ones are UP TO 2x faster . . . the new 'lower high-end' ones are ~10-20%faster then last year's top cards.


and the new mid range ones "aren't all that + a bag of chips".

That foul smelling 12% wind keeps on blowin through here, eh apoppin? What tabernacle do you preach at? I might drop in and catch your show...

:beer: Hope you have a sense of humor.

i do and did you notice i rounded it off

sure - drop in; bring lots of money . . . the lord needs money - lots of money - for his work



:roll:

is there anything WRONG with my generalization? What "figures" do U prefer?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Sry i should have clarified, the new highend cards of the new generation clobber the cards from last generation.
My mistake.

-Kevin