MainStream Video Cards

[morulis]

I want to buy a new computer that is based in socket 939 Athlon 64 but I don't know which the best card is? To be more specific I would like to play games like Half-Life 2 but not to give
a fortune in order to have sufficient performance. After a study of the market I saw that I had three solutions. To buy an X700Pro 256MB card, to buy an 6600GT 128MB or to buy two 6600GT and an SLI motherboard. The third solution will give me what I want provided that I
will buy a good PSU. What's your opinion about my subject? What card to buy?

 

[imported_Noob]

You don't need SLI to play HL2 good at a high resolution. I would suggest you get an ASUS A8V MB and pick yourself up a 9800 Pro/XT. If you want to go the PCI Express route get an ASUS A8V-E MB and pick up an X800 XL or X800 Pro. The X700 Pro may do you good. But I don't think that it is even better then the 9800 Pro/XT. The X300, X600, X700 seem to be real budget cards for PCI Express slots.

 

[imported_JeReMY]

get a geforce 6600 GT. It's the best card for the price and plays HL2 great.

 

[morulis]

Thank you for the Help!

 

[morulis]

I would like more answers.

 

[Conky]

A single 6600GT will get the job done nicely unless you have buckets of money, then go for the SLI thing.

 

[mwmorph]

if you can aord 6600gt sli, yuo might as well just go 6800gt. the system reconigzes a 6800gt as a 256mb framebuffer card while the 6600gt sli is reconigzed as a 128mb card setup. it will be a liminting point in future games. besides, the 6800gt will easily reach 400/1100(ultra speed) . whoops typo.

 

[ScrewFace]

Just to clarify what mwmorph said: He made a typo. He meant that a 6800GT can reach 6800 Ultra speeds not a 6600GT.

 

[morulis]

In the market I haven't seen 6600GT with 256MB. The manufacters prefer to have 6600 with 256MB and 6600GT with 128. On the other hand X700Pro has version with 256 which is a good investment for the future. What you have to say about that?

 

[mwmorph]

they dont make them with 256mb. otherwise, it will cost just as much as a faster 6800nu. alos, the 6600/6200/660gt core(same one) cant really take advantage of 256mb ram(with the 128bit bus and all). the 6600 with 256mb is mainly worthless. performance increase is negligible.

 

[mustap]

buy a 6600gt even if u have more money.after 1 or so years buy one at the same price tag(as the 6600gt) with the newer chips which will be available by then.at least this is what i think.its nice to upgrade often

 

[morulis]

So you think that even if X700Pro has double memory than 6600GT and it costs fewer than 6600GT, 6600GT is a better choice. Did I understand well?

 

[mwmorph]

yes.

 

[Fenuxx]

Originally posted by: morulis
So you think that even if X700Pro has double memory than 6600GT and it costs fewer than 6600GT, 6600GT is a better choice. Did I understand well?

Yes. I would suggest getting a PCI-E motherboard, and a single 6600GT. Then, later down the road, you could pick up another for more performance. Thats what I would do if I was you. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Munky]

The 6600gt look like the best card for the money right now, provided that you don't do SLI. If you have more money, the either get a 6800gt, or go all out with 2 6800gt's in SLI.

Edit:I meant 6600gt, not 6000gt

 

[morulis]

Originally posted by: munky
The 6600gt look like the best card for the money right now, provided that you don't do SLI. If you have more money, the either get a 6800gt, or go all out with 2 6800gt's in SLI.

Edit:I meant 6600gt, not 6000gt

and what about 6800?