Video Card Decision

[mo52087]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150247 those x2

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130328

I'm getting 2gb of ram/sli mobo and amd processor for free. I need to get a video card and looking for something relatively cheap ($200 or under). The only game I play is World of Warcraft, so I would like something that can run that game with graphics all the way up. Thanks for the help.

[Train]

Both will run WOW at max. Go with the 9600.

Fact is most new mobo with integrated graphics will do it. A nice change.

[mo52087]

Both will run WOW at max. Go with the 9600.

Fact is most new mobo with integrated graphics will do it. A nice change.

If I go with the 9600 I will only be buying 1. Is that still better than 2 of the 8600's?

[Midknyte]

The 9600GT is a notch below an 8800GT. The 8600GT is way slower. It's not worth the hassle to set up SLI. Plus if there are games that don't support SLI, you'll be stuck with the power of a single 8600GT.

There are some 8800GTs in your price range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106791921%201067932704&bop=And&Order=PRICE

[mo52087]

So go with the 9600 then and don't run SLI? If you have any other suggestions on video cards please let me know.

[Midknyte]

I say get an 8800GT over a 9600, but don't bother with 2 8600s in sli. more hassle than it is worth at that price range.

[mo52087]

The 9600GT is a notch below an 8800GT. The 8600GT is way slower. It's not worth the hassle to set up SLI. Plus if there are games that don't support SLI, you'll be stuck with the power of a single 8600GT.

There are some 8800GTs in your price range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106791921%201067932704&bop=And&Order=PRICE

Just noticed you suggested the 8800 instead of the 8600. What brand would you recommend in that list you gave me? Does it matter much?

I say get an 8800GT over a 9600, but don't bother with 2 8600s in sli. more hassle than it is worth at that price range.

Ok so I won't bother with 8600 x2 and the 8800GT is better than the 9600? Is that really the best I can in my price range?

[Train]

Final call is up to you. But thought you might like to look over the video card ratings at http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/graphics-cards/3dmark06-v1-0-2-hdr-sm3-0-score,538.html

Anyway where the individual cards sit by performance.

[mo52087]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329

I think I'm going to go with that. What do you guys think?

[Midknyte]

That should be a decent card. it has an aftermarket cooler on it already.

[mo52087]

That should be a decent card. it has an aftermarket cooler on it already.

Ok cool, thanks. I guess I'll go with that video card then.

[mo52087]

I've actually change my mind and decided to go with this for a couple more dollars.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500039

But I was wonder with this mobo

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3306496&Sku=MBM-NF4SKA-3800

will I have issues with it fitting?

[Train]

Are you ready to mod your case? I.E. cut your case so that huge card can be made to fit as some of the review posters had to do.

The mobo is not available. Or so it says in red letters.

[mo52087]

Are you ready to mod your case? I.E. cut your case so that huge card can be made to fit as some of the review posters had to do.

The mobo is not available. Or so it says in red letters.

No I don't want to mod my case. The mobo I'm getting for free from my cousin. So I'm back deciding again.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329

Or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130328

Or

Anything else you guys suggest for $200 and under. I would like to order today. Thanks.

[Midknyte]

Unfortunately, I won't be able to check the newegg links until I get home from work. We have content filtering that blocks shopping sites.

[mo52087]

Unfortunately, I won't be able to check the newegg links until I get home from work. We have content filtering that blocks shopping sites.

Cool, if you would check it out when you come back that would be great.

My cousin keeps suggesting getting 2 of these and going SLI

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130084

I mean for $120 that sounds like a good deal to me. I'm just looking to play World of Warcraft on Max settings 1600x1200 nothing really fancy like Crysis.

[Midknyte]

What are two of these? could you at least state the model?

if you mean 2 8600s versus a 9600 or 8800GT, then i'd have to disagree. I've provided links to show benchmarks otherwise. In several benchmarks, the 8800GT is more than double the power of a 8600GTS, let alone the 8600GT. There are 8800GTs close to your $120 mark.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3140&p=8

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-8800-gt,1714.html

To reiterate, not all games support SLI. any of those games would only run on the power of a single card.

[mo52087]

What are two of these? could you at least state the model?

if you mean 2 8600s versus a 9600 or 8800GT, then i'd have to disagree. I've provided links to show benchmarks otherwise. In several benchmarks, the 8800GT is more than double the power of a 8600GTS, let alone the 8600GT. There are 8800GTs close to your $120 mark.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3140&p=8

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-8800-gt,1714.html

To reiterate, not all games support SLI. any of those games would only run on the power of a single card.

Ok the choices are..

8800GT x1
9600GT x1
8600GTS x2

Now I did some research and read WoW doesn't really support SLI. They said it will basically run 2 cards at 50% each. So I'm not going SLI. It's really the 8800GT vs 9600GT (didn't see it on the benchmark you sent me a couple posts back). If you could help me out, there's so many different brands of each model. Thanks.

EDIT: Btw I don't want to use one of thoes 8800GT i linked a couple posts back (the overclocked one), it takes up 2 PCI-E slots and I'm worried if I get one of them it will interfere with the fan of the mobo im using that's right near the PCI-E slots.

[Midknyte]

Most 8800GTs have single slot coolers. I just did a sort by price, then you can look at each card's cooler.

[mo52087]

Most 8800GTs have single slot coolers. I just did a sort by price, then you can look at each card's cooler.


Yeah I noticed 8800gt's range from about $100-200+. Is there any brand you recommend?

[Midknyte]

I'll have to see what is out there later. They are mostly reference boards, so it doesn't make that much difference. EVGA, XFX, and BFG are decent. PNY is ok too. Gainward is overpriced.

[mo52087]

I'll have to see what is out there later. They are mostly reference boards, so it doesn't make that much difference. EVGA, XFX, and BFG are decent. PNY is ok too. Gainward is overpriced.

Thanks for all the help. If you could just direct me to a good video card later on when you get home, that would be great. I will spend up to $200 if its worth it but I prefer spending around $150 or less.

[Train]

According to what i read at http://www.digit-life.com/articles3/video/g94-part1.html

the 9600 is quieter and maybe is a better card. But not by very much it seems.

[Midknyte]

The 8800GT still beats the 9600GT in gaming benchmarks on the link you provided. You'd have to overclock the 9600GT to get up to the 8800GT level.

The lowest price 8800GT at newegg is a Gigabyte at $99.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125089
It also has a third party cooler and is overclocked.
The next 8800GTs are at $119.99.

The lowest 9600GT is a Zotac at $94.99 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500019
(I didn't count the one with passive cooling)
Actually, there are quite a few in that price range. Lots have rebates, so you'll have to filter through them.

I think either a 9600 or 8800 would be fine in your situation.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Any card really of the 9600GT,8800GT, or that GTX would do nicely. All of those three are relatively close in performance. I believe the 8800GT and 9600Gt use the same GPU die chip, but the 9600 uses less power and is a real good card. The price has dropped dramatically, only because of the latest cards that keep coming out. Mine is OC to 680 and 1900 and plays any game on high settings real well, and some not so older at max settings with decent FPS. All are about the same length, long.. ( lol ) I would also check on XFX cards. They are awesome products, and support.

Consider getting a ATI 4850. It beat out the 8800GT's , and gets better FPS. It is going for less then $180.00 now. Great price per performance. They can run a bit warm if thats a worry, but nothing critical or bad. Pick up a good cheap GPU fan and off ya go.

The reason i have no worries on fit is i have a full tower case. most any mid tower case and those cards should work fine. ;)

[Rabbitrunner51]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130347

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102747

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127359

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150306


Like your not getting confused enough already. If you have a SLI mobo then stick with Nvidia. Otherwise go for the 4850's.

[fizur2002]

Like your not getting confused enough already. If you have a SLI mobo then stick with Nvidia. Otherwise go for the 4850's.

Agreed

[fizur2002]

the 4850 will outperform the 9600gt and definatly the 8600GT/GTS and is on par with the 9800GTX+ and sometime the 260

[Midknyte]

The 4850 is a great card, but i thought it was a little over his budget.

Another thing to consider is the CPU it will be running on. Anything less than an Athlon 6000+ is going to bottleneck a 4850.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Its been my exp. you get what you pay for, in all honesty. if you get some cheaper form of whatever card, just because its a cheap price may not make it a good choice. Hit the happy medium somewhere. A 6000 + is a great CPU, but paired with the 4850 i hope he has enough power and a good power supply to back things up. The 4850 runs a whole lot hotter then my card, and i suppose uses more power overall. Not a bad thing, but something to consider.

Heck, i like my rig just fine, but already with all these new HW advances and upgrades, including video cards, i find myself looking at waht i am going to build next , maybe sooner then i would like.

Remember, if your like me, and most of us, each time we puchase something or upgrade a new system part or parts, less then a couple of months and its almost obsolete. Who can keep up? Crazy.

I would spend a little more and definitely think about the future,before settling for a bit less. Always a good decision. or just wait for the monies a bit more and do the same. LOL :rolleyes: ;)

[seanieboy77]

Go with an 8800GT I did with 4gigs of ram with a quad core and I could run every game at highest graphics with no lag. It may be a bit more than the 9600 but well worth it. I wouldn't go with anything besides the 8800GT.
-BTY