New graphics card

[jsfarthing]

i was planning to buy a new midrange-ish graphics card...and i have got two options.

which cards are best?

option 1 (if i buy an xbox 360 ill probs onli av enough for these cards) : HD 3650 (ddr3), 2600xt (ddr4) or xfx 8600gt xxx

option 2 (if i dont buy an xbox 360) : 9600gt, 8800gt or hd 3850

plz could you suggest cards for option and two please

btw sorry if this sort of thread has already been posted.

[-iceblade^]

HD3650 -> better driver support and newer

8800GT -> best porice/performance card out atm... that said, you could wait to see what price the HD3850 drops to and then ma7ybe get the xbox and that card?

[Anastie]

Agree 8800GT seems very competitive at the price.

[D.M]

Dont bother with the xbox 360 they are horribly unreliable! Stick with a decent GFX card and enjoy

Whats your budget?
Whats your other specs?

[Anastie]

Dont bother with the xbox 360 they are horribly unreliable! Stick with a decent GFX card and enjoy

Whats your budget?
Whats your other specs?

The present 360 has had a modification done. So the problems of old are resolved. I have a early first 360 and mine has not died

[Syd]

Dont bother with the xbox 360 they are horribly unreliable! Stick with a decent GFX card and enjoy

Whats your budget?
Whats your other specs?

I know xbs had their issues but I have had my 2nd unit for 18months and MS give a 3 yr warranty with them - I definatley recommend as a great value gaming platform (alongside the trusty PC

[D.M]

I wont waste anymore of the OP's thread but just to say that I had heard all the horror stories of dead XB360s but still got one as I had a previous XB which i really enjoyed and loved the look of the new one + great games too.

However, due to circumstances i rarely get time to use it, actually the wife uses it more than me for Viva Pinata but still its rarely used and it died within the 1st year with the 3 red rings of light! Got it sent away to be fixed, it came back with a new motherboard and its now extremely tempermental (sp?) and it takes about 5 attempts to turn it on and for it to work! Microsoft wont pick it up unless there are red lights all over etc etc....

I have never ever had a faulty console, I had the original XB for years and an original PS1 for even longer, never was the quality of the units called into question.

From now on Im going back to PC gaming, just my opinion of course but thats what forums are for, sharing


Peace all

[jsfarthing]

lol thanx for your views on xbox 360s...
i mostly want to play fps online...so a pc is better, although having an xbox gives me other options and its annoyin how some really good games are only for console.

i spotted a 2900gt for £70 on micro direct and im not sure how good it is as i cant find any reviews of it. have you guys got any views on it?

thanx

[silent]

i have a hd 3850 gecube overclocked 512 meg card and it runs everything - have not got crysis thoiugh - absolutely fine. only £110 from ebuyer.

[Pob255]

Yes damb you silent, but you cannot find the gecube cards anymore
Granted any 3850 512mb should be good it's just the gecubes had a really good cooler on them.

might be worth hanging on for a month thoe, for the ati price drops to filter down to us here in this back water know as the EU

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You can get a HD3870 for 117 quid:

Sapphire HD 3870 XT 512MB GDDR4 Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

The HD3850 512Mb can be had for 102 quid:

PowerColor HD 3850 Pro PCS 512MB GDDR3 256bit Dual DVI TVO PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

The HD3850 256mb card can be had for 85 quid:

Sapphire HD 3850 Pro 256MB GDDR3 Dual DVI TVO PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

Remember that that Ebuyer does free postage!

A 2900XT 512mb can be had for 88 quid but needs a very good PSU as they are power hungry cards:

Sapphire HD 2900Pro 512MB GDDR3 256bit Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

I assume that you have a budget between 200 to 250 quid since the Xbox 360 arcade costs around 150 quid??

[silent]

yes unforytunateky there gone but i'd now get the 3870 xt for 118 del instead.

[Pob255]

The HD3850 512Mb can be had for 102 quid:

PowerColor HD 3850 Pro PCS 512MB GDDR3 256bit Dual DVI TVO PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

I wouldn't go for that one, the fan on that powercolour is jamed at 100% and a bit noisey, no way to slow it execpt a fan controller.

That said Ebuyer.com have got a 8800gt 512 with non-stock cooling for £128, very tempting
Inno3D 8800GT 512MB GDDR3 Wind Edition Cooler Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

[staffsMike]

even silent PC review said how stupidly quiet these are (if it is the cooler as pictured)
OcUK ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

[Pob255]

That's the stock cooler Mike