Head exploding time for a break

Due to tight purse strings enforced by myself, the current card war between ATI and nVidea and that i cannot decide which card to go for GTs, GTX, etc I've decided to take a step back.

This means I need a graphics card that will quite simply be good for pictures, video editing, watching the odd DVD and at most very basic gaming. I'm looking for something very low budget. CAn someone suggest my best stop gap graphics card? Nees to be PCI Express.

If it helps my systemn is:

Akasa Mirage 62, Gigabyte DS3P, Geil 2Gb PC6400 ram, Seagate Sata HDD, NOtcua Fan

Thanks

7300LE?

It will be rubbish for games though

7600gs or ati x1650 are probably the best basic cards for games on a tighter budget

8500GT might be ok at ~£60 if not gaming much, for more gaming performance 7900GS is a bit more expensive. Otherwise something like a 7600GS.

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Originally Posted by staffsMike

7300LE?

It will be rubbish for games though

7600gs or ati x1650 are probably the best basic cards for games on a tighter budget

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I'd love to splash £150-200 but with so many difereing opinions I feel a little against spending out for a card that will be very soon right down the pile again. Onemminute I think right 8800GTS XFX or BFG then I read a forum and people say oooh no go for an ATI card..this that and the other. Just left me very confused and seeing as I have no onboard VGA currently I am without a PC until I sort this conundrum. It could even become my emergency backup if my futurew card goes wrong. It does not even have to do games at this stage

The 8800GTS won't dissapoint you if you get one.

The ATi may be slightly better but for the amount of power it requires and the heat it generates it's not worth it to me.

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Originally Posted by staffsMike

The 8800GTS won't dissapoint you if you get one.

The ATi may be slightly better but for the amount of power it requires and the heat it generates it's not worth it to me.

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Just wondering if the 8800 GTS will drop in price anytime soon what with the ATI stuff on its way. Also I cannot decide which manf to go with XFX and BFG seem the better but we're then reaching over the £200 mark.

Well the current ATi card is the competitor for the GTS I doubt their midrange cards will out do it. If you need the kind of performance these cards push out the GTS would be my choice.

The BFG is around £190.. you might get the XFX for £165 on a today only if you keep a look out.

I'd have the XFX if it's less than £175 or the bfg otherwise. If the cards going to fail it will fail early on so warranty shouldn't be an issue.

How about going 2nd User, I got a 1900XT-X for £100, if you shop around you could get one that still has at least 12 months warrenty. A cracking card that cost £300+ not so long ago and will keep up with the latest cards in DX9.

Personally I've found ATi cards have nicer 2d image quality than NVidia cards and as most of what you want the card for is 2d I'd reccomend ATi (just to add to the confusion).

Retek Direct are worth looking at for older / second user cards.

They sometimes have some really good deals on, and their stock seems to change fairly regularly.

Get this, for £85, if its within your buget

Great card for the price and fits the bill

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119203

Remember the £10 off via google :)

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Originally Posted by nvening

Get this, for £85, if its within your buget

Great card for the price and fits the bill

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119203

Remember the £10 off via google :)

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Yeah - that looks like a bargoon!