Need advice on Graphics card

[derchris]

Hi,

I'm currently looking on the Scan today only site for a graphics card.
Budget arround 100-120
I have currently 4 cards which are in my budget:

256MB XFX 8600GT XXX, PCI-E (x16), Mem 1600 MHz, GDDR3, GPU 600 MHz, 2x Dual Link DVI-I/HDTV £87.00 £102.23
256MB XFX 8600GT Fatal1ty, PCI-E(x16) Mem 1700MHz GDDR3 GPU 620MHz 2xDL DVI-I/HDTV Heat Pipe Cooling £89.00 £104.58
256MB Palit 8600GTS, PCI-E (x16), Mem 2000MHz, GDDR3, GPU 675MHz, 2x Dual Link DVI-I/HDTV, HDCP £102.00 £119.85
256MB Gainward 8600GTS Bliss, PCI-E (x16), Mem 2000 MHz, GDDR3, GPU 675 MHz, Dual DVI/HDTV £99.99 £117.49

My choice at the moment would be the XFX 8600GT Fatal1ty
What would you take out of this?

Also, is there something better you would recommend when I go for a budget of up to 150 ?

Thanks in advance,
Christian

[Blitzen]

Gainward are exceptional in the gpu world. Out of those 4, they are head and shoulders above.

[derchris]

I have looked at some reviews, and from what I saw is that even a 7900 GT/GTS is faster than the 8600 GT/GTS.

And the fact, that most of the features are DX10 on this card, and HD Video acceleration, which only works on Vista at the moment anyway, wouldn't it be better if I go for a 79xx card?

I'm not going to upgrade to Vista anyway, and when it comes to games I play mostly Quake4, BF2, UT2004, FPS games in general.
And Quake4 has way more FPS on a 79xx card then on a 8600.

There is one card on offer:

256MB XFX 7950GT, PCI-E(x16), Mem 1460MHz, GPU 570MHz, 24 Pipes, 2 x Dual Link DVI-I/HDTV £95.00 £111.63

[prits_88]

mate to be honest, i would try to spend a bit more money (look under the couch, or inbetween cushions) and spring for a 8800GTS.
Well worth it.

[derchris]

Well, I'm not a hardcore gamer, and I will never use Vista, so I don't need all that DX10 bling bling
From what I read on the reviews, I go for the 7950 GT.
Cheap, but still fast

[derchris]

Ok, I just ordered the XFX 7950GT
Hope I get it on tuesday

[Pob255]

Ok I'm a bit late here, but the 7900GS is quite good and sub £100

the 8600GT seem to be very sub performance
the 8600GTS are better but overpriced
the ATi HD2600XT are looking good on paper and sub £100 but not out yet.

And that 7950GT will be a good card

EDIT: just seen some of the eairly reviews for the hd2600XT very poor to say the least performance around the 8600GT

[jackvdbuk]

Well, I'm not a hardcore gamer, and I will never use Vista
Cheap, but still fast

ha! say that in 10 years time

[paulq]

ha! say that in 10 years time

yes but you still have a good year left on XP theres far to many driver issues and the likes on vista.

[Blitzen]

And the fact, that most of the features are DX10 on this card, and HD Video acceleration, which only works on Vista at the moment anyway, wouldn't it be better if I go for a 79xx card?

Why pay £150 odd for a card of an older generation?
That makes no sense tbh

Well, I'm not a hardcore gamer, and I will never use Vista, so I don't need all that DX10 bling bling
From what I read on the reviews, I go for the 7950 GT.
Cheap, but still fast

If you arent a gamer then just get a 7600GT anyway.

yes but you still have a good year left on XP theres far to many driver issues and the likes on vista.

For the 1,000,000,000 time 'NO THERE ISN'T!!!!! The drivers are good now and work great...jeeez!

Its an ill-informed comment that is getting boring to read.

[derchris]

I'm a gamer, but not hardcore.
Just playing with my friends on weekend LANs or inet play.
Quake4 and friends ....
Card was 110, not 150.
I currently have a 7300 GT, but I now see there are limits for that card.
I will update the system someday to a 8800GTX, but not this year.
I just need a decent good card know for what I play, and the t950GT seems to be the best.

[Andy3536]

yes but you still have a good year left on XP theres far to many driver issues and the likes on vista.

Driver issues?
Hmm, not seen any myself. Anything your worried about the manufactures web site should have if it's not on the disc it came with.

[Mithrandir]

The 7950gt is a good choice for the money. I would have chosen between that or the x1950xt (ebuyer).

[Pob255]

Why pay £150 odd for a card of an older generation?
That makes no sense tbh

Try £120ish for a 7950GT
Which is about half the price of a 8800GTS and is currently far out performing the 8600gts
That's why.

EDIT: if you want to save a bit of cash the 7900GS is a fairly solid card.

[hse180]

7950 is a great card better than any 8600

[derchris]

When it comes to upgrade, was XFX the company who offers upgrades on their cards ?