Which Graphics memory

[sawyen]

I'm pretty sure I saw X1950Pro for alot less money.. maybe thats a one too look for?

[Koolpc]

I'm pretty sure I saw X1950Pro for alot less money.. maybe thats a one too look for?

That better than the Nvidia 7800 GTX?

[DanceswithUnix]

It varies a lot depending on which game you are playing, but here is an 8600GT beating a 7950GT in a modern game. You also get the latest HD acceleration etc.

They are available passive, or about 50 quid if you get a Palit one like mine. The Palit one is pretty quiet in 2D (takes 2 slots though), and frankly when playing games you either need case fans or card fans but the air has to move somehow.

dx9 cards are dead, just leave them in peace

[Koolpc]

I suppose i could get the palit one and put a cooler on it?

[Koolpc]

Which one is best:

256MB Gigabyte 8600GT Silent Pipe II, PCI-E (x16), 1400MHz GDDR3, GPU 540MHz 2 x Dual Link DV-I £65.68

512MB Gigabyte 8600GT Silent, PCI-E (x16), 800MHz GDDR2, GPU 570MHz, Dual Link DVI-I £64.82

[Blitzen]

I would be saving for the extra £20 tbh and getting the ATI3850.

At 20" resolution it will play games at a fairly decent level.

[Koolpc]

I am thinking of getting an AMD based Mobo so would the ATI card be a better bet? Can you recommend an ATI3850 That has a silent cooling system. Are they better than the 8600?

Sorry for questions but you guys are good at this stuff!! Cheers

[siuron]

February Review and March Updates : The Best Gaming Graphics cards for Your Money: March 2008

this article should show you which card to get in different price range

and if u too lazy to click the answer is

GeForce 8600 GT DDR3 and the fact its DX 10 and SM 4.0 (£50-60)

but if u can spend a bit more 3850 256MB is £30 more which gets u 8800GTS performance.
but then again another £30 more will get u 9600GT so...stick within ur price range.

[DanceswithUnix]

3850 is massively better than 8600, clicky linkey to see 8600GTS beaten by factor of 2.

Of those 8600s I would say the 256MB one is better, then ddr2 ram on the 512 is really slow!

[Koolpc]

Great info guys. Thanks. Looks like the 3850 is the one to get.

Does it matter if i got an Nvidia card on an AMD chipset mobo or should is stick with ATI Graphics on an AMD mobo? Cheers

[staffsMike]

Doesn't make a difference what graphics card you have on the mobo.

The 3850pro is a great card at around £85 and apparently even the single slot cooler isn't too loud but obviously if you want to change the cooler you will be up around £100 which isn't really anywhere near your original budget.

A passive 3850pro will set you back around £120 which would probably be perfect but double the original budget.

[Koolpc]

Doesn't make a difference what graphics card you have on the mobo.

The 3850pro is a great card at around £85 and apparently even the single slot cooler isn't too loud but obviously if you want to change the cooler you will be up around £100 which isn't really anywhere near your original budget.

A passive 3850pro will set you back around £120 which would probably be perfect but double the original budget.

Thats way too much for me then. Looks like it has to be the 8600 with the passive solution already on it. Better to go for the 256mb with DDR3 than the 512mb with DDR2?

256MB Gigabyte 8600GT Silent Pipe II, PCI-E (x16), 1400MHz GDDR3, GPU 540MHz 2 x Dual Link DV-I £65.68

512MB Gigabyte 8600GT Silent, PCI-E (x16), 800MHz GDDR2, GPU 570MHz, Dual Link DVI-I £64.82

I am thinking of getting this motherboard to go with the card:

Gigabyte motherboard GA-MA770-DS3 AMD AM2+

[staffsMike]

I've got a gainward 8500GT silent FX seen here

There is an 8600GT version here and if the temps are anything like my 8500 (sub 40 degree's apart from on seriously hot days and then it goes up to 45 in my P182) it will be awesome.

I would personally go for the 256mb DDR3 version, couldn't actually tell you which is better but mine isn't for gaming.

The gigabyte seems to be single slot though, wonder what the temps are like. EDIT: quick scout around suggests it gets to about 80 degrees under stress, is this going in a small case?

[Koolpc]

Thanks. Looks like i will go for the 8600 256mb with DDR3 then. Cheers. Just got to make sure the mobo i am looking at is a good one:

Gigabyte motherboard GA-MA770-DS3 AMD AM2+

I was going to go for one with onboard graphics but i prefer to have a separate card. The above board looks good. I think it is quite new too. Never had a board with an AMD chipset before! Always have an Nvidia chipset. This is why i have been asking about the above board. Any help would be great. Thanks guys

[staffsMike]

I've got the AMD chipset 690G board and am very happy with it. Good stable and fast performance

Other than that I can't really help, but that board looks pretty kool and AM2+ is good with phenom 45nm on the way, hopefully they will be better than the the current crop.

[Koolpc]

And no problems using an Nvidia card with an AMD chipset?