Graphics Card

**mpeng82** · 12-07-2006, 11:37 AM

Ok People

, need a graphics card, the best i can get for around £150 or close to.

All thoughts is needed and if possible a reason for you choice.

The board must be PCI-E and will fit a MSI P4N Diamond P4 3ghz with 4Gb DDR2.

Anymore info needed please let me know

Thanks all

**kalniel** · 12-07-2006, 11:53 AM

I might be a little out of date, but 150 is a nice price point, although it tends to be right inbetween two categories.

For around 130ish you can get a 7600GT, which is excellent value for money and good performance in todays games.

For around 180ish you can get a 7900GT, which is even better.

Those are both good performance for the price, and it just depends on how often you mind upgrading. If you want to get the most out of todays system, and only upgrade when you need to then the most economic is the 7600GT. If you don't like upgrading as frequently and don't mind 'wasting' a bit of money buying more than you need just now, then the 7900GT is the one to go for.

ATI cards are unfortunately a bit lacking right at that price point - they've got great cards far below and above that price, but IMO NVidia rules the roast at that point.

**chuckskull** · 12-07-2006, 12:03 PM

For £150 you best bet is probably a 7800GT from eBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PNY-GeForce-78...QQcmdZViewItem for example probably get it cheaper if you tried, like http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gigabyte-Gefor...QQcmdZViewItem

But personally I'd find another £30-40 and get a bottom end 7900GT, it'll be faster than any 7800GT you find obviously and will be brand new and have warranty etc.

**fullfat** · 12-07-2006, 12:13 PM

i would say the 7900gt is a good card, but the failure rate is massive with the 7900 series.
instead i would try to get a few extra quid and get this card instead:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=318474

absolute fantastic price for a excellent card

**mpeng82** · 12-07-2006, 12:30 PM

even though it is not SLI Compatible? - does this even matter?

Thanks all

**kalniel** · 12-07-2006, 12:32 PM

Not within your budget. If you are looking to spend 500-600 pounds on the gpu then start worrying about SLI or crossfire.

**jackvdbuk** · 12-07-2006, 12:52 PM

the 256mb x1800XT would be a good buy from overclockers, good performance and a cracker of a price @ 160
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...00_Series.html

**AtomicFuse** · 12-07-2006, 01:22 PM

Yeah definately, the X1800XT is brilliant although it will probably be £150 next week, erm then £140 then....

**-ChEM-** · 12-07-2006, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by fullfat

but the failure rate is massive with the 7900 series

i think thats with the factory-overclocked ones, theres nothing wrong with them as such, just stupid manufacturers

**MadduckUK** · 12-07-2006, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by kalniel

Not within your budget. If you are looking to spend 500-600 pounds on the gpu then start worrying about SLI or crossfire.

rather short-sighted. he should definetly stick with nvidia then he could buy a matching card when funds allow. the big question tho, as previously mentioned is pay slightly less than budget for a 7600gt, or slightly more for a 7900gt

not getting a SLI capable card when you own a SLI capable motherboard would be...**** not the best way to get the most out of your components

just had a quick snoop around, 7600gt's are going for about 120, 7900gt's about 180. id go the 7600 route at the mo. if it was a littl closer like 130 170 then it would be a coin toss and a quick check of my bank

**kalniel** · 13-07-2006, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by MadduckUK

rather short-sighted. he should definetly stick with nvidia then he could buy a matching card when funds allow.

That's not budget efficient tho - better to sell your old card and buy a replacement - same cost, better performance.

Originally Posted by madduckuk

not getting a SLI capable card when you own a SLI capable motherboard would be...**** not the best way to get the most out of your components

That's exactly what NVidia want you to think. Trying to think a couple of years down the line is certainly not getting the most out of your components - why limit your selection and possible real performance today, just because you might (wrongly) think there's an advantage tommorow?

**MadduckUK** · 13-07-2006, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by kalniel

better to sell your old card and buy a replacement - same cost, better performance.

you forget, whatever he buys now will be far cheaper when he comes to pairing them up. and unless there is a sudden ramp-up in not just power of the graphics cards, but the requirements for games then i think we'll all be looking to buy the next-gen anyway.

Originally Posted by kalniel

That's exactly what NVidia want you to think.

haha and crossfire isnt a slightly reterded verion of the same principal.

anyway he has an SLI capable mobo (how many people got two Voodoo2's? how fantastic was that? AVP used to look goregous and run silky-smooth) so it would be a WASTED OPPOURTUNITY not to utilise that fact.

Simply put, if the resolution he runs at (ie, 19" LCD = 1280x1024) can be achived with an ample frame rate then go for the card that most suits the bill. probably a 7600 in that scenario. i did actually work out the "cost to buy - prrice depreciation on said card - cost to buy second card of first type" earlier at work. but due to whinging co-workers and the lure of the pub that is forgotten. but basically if you dont mind being slightly behind the bleeding-edge of speed (which i assume you dont as your not ordering 2x 7950's) then SLI gives you a lot more options. and should be utilised.

this is not a place for ATI fanboys unfortunately, he's baught into nVidia because he has a SLI mobo and he should make the most of it.

Originally Posted by kalniel

Trying to think a couple of years down the line is certainly not getting the most out of your components - why limit your selection and possible real performance today, just because you might (wrongly) think there's an advantage tommorow?

and i thaught everone with more sense than money went for the bang for buck route. oh how the world has turned! you DO NOT KNOW what will happen a few years away. and thats why SLI gives you the great option of sticking two average GPU's together to get something far better.

real performance today - right go out and buy the most expensive GPU you can. done that? right apparently you are no longer limiting your performance today! you are broke and only just manage to pay the rent but thats merely a inconvenience. NICE ONE

**-ChEM-** · 13-07-2006, 09:35 PM

so are you suggesting he ignores faster cheaper cards because theyre non-sli?

**kalniel** · 14-07-2006, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by MadduckUK

you forget, whatever he buys now will be far cheaper when he comes to pairing them up. and unless there is a sudden ramp-up in not just power of the graphics cards, but the requirements for games then i think we'll all be looking to buy the next-gen anyway.

I wasn't forgetting - it will be cheaper to buy the same thing again, but you'll only increase your performance in todays games. You still won't be able to support SM4.0 or whatever.