Best graphics card < $180?

meb111

New Member
I am new here (Hi my name is meb111:)) and i bought a computer (custom built) around x-mas time and i only had enough money to get a computer that works. you know a nvidia 7200gs, amd x2 am2 2.8Ghz, 2 gigs of ddr2 800 ram 400 watt power supply. you know not that good but something to get me by. now it is time to upgrade. i picked out a power supply and other stuff i just need a good video card.

My budget allows around $180 for one. I am a gamer. I need one that will play crysis at a good level. Also i would like to have oblivion at a great level. or just the best at around that price.

i would prefer to buy one at newegg.com and it be Nvidia but if it isnt that is alright.
 
Thanks for the reply but im sorry to say that one is kinda ugly. :( But i did take your sudgestion of the 9600gt i was mostly looking at the 8800gt 's. so i compiled a list of the 96's that i liked and looked good

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121242

pro's: trusted asus brand, oc'ed 720 core clock 64 stream proc, 512mb, nice cooler
con's: 1800 memory clock, i kind of like the ones with the boxed cooler





http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261001

pro's: 700 core clock, sort of dual slot cooling (see cons), 2000 memory clock, free game (though it sucks its free right? looks like an extra 20 bucks!)
con's: half of the dual slot cooling is blocked by that dvi port. so only half the card is blowing out air out the back.





http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261014

pro's: 96 stream processors, 768mb vram, open gl 2.1.
con's: 600 core clock, 192-bit ram, and it doesnt have a good picture of the back which makes me suspicious.





http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150306

pro's: 740 core clock, 64 S.P., 2000 memory clock, open GL 2.1, free COD4 game
con's: gets a little close to my price limit, single slot cooling (im really scared of this overheating because i dont get that much money and my laptop overheats BAD) and xxx means overclocked, and out of stock at the moment.

this would be my fav if it had dual slot cooling.










i need help deciding which one if you could PLEASE help that would be very awesome.
 
SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST!!!
i just wanted to make this a seperate question.

I would like to know if two 8600 in sli would be better than one of these.
 
If looks are very important then get the XFX Alpha dog.No two 8600gt's would be as fast as one 9600gt.8600gt are low mid range videocards while 9600gt's are high mid range video cards.A 8800gt would be a low highend video card.
 
I think the XFX 9600GT would be the best choice. They can't sell an overclocked card that would overheat or else they would get sued. Plus it will be hacked so the fan runs faster to keep it cooler. Single slot is usually a bonus too.... depending if you're tight on space or not.
 
thanks for all your help guys.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814145152

i decided to get this one because of the price and it was about the same specs also it was in stock. Thanks ALOT!!!




also @ blackgheart i was thinking about that. i have an amd processor but wanted an intel. so i said to myself 'self! you are getting a Nvidia video card' so i am getting one. also i heard Nvidia drivers work well with linux which i use ubuntu and windows xp pro.
 
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