Best video card for the money

kookooshortman55

kookooshortman55

New Member
I'm looking for a new video card that will last me a while. I have been upgrading my stock HP since the end of last year, and I want this video card to be the final upgrade before I customize my own in maybe 3 years.

What is the best video card for the money? I'm looking at the Zotac 8800GT AMP! Edition for $135. It's a a great deal and it's the only card in my budget, but if it won't last very long I'll save for either the 9800GTX+ or the GTX 260. Any suggestions? My PSU only has one 6-pin so I don't think I can go for the 280.
 
The 8800GT is a good card, and even better at that price. I wouldn't say it would last for another 3 years running games at high settings. Don't jump the gun, continue saving for an HD4870 or GTX260 and that will keep you future proofed.
 
Well that 8800 is overclocked to 700/2000 vs 600/1800 standard. It also has a 1700MHz shader clock vs 1500MHz standard. So it's pretty fast. I believe it passed up the 9800GTX in some benchmarks. It passed the 8800 Ultra in others.

Well its $60 more to get to the 9800GTX+, and $160 more for the GTX 260. I think the 260 is pushing it too far. Between 8800GT Amp! and 9800GTX+? I don't have a whole lot of money to spend. I'm off to college in the fall. Haha
 
lol beating an ULTRA? thats a stretch. a 9800GTX? a very large stretch. i have mine overclocked to those exact speeds and i can tell you that a normal 8800GTX is still faster, and the ULTRA is always faster.
 
I don't think I have enough power connections for the 4870. Or the money. Right now I'm at around a $200 budget. I've actually seen some of the GTX 260's go on sale for $250.

In other words, I was planning on getting the overclocked 8800GT. But I was wondering if anything thinks it won't last me more than 2 years. If so, is it worth the extra $60 for the 9800GTX+? I don't need anything to last me more than 2 or 3 years. And I only have one PCIex16. =(
 
Oh sorry. I meant to say it beats the 8800GTS and some of the 8800GTX's. Plus it only uses only one 6-pin power connector. I only have 32A on my PSU.
 
RRA_Incognito said:
4870 or 8800gt...gt's around 120 since ATI bitchslapped nVidia with the 4870.
Click to expand...

lolololol

Well does anyone know how many amps I would need on the 12V rail for a 9800GTX+? I just bought my power supply. It was $50 and I really don't plan on buying another soon. I basically have no income so price is an issue. Haha. My PSU has dual 16A on the 12V rails. Maybe I should wait for another card to come out to bump the 8800GT cheaper?

As of now I'm almost set on the 8800GT. I know there are better cards but I'm retricted by my PSU and my money. I just want to know if this card will last me around 2 to 3 years. I'll make a new computer once I have money.
 
th3ha1og0d said:
The 8800GT is a good card, and even better at that price. I wouldn't say it would last for another 3 years running games at high settings. Don't jump the gun, continue saving for an HD4870 or GTX260 and that will keep you future proofed.
Click to expand...

I just noticed your specs in your signature. How good of a performer is that card that you have? The AMP! Edition basically has the exact same clock.
 
Well here's a chart for the 9800GTX+ under load.

c4884735-23e8-4e91-8c85-adc693b9d17c.jpg
 
Well I don't know. I only have one 6-pin power connector, so a pro for the 8800. I only have 32A on the 12V rail, another pro. Plus the 8800Gt only takes up one PCI slot so I will have more air room around the card to cool it off. But if the 9800GTX+ will last, say . . . twice as long then I'll get it. lol
 
Your PSU may only come with 1 PCI-E 6 pin connector but manufacturers such as BFG, eVGA, XFX come with the 2 four pin to 6 pin PCI-E adapter so having only 1 isn't a problem as of yet.


PLUS the power requirement for the GTX 260 was a 500W PSU and the 9800GTX+ has a similar power requirement so I think your 500W is more than enough.
 
Well I use this website A LOT.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php

And I suppose you're right about the extra 6-pin. I suppose the only thing I need to look out for is the 8-pin. Usually by then they require too big of a power supply anyways. Well according to that website, the GTX 260 uses a little bit more power. So this is basically between the 8800GT AMP! overclocked to 700/2000, the 9800GTX+, and the GTX 260. I can really only afford the 8800GT as of now. I believe the GTX 260 requires like 36A on the 12V rail. If anyone knows the specs please share. And I'll probably have to get the 9800GTX+ in like a month or two if I were to get it. Only if it is THAT much better than then 8800GT. Unless the GTX 260 is just unbelievable and is better than both combined. Then I'm back to square one.
 
Right now you can pick up a 9800 GTX for $200 from Newegg. That is the best price to performance ratio I think. My Evga 9800 GTX is overclocked to 750 MHz without a problem, you can overclock the crap out of these cards without heat issues. I can play Crysis on high settings and pull about 40 FPS on a Samsung 22'' Sync master screen, it's a wonderful thing! :D That is just my recomendation for ya! ;)

- I have had many people try and tell me that an 8800 GT is better than the 9800 GTX. I have ran both cards in my computer and the difference is huge. 9800 GTX blows the 8800 GT away!

- Evga 8800 GT 3Dmark06 default settings 11,485
- Evga 9800 GTX 3Dmark06 default settings 13,890

For only $40 more you get your moneys worth.
 
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