General Gaming - Which Graphic Card?

Bboysoda

Bboysoda

New Member
I just got a new computer, but dosen't have a Graphic card, so i'd like to buy one. I'm looking for a pretty decent one, yet nothing over $60. I found a few that looks great, but I've heard they aren't the best for gaming, and i'd like to know why.

Graphic Card ONE
GeForce 8400GS - 512M - PCI-E
Price:around $30-$40(30 with mail in rebate)
Link here:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127296

I'd like a Geoforce 8400 becuase it can play alot of the games I couldn't before, and would like too. Some person reviewed it and said he can play Crysis smoothly, which seems to have very high specs.

Second Card
GeForce 8400 GS 256MB - PCI-E
Price:around $25-$50(252 MIR)
Link here:http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005822

Pretty much like the first... but alittle cheaper.

I asked about which kind of card I needed to fit my motherboard, and they said I have a PCI-E slot, so these would fit perfectly. My main question is they said its cheap cus its not the besy for gaming, but why not? Geoforce 8400 can play almost any game I looked into(meets the reqierments for Cyrisis) and 256MB. Sounds great!

My computer Specs are:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional
System Manufacturer: Compaq-Presario
System Model: GX618AA-ABA SR5350F
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2040MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c

Some games I want to play...
Battlefield 2/2142
Dark Messiah
Call of Duty
Tabula Rasa
a few more...

Thanks for your time!:D
 
Well, I have an 8500, which is similar. It plays the latest valve stuff quite well, Episode 2 and portal. I get fairly good fame rates with ep2 and portal on all high to very high settings.

I have tried it with the Crysis demo and it struggles, but will play. I was using medium-low settings at 800x600 and you could play through. It was a bit better when I overclocked it 450 up to 750 core clock. (overclocked well).

If you want crysis then an 8600 is more like the minimum to play well and they are about 50% more to buy. 8800 is what you want good crysis frame rate on high. Crysis is tough on a video card. Heck, far cry on all high still takes a bit to run :)

If you don't want crysis then the 8400-8500 is a reasonable card. It's cheap and has fairly good performance.

I don't have the other games to compare, so sorry :)
 
The 8400gs won't play those games, it's a horrible card. The 7600gt, while old, is probably your best bet. It's a bit over your budget, but it really is a must if you want to experience these games like they should be.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

I have one and know it can play all the mentioned games maxed, except crysis of course, which it can play low-medium. Anything less would sort of belly up, especially in Crysis..
 
hermeslyre said:
The 8400gs won't play those games, it's a horrible card. The 7600gt, while old, is probably your best bet. It's a bit over your budget, but it really is a must if you want to experience these games like they should be.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

I have one and know it can play all the mentioned games maxed, except crysis of course, which it can play low-medium. Anything less would sort of belly up, especially in Crysis..
Click to expand...

I also have a 7600gt. It is great. Settings while keeping good fps are as follows. And take note that I am very picky about my frames per second. 30 doesn't cut it :)

Battlefield 2:maxxed
Batlefield 2142: medium-low
Dark Messiah: High
Call of Duty 1-2: maxxed
call of duty 4: medium
tabula Rasa: not sure (I haven't tried it)
counter strike source(and all other source games): MAXXED
crysis: not sure (i haven't tried it)

This card owns. It can play a lot of recent games like a champ. I would highly recommend getting this card over the 8400(or even the 8600 for that matter). This card may be old but it can put out great quality :)
 
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hermeslyre said:
The 8400gs won't play those games, it's a horrible card. The 7600gt, while old, is probably your best bet. It's a bit over your budget, but it really is a must if you want to experience these games like they should be.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

I have one and know it can play all the mentioned games maxed, except crysis of course, which it can play low-medium. Anything less would sort of belly up, especially in Crysis..
Click to expand...

+1

The 8400GS is with all respect, a horrible card for gaming. This is because it is the entry level card of the 8 series, just not good (for gaming anyways). The 8400GS is more for video playback and other streaming applications.

As stated above, your best bet is the 7600GT. I had one before my current graphics card and I have to say it was a beast! I could play Crysis on a mix of low-medium with playable FPS. It also needs very little power and no dedicated power cable ;)
 
Iluvpenguins said:
Drop a little more and get an 8600, anything below that is utter crap.

PS: Is Tabula Rasa any good?
Click to expand...

An 8600gt is the equivalent of the 7600gt, just Dx10.

I played the Tabula Rasa Beta, It's interesting for awhile, but then it gets boring. Keep in mind I say the exact thing about WoW, the only other mmorpg I've played. I could just be biased.
 
I used to play WoW but i'm looking for something new.

and the 7600gt and 8600gt are pretty comparable, but the 8600gt is already pretty inexpensive as is, unless the 7600gt has dropped down significantly.
 
Yeah, that's why I didn't recommend the 8600gt, the E-7600gt I linked to is $60 after a MIR, I couldn't find the 86 on newegg for much less than a hundred. If only he had an extra hundred, then he could kill them both with a 3850...
 
yah... the 7600GT sounds great, but I'm not spending more then 60, i'm looking around 50. Any OTHER suggestions?

I don't want to play SUPER high req games lik Crysis. The 8600 would work fine for the games I mentioned right? At least good enough? I don't care to much for the settings on high. Just being able to play it smoothly and play some games is pretty much all I ask for. Thanks!
 
An 8600GT would be fine. It's twice the speed of an 8500. It would even run crysis on medium-low mix at lowish res...
 
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