why spend $400+ on a video card?

pillagenburn

pillagenburn

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
1,275
I dunno about you guys, but I dunno why I was even thinking of spending $400 on a new GPU..... it's just not worth it to me, and I even consider myself a gamer! That's why I'm limiting my video card spending to $200-250 TOPS.

Just think about all of the things you could buy for $400... or with the extra $150-200 if you set a budget.

-new power supply
-more RAM
-bigger hard drive
-sink more money into your monitor
-faster CPU (Core 2 e6400 is only about $200 !!)
-better motherboard
-penis enlarger
-a bear
-bear traps

The possibilities are endless.... remember how much high-end gpu's used to cost back in the day? GeForce 2 and 3.. no more than $300 ... now we're pushing $600+ !!! Smells like price fixing... I seriously doubt the technological advances really warrant the $300 premium over older cards. Nevermind the hit on depreciation that you take once you BUY the card! I mean hell, you buy a Chevy at a reduced price partly because of the hit on depreciation you take once you sign the paperwork and turn the key!

just my $0.02
 
pillagenburn said:
I..
-a bear
-bear traps


..
Click to expand...

Dear Sir;
I've sent a check for 200 dollars. When can I expect my bear, please?
Thanks,
Mark
 
digitalx0 said:
You can render a fairly realistic bear with a 8800GTX.
Click to expand...

You cannot cuddle with a bear rendered by an 8800GTX, no matter HOW realistically rendered..
The End.
 
eno-on said:
You cannot cuddle with a bear rendered by an 8800GTX, no matter HOW realistically rendered..
The End.
Click to expand...

Do you really want to cuddle with a bear? They are godless killing machines. You should listen when the truth is spoken at you.
Link
 
The price some will pay to be on the bleeding edge of technology.

Hey, is the bleeding edge of technology called that because you bleed money trying to pay for it?
 
It is all relative.

Do whatever makes you happy. Me, I want the best of the best, bleeding edge.

Gaming at 2560x1600 the benefits of the 8800 GTX make themselves known, it is currently the only way to max out every game at this resolution.
 
digitalx0 said:
Do you really want to cuddle with a bear? They are godless killing machines. You should listen when the truth is spoken at you.
Link
Click to expand...

Dear Mr Digital X0,
Mr Colbert is French. Can you not tell by his last name? It's clear to me that bears do not like FRENCH people. The bear is American, as am I. Let the cuddling begin!

Sincerely,
Mark

PS: People that have money will spend them on Bears or Video Cards as they like. If I had the money for both a bear and Video Card, I would buy both. Cuddling is, however, my priority.
 
But I already have all those things, including the bear traps. So what will I spend $400 on? Could it be... a video card?

Why buy a million-dollar house when a $100,000 house would do just fine? Because; that's why. Maybe you mistakenly posted this question in the wrong forum? Perhaps you were looking for [C]omputersOnTheCheapForum down the street instead of [H]ardForum? :D
 
I'm sorry, OP, there is NO WAY you can get a bear for $400...

OK, but all kidding aside, $400 is the MAX I would ever consider spending on a video card, and only on a new buy. My X850XT PE has to last me at least three more years, even if I have to play on minimum settings I should be content.
 
pillagenburn said:
I dunno about you guys, but I dunno why I was even thinking of spending $400 on a new GPU..... it's just not worth it to me, and I even consider myself a gamer!
Click to expand...

To enlarge their "E-Penis". Which makes up for their small "Real-Penis".. :D
 
i was just remembering what high end video cards used to cost so long ago... nowhere near the cost nowadays... it just seems wrong.

and who wouldn't wanna cuddle up with a bear? how about a nice grizzly bear? they're named 'grizzly' because they make great cuddling pets, not because they will make your death a grisly one!
 
I think the higher cost might be related to their more complex design?

You dont need to spend $400+. Your limited by your monitor. I would never buy a 8800gtx because my monitor native resolution is not high enough. But if you dont have a decent card, have fun playing with no AA or AF and low settings.
 
WarriorX said:
But if you dont have a decent card, have fun playing with no AA or AF and low settings.
Click to expand...

So what do you consider a decent card? I spent $130 or so on my 850XT PE and all my settings are almost maxed for my resolution..
 
stop your bitchin in Australia the cheapest half decent 8800GTX costs $900. An x1950xt is around $400 vs $250 in the US. My x1950xtx is worth just over $600 AUD.

So I do fail to see your point people pay money because they want performance and being able to enjoy their games how the developers intended.
 
god u guys whine about prices, to buy an EVGA 8800 GTX in the UK at the mo would cost me exactly $917.205 which is £470. You really don't realise how cheap your hardware prices are, come live in the UK for a while please. Or wait is that because your oil based dollar is so weak? ;)
 
Cowboy420 said:
To enlarge their "E-Penis". Which makes up for their small "Real-Penis".. :D
Click to expand...


I would like to know your hobby so I can pointlessly make fun of your genatalia.

I honestly never understand why people always crawl out of the woodwork to say how stupid expensive computers are. I know people that could buy 2-3 8800GTX's a month with the cash they blow on their hobbies.

How bout you go bug them on their various forums.

I personally sell my stuff and upgrade about every 5-6 months and lose about half. I figure it is better than getting "f" all much past that. Then again I am not relying on allowance for about 13 years now.
 
wouldn't exactly call them hobbies, rather addictions. Much like people on here that HAVE to upgrade to the latest hardware. I couldn't imagine spending nearly one thousand US dollars on a graphics card in the UK.
 
Every good hobby is potentially addictive and most certainly results in obsessive behavior.
People making fun of others who buy expensive computer parts obviously don't know anyone who is an avid fan of racing motorcycles, suping up cars, or collecting wine, the last of which is stratospherically expensive.

also modded Oblivion looks like crap on a $200 GPU
 
degen said:
wouldn't exactly call them hobbies, rather addictions. Much like people on here that HAVE to upgrade to the latest hardware. I couldn't imagine spending nearly one thousand US dollars on a graphics card in the UK.
Click to expand...

There are other activities/hobbies that are way more expensive then pc gaming. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on hardware, that doesn't mean no else cant. I bet you spend a lot of money on other things
 
Here are the top 10 reasons:

10. Because they want to, damnit
9. All their friends were doing it
8. They enjoy smooth gameplay
7. They upgraded everything else already.
6. To piss off the wife
5. They don't want a shitty video card
4. To impress the ladies
3. All the stores were out of PS3's
2. Because all of the $300 cards suck
1. To stay [H]ard
 
Well first of all because a $200 video card will not play BF2 series, Far Cry, Oblivion, or FEAR, or COD2 on my 24" LCD..and because PC gaming is my hobby, and $400-600 is a relative drop in the bucket. (unless you're still in college or a lazy mooch living at home)

We live in the age of fake vommit, plastic dog shit, and sneakers with lights in the heal and you're asking why people spend their money on video cards?
 
There are a lot more expensive hobbies out there. Take aviation for example... just to get air conditioning factory installed in a new Cirrus costs like $25,000. You can spend $3500 alone on a small handheld GPS unit. Computer hardware is nothing compared to that.
 
I think the best answer is simply, because they can afford it.

If you can't afford it, then don't buy it.
 
pillagenburn said:
i was just remembering what high end video cards used to cost so long ago... nowhere near the cost nowadays... it just seems wrong.
Click to expand...

Reality check..

Back in 2000 the GeForce2 debuted at $350. The Voodoo5 6000 debuted at $600.

Historic annual inflation rate is 3%. Card was released just shy of 7 years ago.

$350*(1.03^7)=$430.46
 
pillagenburn said:
i was just remembering what high end video cards used to cost so long ago... nowhere near the cost nowadays... it just seems wrong.
Click to expand...

Not really...

Sure video cards seem cheaper back then compared to what we pay now, but look at what got paid back then and it works out.

They were cheaper back then because we didn't get paid as much, minimum wage was less, things costed less, we got paid less.

Now, things cost more and we get paid more. It's a vicious cycle but it's how it works.
 
Oh my God.

Cost, inflation and the US $ - don't get me started.

The US trade deficit is at how many trillions of dollars? The US gov. has to borrow around $3 billion PER DAY to keep the economy going. that is through printing dollars and selling bonds etc. Monetary inflation is above 10% per year that's why it's weak.
And the average US household has got negative savings! don't ask what that means cos i don't know.

you guys here must be rich, but the average middleclassed US household is spending more than they can afford.
 
Why spend more then $6-7 a six pack, or $15-16 a thirty pack of beer?
Why buy Stoli vodka, instead of.......Five O Clock vodka?
Why buy Kraft instead of off-brand?
Why buy Seiko watch, instead of the $2.99 ones in a happy meal?
Why buy a house in a suburb with good schools even if you don't have kids yet, but are planning on it?

Uhhh, you get the point.....but I think you miss the point....

Why buy a Porsche instead of a Ford Focus?
Why buy Corsair, OCZ, G.Skill, whatever memory floats your boat, instead of......Buttram Tech or something?
Why buy Silverstone or Seasonic power supply over.......other crap?
Why buy a cottage in addition to a first home?
Why buy Samsung over.......Optomo, Polaroid or other digital flat screen T.V.'s?
Why buy a Sony, Olympus, whatever....over a DXG digital camera?
Why buy your produce and veggies at anyplace but a large supermarket chain?
Why buy $4000 vision correction, when you can get 2 for $199?

Do you get the damn point?
Because its fucking nicer thats why
If you can afford it why the fuck would you sleep on shitty ass 28 thread count bed sheets, sit in some gump ass Ford Contour, while playing music on a stock system with speakers made of cardboard, while wearing a burger king watch, while still playing Super Nintendo at home because you are still getting your moneys worth.


OKAY HERES THE SUPER SIMPLE ANSWER
SAY, JUST SAY....say your don't tip 4%, and you buy a 24" or 30" monitor....that demands 1900x1200 native, 2560x1600.......hell even 1680x1050........and you want to play games that don't look like Flash animations. YOU FORCE YOURSELF IN TO THE MARKET.
OTHERS.......just buy things because its the way the economy works. Theres some new fruit snack in aisle 12......I think I might try them......there 19 cents more a package, life goes on....but these taste damn better.
PRETEND YOUR NOT BROKE, IN COLLEGE, OR IN DEBT....

You might be a CAD designer..........
You might be a techy guy with all the toys, and the nice ones at that.
Hell you just might not even want to upgrade in another 4-5 months for all the spring release of games coming out/

I am so done with this thread........sorry if I am a dick.......but instead of buying raman noodles, I buy Bertoli......makes sense?
Well instead of buying a new in box ATI 9250 64Mb video card to get by on that 24" widescreen....you spend $400 on a video card. That isn't shit........you know a 450 square foot condo in the right spot in NYC will run someone 600k meanwhile if you lived just even 60 miles away you could pull off 4000-5000-6000 square feet or something.
YOU BUY THINGS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO


Why go to a salon, and not Cost Cutters, or Super Cuts?
Why buy a Prada, Chanel, or anything costly, when Goodwill has them for $1.99

I just hope you don't ask this question for everything in life....
"Why should I spend over $100 on a pair of headphones?"
"Why should I pay for an American built guitar that costs 3x more then an import"
"Why do Mesa Boogie heads cost so much"
Because they fucking rule dude, thats why.

It's like cross-training in flip flops all your life, and you finally give a shit and go OMG....It isn't 20 B.C. anymore.......I can totally buy some Nike's, Adidas, or Puma shoes for $80-100-120-140 and maybe my feet won't bleed anymore.
Please humanity.......I am just 21 years old..........please send me a sign.......show me there is hope...........
 
pillagenburn said:
I dunno about you guys, but I dunno why I was even thinking of spending $400 on a new GPU..... it's just not worth it to me, and I even consider myself a gamer! That's why I'm limiting my video card spending to $200-250 TOPS.

Just think about all of the things you could buy for $400... or with the extra $150-200 if you set a budget.

-new power supply
-more RAM
-bigger hard drive
-sink more money into your monitor
-faster CPU (Core 2 e6400 is only about $200 !!)
-better motherboard
-penis enlarger
-a bear
-bear traps

The possibilities are endless.... remember how much high-end gpu's used to cost back in the day? GeForce 2 and 3.. no more than $300 ... now we're pushing $600+ !!! Smells like price fixing... I seriously doubt the technological advances really warrant the $300 premium over older cards. Nevermind the hit on depreciation that you take once you BUY the card! I mean hell, you buy a Chevy at a reduced price partly because of the hit on depreciation you take once you sign the paperwork and turn the key!

just my $0.02
Click to expand...


Good luck gaming on a Geforce 3 today ;) Actually the prices has dropped not gone up if you look over the passed year while the performance increases hasn´t dropped a single bit. Quite the opposite really.

The question you should set would be why spend 500$ on a new CPU since the speed difference between old and new CPUs is so much smaller.

And why buy larger harddrives it won´t make your computer run faster.
Spending more money on your monitor well yeah if you have an old monitor but it gets even more expensive changing monitor every year.
mainboard? Do you need a new mainboard?
memory? Do you need more memory?
Penus Enlarger? Well maybe you need it I don´t know.

If you are a gamer it´s the video card that is the most important piece in your system.

If you buy an entirely new computer. For most games you benefit much more from going crazy on your video card then on your CPU.

And getting a PSU/mainboard/memory/harddrive for 500$ can´t compensate for a 500$ video card ;)
 
factory81 said:
*snip*
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more, and I think you said it the simplest way possible :)

The only reason I can think of that makes a person ask "Why spend $$$ on a video card" is that:

1. They don't have the money to buy the card they want and had to go with a lower model so they're trying to justify it and make themselves feel better.

2. They're really ignorant or don't understand that those of us with 24" and 30" monitors with resolutions of 1920x1200 and especially those with 2560x1600 resolution cannot play in that resolution without a powerful graphics card. A power graphics card just happens to cost over $400, if we could have a powerful graphics card for $200, $100, or $50, we'd buy it!


P.S. It always seems this question is asked by "n00bies" lol
 
There is a simple answer to your question:

Some people use their computer mainly to play computer games. None of the list of upgrades you mentioned improves gaming as much as a better video card so yes 200 more for a better vid card is worth the upgrade over more ram which wouldn't really help much, or even faster cpu (game will load faster but the fps and graphics is lower).
 
pillagenburn said:
i was just remembering what high end video cards used to cost so long ago... nowhere near the cost nowadays... it just seems wrong.

and who wouldn't wanna cuddle up with a bear? how about a nice grizzly bear? they're named 'grizzly' because they make great cuddling pets, not because they will make your death a grisly one!
Click to expand...


ORLY any one remember that the Voodoo5 and Geforce cards of that time cost >.>
 
I guess it all boils down to what you want to spend your money on.
I remember buying my Voodoo 5 5500 for 300$ and I was stoked! Half-Life and TFC never looked any better. :D

I sold my recent computer to pay off credit cards, and hopefully my car by the end of the year. I hope to spend some big money at the end of the year on a really nice system because I hate playing games on an old Domain controller.

To me it boils down to my choice and hobbies I like to be involved in. There is always an opportunity cost for any purchase you make. Simple economics to me.

Yes, some argue that I can spend way too much on a computer.. but I budget my money and plan accordingly. I like muscle cars and computers... both of which depreciate. (not good for me either).

You invest in what you like to do. It may not always be rational, but hopefully in the process you have fun doing what you do and you're responsible about it and you don't loose your shirt and can't feed your family (or yourself) ;) . I think that's the fine line between an addiction and a hobby.

Along these lines I generally agree with factory81
 
degen said:
god u guys whine about prices, to buy an EVGA 8800 GTX in the UK at the mo would cost me exactly $917.205 which is £470. You really don't realise how cheap your hardware prices are, come live in the UK for a while please. Or wait is that because your oil based dollar is so weak? ;)
Click to expand...
you live on an island that isn't nearly as easy to ship things to as the US with a small population. Use common sense, please.
 
$430-450 for a top-end 8800GTX series card sounds about right....


not $600-700 ....

putting the 8800GTS around $300

a fair price.
 
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