Need help finding future Video Card

R

Raystream

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 27, 2005
Messages
135
I usually upgrade my Video card every 3 years or so, and with this generation of cards I am completely lost. I want a very good high end card so that I don't have to upgrade for a while. I was up until yesterday looking at getting a X850XTPE, but after looking at the review of all of the changes to the x1800XT over at Beyond3d.org I am thinking otherwise.

On top of that I see the 7800GT's going for $300 and less after rebates, etc at a few places. And I have been pretty impressed with them from what I have seen so far.

So what card is really worth getting? Any thoughts or suggestions are gladly welcome!

Raystream
 
I've been dissapointed with this generation, here's to the next-gen :D

But if we must, then I say go 7800GT or X1800XL
 
7800GT is a great buy for the money, and you can buy another one in a year if you're unhappy with the performance and put it in SLI, and by that time, the price will have dropped even further, to make it less painful.

-Nate
 
The 7800GT will certainly last a long time, but I think the "sweet spot" is probably a little lower end, around the high-end mainstream (or more accurately, last years high-end). Especially if you buy used. Consider the 6800GT or X850 range. With my 6800 ultra I can play FEAR maxed out with no problem at all. I guess I expect games to run well for 2 years, and certainly be "playable" for 3 with this card. Unless DX10 causes a forced upgrade a la DX9, in which case we're all screwed with current cards :)
 
If someone was only to be upgrading their video card once every few years and was looking to buy ASAP....I'd have to recommend the 7800GT. The 7800GT is at a much nicer price point then the X1800XL atm...and the ability to set yourself up with SLI a year or two later makes it a very viable option. It is true that a lot of people have still been fine up until the current gen of games (FEAR, Quake4, Doom3, HL2 etc...) with 6800GT's and X800's...it just depends on how high of a standard you put your cards/experience at. Personally, I want to be able to max out the ingame graphical options (if possible to begin with) at something in the range of 1280x960 for my games...when I have to start toning down too much on graphics in-game is when I look to upgrade...but that's because I'm a little more picky then someone in your (aimed at the original poster) position.

Long story short, I'd pickup a 7800GT, and go the extra little distance and get the card from a company with an awsome warranty, BFG can't be beat in this department. If you're going to have the card for a few years, you want a company that's going to stick by it's warranty, and BFG's lifetime warranty is the strongest/most reliable in the business.

A 7800GT OC would probly be your best available retail option atm...and if you REALLY don't have the cash, then try and pickup a 6800GT by BFG (if buying retail) or a used 6800/X800 series card. Keep in mind though, that the price difference between a 6800GT and 7800GT isn't THAT great when you consider how much more you're going to get out of the 7 series card.

/ramble
 
cornelious0_0 said:
If someone was only to be upgrading their video card once every few years and was looking to buy ASAP....I'd have to recommend the 7800GT. The 7800GT is at a much nicer price point then the X1800XL atm...and the ability to set yourself up with SLI a year or two later makes it a very viable option. It is true that a lot of people have still been fine up until the current gen of games (FEAR, Quake4, Doom3, HL2 etc...) with 6800GT's and X800's...it just depends on how high of a standard you put your cards/experience at. Personally, I want to be able to max out the ingame graphical options (if possible to begin with) at something in the range of 1280x960 for my games...when I have to start toning down too much on graphics in-game is when I look to upgrade...but that's because I'm a little more picky then someone in your (aimed at the original poster) position.

Long story short, I'd pickup a 7800GT, and go the extra little distance and get the card from a company with an awsome warranty, BFG can't be beat in this department. If you're going to have the card for a few years, you want a company that's going to stick by it's warranty, and BFG's lifetime warranty is the strongest/most reliable in the business.

A 7800GT OC would probly be your best available retail option atm...and if you REALLY don't have the cash, then try and pickup a 6800GT by BFG (if buying retail) or a used 6800/X800 series card. Keep in mind though, that the price difference between a 6800GT and 7800GT isn't THAT great when you consider how much more you're going to get out of the 7 series card.

/ramble
Click to expand...
Well, I am actually pretty picky in the graphics department. And I too do want the graphics completely maxed out. Also I am looking at getting a card in the next few months (1-4). Looking at a 2k system so it's going to be a while...

Raystream
 
I dunno, I am pretty picky as well, and my 6800ultra has ran every game I've tried completely maxed out, with the only exception being 1024x768 resolution, which is all I need on my 17" CRT. I suppose at higher res the performance would take a hit, but it's as smooth as butter right now. The thing I always think about is that three years from now, the 6800GT and 7800GT are going to suck equally pretty much. Whatever gap there is in performance now will shrink over time as both become outdated, but one costs significantly less now.

Eh, it's all a matter of how much money you have to burn. Over time, I think buying cards just under top-of-the-line is the best way to go. Used AGP cards are going cheap right now, like 6800 ultras for $250 shipped, even as low as $220 on here recently.

edit: $2000 machine, ok, sounds like a 7800GTX is in order. Or whatever comes out next, since you say it's going to be a while :)
 
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