Recommend me a <$300 card

E

Eagle156

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
2,242
I need the best card I can get that's <$300. Nvidia or ATI, but I would prefer nvidia as I don't like ATI's drivers. Initially I was thinking of an EVGA 7900gt, but I'm having some doubts now, so what would be the best choice? This is going into a future E6600 and 2gb RAM and like to play at 1280x1024 with 4x aa & af. I mostly play BF2, CS:S, HL2, and Oblivion.
 
Best card would be an X1900XT hands-down, but if you really don't want an ATI card then the only options would be a 7900GT or 7950GT if you can find one under $300. Still, the X1900 would be a better option due to its superior image quality.
 
Thank you. Has ATI fixed their CCC? Last time I checked their drivers used a shit load of memory, but that was quite a while ago and I don't think it would matter that much. Which X1900XT would be better, a Sapphire or HIS ? I don't like rebates and saving a bit of money can never hurt; the HSF on the Sapphire looks a bit better too IMHO.
 
At those resolutions and settings, you could also save $100 by dropping down to the 7900GS. But if you're going to play a lot of Oblivion and want high settings on the in-game effects, you should probably make the leap to ATi. X1900XT 512's sell at just under $300 and that's an incredible price/performance ratio. If you'd like to get closer to $200 there's the X1900GT.
 
Yes I would need an X1900XT level video card as I would like to play Oblivion the way it was meant to be played... and have a little bit of future proof. I gave up playing Oblivion on my system as it was unplayable outdoors at any deceant image quality.
 
why 7800gtx for $250 when a 7900GT can be had for the same price? Although the two performs very similar, the 7900gt is faster and cost about the same NEW
 
aZn_plyR said:
why 7800gtx for $250 when a 7900GT can be had for the same price? Although the two performs very similar, the 7900gt is faster and cost about the same NEW
Click to expand...

Why a 7900gt when a new 1900xt 256 can be had for $245 shipped
 
Eagle156 said:
Thank you. Has ATI fixed their CCC? Last time I checked their drivers used a shit load of memory, but that was quite a while ago and I don't think it would matter that much. Which X1900XT would be better, a Sapphire or HIS ? I don't like rebates and saving a bit of money can never hurt; the HSF on the Sapphire looks a bit better too IMHO.
Click to expand...

The CCC is as terrible as always, but if you use the Omega Catalyst drivers, it's removed and replaced with ATI Tray Tools, which is a very lightweight and feature-packed alternative.

As for which brand, they're all pretty much the same. However, HIS has a line of cards called ICEQ which use Arctic Cooling HSFs which are cooler and quieter than the stock assembly, which is apparently very noisy. As an alternative, you could go for a normal card and swap the stock cooling for an Arctic Cooling Accelero or Zalman VF-900.

You could probably get an X1900XT 512MB for around $250-$275, or an XTX for around $300-$350, though the XT would be a more economical solution. If you can afford it get the 512MB version of the card and not the newer 256MB version, which is cheaper but doesn't perform as well.
 
Marvelous said:
Why a 7900gt when a new 1900xt 256 can be had for $245 shipped
Click to expand...

Heck with that...I got a new 1900XT 512mb for $235AR from newegg like 3 weeks ago. I thought that was a pretty good deal, so I bit on it.
 
Yes... the X1800XT is the real competitor to the 7900GT, not the X1900XT. On nVidia's side, a 7900GTX is more of a match...
 
I would look at the nVidia 7950GT series on Newegg. They are around $299. Im not sure what state you live in but the 3 day shipping gives you a total of $305.63. With tax it is $330.38 with ship.
 
The X1900XT performs slightly better than the 7950GT in most cases, and is much cheaper as well (check silverphoenix's link).
 
Marvelous said:
Why a 7900gt when a new 1900xt 256 can be had for $245 shipped
Click to expand...
Lower power consumption, less heat, better overclocking, prefer nvidia driver support, already have Oblivion for Xbox 360. But if one is looking for pure performance (especially in Oblivion for PC), the 1900xt is a clear winner.
 
X1900XT it is then. Is Sapphire support any good? I might wait a little bit for built by ATI
cards.
EDIT: Forgot one thing, I have an old ATI 9800pro (sniff, that was a good card :( ) that I think I can use to trade up at ATI. How much could I get for it?
 
You can only trade up through ATI directly, and the prices will be much higher so it would probably negate whatever benefit you get from trading up. This card is $260 after MIR, which is an excellent price.
 
I thought so. Would the HIS be any better than the Sapphire in terms of support/ customer care? The Sapphire can be had for $240.
 
Zero82z said:
You can only trade up through ATI directly, and the prices will be much higher so it would probably negate whatever benefit you get from trading up. This card is $260 after MIR, which is an excellent price.
Click to expand...

THAT card is overpriced, by $20, AFTER rebate. Saphire is the primary ATi partner; they might as well be ATi.
 
Eagle156 said:
I thought so. Would the HIS be any better than the Sapphire in terms of support/ customer care? The Sapphire can be had for $240.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you aren't looking at the 256MB Sapphire card? That version is cheaper but less powerful, I linked to the 512MB version.
 
ThatsAgood1jay said:
wait a few weeks for the 7950gt. that card is going to be ati`s undooing.
Click to expand...

He doesnt need to wait because that card is already out and is already worse than the X1900XT, costs more, and has a crappy cooler and is built on old technology. The 7950GT roughly = 7900GTX in terms of performance. And the only game the X1900XT loses to the 7900s is 3dmark. Which isnt a game.

Sapphire cards and Built by ATi cards are manufactured on the same line and they are the same card. Sapphire, ATi, and PowerColor are the companies you want to buy from when you go ATi. Whilst BFG and eVGA are the manufacturers you want to buy from when you go nVidia.
 
Zero82z said:
Are you sure you aren't looking at the 256MB Sapphire card? That version is cheaper but less powerful, I linked to the 512MB version.
Click to expand...
What? You linked to the 256mb version.
 
I just got this HIS X1900XT IceQ3 Dual DL-DVI VIVO 512MB for £234.99 just over $300 i guess. Got it in preference to the Sapphire /Reference design as HIS cooling is better & favours that adopted by ati for the X1950. very pleased with it, quiet & overclocks great easliy passing xtx stock settings. 5241 3dmark06 running cooler than previous 6600gt card.
 
Supershanks said:
I just got this HIS X1900XT IceQ3 Dual DL-DVI VIVO 512MB for £234.99 just over $300 i guess. Got it in preference to the Sapphire /Reference design as HIS cooling is better & favours that adopted by ati for the X1950. very pleased with it, quiet & overclocks great easliy passing xtx stock settings. 5241 3dmark06 running cooler than previous 6600gt card.
Click to expand...

That card is about $310 on this side of the pond- and being 256MB, it costs more than the 512MB XT's. If you really think HIS's cooler is better, and I have no evidence or opinion on it, then sure- but- performance wise, the card is $70 overpriced.
 
Supershanks said:
I just got this HIS X1900XT IceQ3 Dual DL-DVI VIVO 512MB for £234.99 just over $300 i guess. Got it in preference to the Sapphire /Reference design as HIS cooling is better & favours that adopted by ati for the X1950. very pleased with it, quiet & overclocks great easliy passing xtx stock settings. 5241 3dmark06 running cooler than previous 6600gt card.
Click to expand...
How are the ATI drivers?
 
ATi drivers are solid, except for the ones for their all-in-wonder tv tuner products, imho.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top