Video Card options

[frankyk]

I couldn't find the old buyer's guide for video cards, so I'm just wondering what kinda cards are there out in the market right now that are reasonably priced and play games at a rather decent setting (at least 1024).

Games such as:
FEAR
Doom 3
HL 2
Enemy Territory

I'm looking for mainly Nvidia, but I'm open to ATI suggestions also.

I want a PCI-E card also. Price range < $150 or so.

Are refurbished Video Cards any good btw?

Should I bother with 256 MB RAM or just 128 MB?

 

[orangeaccord]

GeForce 6800nu or 6600GT (my second choice but a little cheaper than the 6800)

 

[Dr. X]

I'm not sure if a card in that price range will do FEAR at that res.

 

[V99]

I'm not sure if a card in that price range will do FEAR at that res.

I can play FEAR at medium settings at 800x600 with a 9600XT. A 6600GT or a 6800 would easily be able to get to that level.

I'd either go for a 6600GT as they are cheap. Or a 6800 and unlock to pipes. Or try your luck getting a GTO2 if you can get your hands on one.

 

[PRIME1]

I am using an unlocked and overclocked 6800 and I play Quake 4 at 1280x1024 HQ 2XAA.

Of course there is not guarantee that a 6800 will unlock (not at all on a PCIe) but even a standard one should run those games fine, just not at uber resolutions. If you are only going to play at 1024x768 I think even a 6600GT will work.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150098
6600gt $127 AR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127179R
refurb 6800 $155