What should I do? (looking for some advice)

[DOOManiac]

With each passing day DOOM 3 draws closer...

Like many of you, I've been looking for weeks for a BFG Tech 6800 GT OC. And for a bit I was also open to buying the ATI x800 XT PE but that one isn't available either. And lately I've been just looking for ANY 6800 GT (that was good). But nothing, nada, zilch, as I'm sure you all are aware of. But DOOM 3 still nears...

I'm starting to get desperate. Comp USA has an ample stash of ATI x800 Pro's, which should let me at least hit High Quality, if only at 800x600. But its still not the card I want, as I know its 4th place in the race...

I'm on a budget, so I don't exactly have the money to upgrade anything besides my video card. And I definately don't have the cash to buy this card only to need to sell it 6 months later when they finally have some good cards in stock. So I'll be stuck with whatever I buy for awhile, at least a year.

Maybe I'm overreacting? Maybe DOOM 3 in low quality won't completely ruin the experience? Or maybe I could just not play DOOM 3 until I got a new card?


What do you guys think? Should I cave in and get a x800 Pro now, just so I can have something? Or should I just hold out for the necessary months till the card I want is available?

Here are my current specs if that helps to make a more informed suggestion:
P4 2.4B
MSI Master-L (dual channel DDR) mobo
1GB PC2100 ram
Geforce 4 Ti4400


Thanks for any advice and insight you guys can give on what I should do.

 

[ryuji]

doom3 will work fine on a x800 according to benchmarks unless your a fps whore who must have the 60 fps 100% of the time

Radeon X800 Pro 256MB

Best Playable IQ Settings
Resolution: 1280x1024
Texture Quality: High Quality

 

[Deadguy]

im starting to think that the "hell" that was to be on its way w/ doom3, was actually referring to trying to find a BFG 6800GT for less than $460

not sure what to tell you about the whole "caving in" thing. you should know exactly what you want before you buy anything, settling is never a good thing.

but then again, i have a 9800pro to hold me over in D3 for a week or two, until i can get the card i want

 

[tranCendenZ]

XFX 6800GT $410 in stock @ GameVE
http://www.gameve.com/gve/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=VC-XFX-025

Grab one before it is out of stock, the 6800GT is by far the best value for the money!

If you don't get one on time, keep an eye on this thread:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=30155

I guarantee you can find a 6800GT in the next few days if you continue to click through the links on that thread. It is worth the effort, its a much better buy than the x800pro.

 

[ZenOps]

The Doom3 benchmarks are right up there for the reading.

It looks like Doom3 will at least run at 1280x1024 highquality on any X800 or 6800. Which means if you have or are considering these cards, a monitor capable of 1280x1024+ is probably just as important

Never ceases to amaze me how people will get really nice videocards, and then skimp on the display. The 9800pro or XT and a monitor that is capable of 1600x1200 is a good matchup for pretty well every other game other than Doom3. IE: even a Radeon 9700 pro will cut through games like Warcraft 3 highest quality settings at 1800x1440.

 

[DOOManiac]

XFX 6800GT $410 in stock @ GameVE
http://www.gameve.com/gve/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=VC-XFX-025

Grab one before it is out of stock, the 6800GT is by far the best value for the money!

Awesome. I don't know how I missed this one in my frantic searching...

I've gone ahead and snagged up one of these while they are in stock. I also got the "rush order" for $4 and 2 day overnight fedex, so hopefully it'll get here before DOOM 3!

Thanks man.