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General Discussion => General Discussion Boards => Technology and Gaming => Topic started by: Over9000 on March 05, 2009, 09:32:37 pm

Title: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Over9000 on March 05, 2009, 09:32:37 pm
Wondering what graphics card to buy with that spare cash lying around, wanna get some extra fps on crysis or far cry2, then read on.

Nvidia:

Low end:
7300gs
7300gt
8300gs
8300gt
8400gs
7600gs
7600gt
8500gt

Most of these cards can be found for under $100 and will provide you with the low frame rates in most new games. Unable to play most new games at anything higher than the lowest settings, however if you are a gamer on the budget, these cards will suffice.

Mid range:
8600gt
8600gts
9600gt
7800gt
7800gtx
8800gt
8800gts
7900gtx

These cards can be found for between $150-200 and will play most modern games at medium to high settings (not including crysis). You will get a good gaming experience out of these cards now, however, they will quickly be outdated and left for dead by newer cards and games so be aware of that when considering the purchase of these cards.


High end cards:
9800gt
8800ultra
7950gx2
9800gts
9800gtx
9800gtx

These video cards will play almost all of the newest games at their highest settings, especially the 9800gtx+ except for crysis which can be played at mid-high settings with these cards. They range from $200-300. These cards are more futureproof than the mid range cards as they will far outlast the mid range cards and provide good performnace for a longer time period.

Extreme cards:
gtx260 core 216
9800gx2
gtx280
gtx285
gtx295

These are the ultimate video cards and will play every game at the highest settings with anti aliasing and high resolution (except for crysis, which only the gtx295 can handle at maximum settings). These cards are completely futureproof and will last you for years with excellent gaming performance, however, with a huge jump in cost. They range from $450- 800.

Will be updating article and including ATI in the future.

If you have any questions about whether a certain video card can play a certain game or what would be the best value video crad for your system would be, please post and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: SoLe! on March 05, 2009, 09:34:50 pm
Did I mention you have too much spare time?
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Over9000 on March 05, 2009, 10:16:47 pm
Lol, I happen to know alot about graphics cards (considering I spent countless nights on the computer searching up reviews on graphics cards and articles), so yeah youre right  ;D
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Roflmao on March 08, 2009, 11:40:43 am
Wondering what graphics card to buy with that spare cash lying around, wanna get some extra fps on crysis or far cry2, then read on.

Nvidia:

Low end:
7300gs
7300gt
8300gs
8300gt
8400gs
7600gs
7600gt
8500gt

Most of these cards can be found for under $100 and will provide you with the low frame rates in most new games. Unable to play most new games at anything higher than the lowest settings, however if you are a gamer on the budget, these cards will suffice.

Mid range:
8600gt
8600gts
9600gt
7800gt
7800gtx
8800gt
8800gts
7900gtx

These cards can be found for between $150-200 and will play most modern games at medium to high settings (not including crysis). You will get a good gaming experience out of these cards now, however, they will quickly be outdated and left for dead by newer cards and games so be aware of that when considering the purchase of these cards.


High end cards:
9800gt
8800ultra
7950gx2
9800gts
9800gtx
9800gtx

These video cards will play almost all of the newest games at their highest settings, especially the 9800gtx+ except for crysis which can be played at mid-high settings with these cards. They range from $200-300. These cards are more futureproof than the mid range cards as they will far outlast the mid range cards and provide good performnace for a longer time period.

Extreme cards:
gtx260 core 216
9800gx2
gtx280
gtx285
gtx295

These are the ultimate video cards and will play every game at the highest settings with anti aliasing and high resolution (except for crysis, which only the gtx295 can handle at maximum settings). These cards are completely futureproof and will last you for years with excellent gaming performance, however, with a huge jump in cost. They range from $450- 800.

Will be updating article and including ATI in the future.

If you have any questions about whether a certain video card can play a certain game or what would be the best value video crad for your system would be, please post and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Cool I have a XFX Nvidia 8600Gt Overclocked - I got it for like $120
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Over9000 on March 08, 2009, 12:40:00 pm
Thats pretty cheap, where from?
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: gfb on March 08, 2009, 02:47:02 pm
Thats pretty cheap, where from?

LOL. $120 is not cheap for an 8600GT. He actually got ripped off.
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Flaming_Arrow on March 08, 2009, 02:49:43 pm
Thats pretty cheap, where from?

LOL. $120 is not cheap for an 8600GT. He actually got ripped off.

yer 8600GTS goes for $90 and its better than 8600GT
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Over9000 on March 08, 2009, 03:23:01 pm
Thats pretty cheap, where from?

LOL. $120 is not cheap for an 8600GT. He actually got ripped off.
His was overclocked, so you can't really compare
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: excal on March 09, 2009, 03:33:02 am
A lot of the cards listed are depreciated and do not sell anymore. You also don't mention the various offerings (i.e., VRAM) for each vendor.

The stuff above is a good baseline to know where you should start looking at (in terms of pricing), but I strongly suggest anyone in the market to do their own research on specific models. You can get really good 8800GTs, yet some really dud ones too.
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Over9000 on March 09, 2009, 10:27:50 am
The reason why I added outdated cards like the 7 series, is because a lot of people still have those cards in their computers. So for them to have an idea if a card their looking at to upgrade to is better than the one they already have, then they can determine if it's a good upgrade  ;)
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Roflmao on March 09, 2009, 11:04:04 am
The reason why I added outdated cards like the 7 series, is because a lot of people still have those cards in their computers. So for them to have an idea if a card their looking at to upgrade to is better than the one they already have, then they can determine if it's a good upgrade  ;)

Yep i agree but Nvidia Geforce 7950GTX is a really good card
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: excal on March 10, 2009, 07:40:07 pm
The reason why I added outdated cards like the 7 series, is because a lot of people still have those cards in their computers. So for them to have an idea if a card their looking at to upgrade to is better than the one they already have, then they can determine if it's a good upgrade  ;)

Yep i agree but Nvidia Geforce 7950GTX is a really good card

Back when they weren't so out of date...I have a 7950GT in my laptop which has served me well for lightly-packed LANs.
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: WushuPanda on March 12, 2009, 07:29:44 pm
When it's cold, I heat up my room with my gtx280 sli.  ;D!
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: RD on March 12, 2009, 09:35:22 pm
lol my 8800GTS heats up my room!
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: Flaming_Arrow on March 12, 2009, 09:47:24 pm
i heat up my room
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: TrueTears on March 12, 2009, 09:59:27 pm
my mudkipz heats my room lols :P
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: gfb on March 12, 2009, 10:08:24 pm
my mudkipz heats my room lols :P

You drained it with the "mudkipz" .
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: excal on March 13, 2009, 12:31:58 am
http://so.i.herd.u.liek.mudki.ps ?
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: gfb on March 13, 2009, 07:33:22 am
Stop going off-topic please.
Title: Re: Ultimate graphics card guide
Post by: nak on March 15, 2009, 04:44:47 pm
4850s heats up the whole house. maybe even the room whilst on idle.