Opinion Time gentlemen.

I have been doing a bit, albeit a small bit of researching. There are a s**tload more cards now, than when I bought my old 9800pro 256. :eek:

My question: Whats the best bang for your buck at or below the 300 dollar range for an 8x AGP?

I have seen some nice 6800's but the 7800 seem the better option at just under 300.

I'd kinda like to go with GeForce this time but, wouldn't be opposed to another ATI if someone could show me the comparisons in their card.

Thanx

(yes, I could research it in depth, but you guys basically like the same games I do and I'd trust your opinions over a strangers)

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Could you provide some links to American shops you are likely to buy from? Its just that I've no idea what shops you guys use (newegg rings a bll, anywhere else?) and what $300 buys you, but can probably help you out if I see the list of cards available for that cash from your preferred shops.

For what it's worth, I think ATI have the slight upper hand in the mid-range cards just now, while nVidia have the advantage in top-dollar cards.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

If I was to choose between the 6800 and the 7800, I would choose the 7800.

As for brand I am really not sure as I haven't looked at cards in a long time, but am starting to look again as my 9800 isnt quite keeping up anymore (eg it refuses to run BF 2142), so I will be keeping an eye on this thread to see peoples reccomendations (and warnings! :razz: ) on brands.

I am personally looking at the 7600GS AGP which is about as much as my budget allows.

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SourDough2.0 - With Strawberry Jam

Oh, shoulda mentioned this guide, which has also just been updated to reflect recent cards...

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2006/11/07/the_best_video_cards_for_your_money_uk/

Prices are in ?UK, but the best buys in each price bracket should still hold up.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Right now I am only looking at www.pricewatch.com

Try This Link Please.

The problem I am having while searching online is many of the cards are PCI-E, which is good, but I am thinking at the time its an AGP card and end up reading it for nothing since I am looking specifically for AGP.

Yeah, I know, tis a dumb excuse, but after the first dozen times it gets annoying.

I am so out of the loop that I cannot just look at the card numbers and know its AGP or PCI-E.

Whats worse, brand names. I am in a quandary because my 9800pro seemed alright. It wasn't overclocked, and I more/less babied it, yet it died on me without so much as a gasp. It just failed. It was a powercolor. I had heard that they were alright cards.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Brand new Geforce 8800's just came out, only about $600. :razz:

rs6 said:
Brand new Geforce 8800's just came out, only about $600. :razz:

Stop teasing me you!!

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The best things in life, aren't things.

From everything I have been able to read, this is the bestest bang for the buck card currently. At least in AGP8x

Sadly, all the truly impressive cards are in 16xPCI-E.

Oh well, maybe next time.

If anyone else has anything serious to add, please let me know as I am going to send for this card prolly next week. I'd like to know if there is anything better.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

That card you just posted is probably the one of the last, and the best card to come out for AGP.

rs6 said:
That card you just posted is probably the one of the last, and the best card to come out for AGP.

Also seems to be the biggest one available. Anything bigger is PCI-E.

Odd that the price is so, affordable.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Orph said:
Odd that the price is so, affordable.

Well its no longer the "next-gen" card and its been out for about a year. Still an awesome card though. I would say its worth the money.

I have set up my machine, but it still seems that there is something wrong. I know that video benchmarking isn't an exact science, but with few alternatives whats one to do?

If you guys with broadband could download the 05 and 06 versions of FutureMark and post some screens of your rating, I'd appreciate it.
Download Page

WARNING: The 06 test truly is monsterous. I got a whopping 1fps. :eek:

Yes, I could check the online stats, but, I'd rather work this out with you guys, since they have no reason to help and you might.

FutureMark 05





FutureMark 06


http://www.futuremark.com/download/

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Using 06 I got about 800 marks on a regular Geforce 6800 128 mb. I also got 1 fps on the test.

Specs:
Amd64 3200+
1 GB RAM
6800 128mb
80gb ATA HDD

Gosh... Maybe I do have things right after all. :eek:

Still if anyone else would care to try, please post away.

My new specs are 3700+
1.5 gig pc3200
256 meg nVidia 7800gs

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The best things in life, aren't things.