Good, cheap graphics card?

Brayf · 12-18-2005, 10:32 AM

I want to spend <£60 on a graphics card. I've been looking at the 6600GT and the 9800Pro on Ebay. Which of these is better and how much should I pay? If you have any other recommendations, please let me know. The highest spec game I play atm is Unreal Tournament 2004, there's nothing else that I'll need it to run.

I've been whining about my card for weeks now, and I'm bloody sick of it. I'm buying a new one for the new year if it's the last thing I do! Thing is, I don't know jack about them, so I need help [img]smile.gif[/img] . Thanks!

Sir Degrader · 12-18-2005, 11:54 AM

9800.

Sir Krustin · 12-18-2005, 12:16 PM

The 6600GT is by far the best choice on bang/buck ratio. If you get the PCI-E version, you can move it to an SLI mobo later and "doubleup" the video cards for a performance boost, extending the life of card.

NVidia GeForce 6600GT (agp) review on HardAvenue.com

Note the 9800 in this review is the XT, not the Pro - the Pro would fare even worse.

[ 12-18-2005, 12:18 PM: Message edited by: Sir Krustin ]

Sir Degrader · 12-18-2005, 12:31 PM

I fully retract my statement. Go for the 6600.

Brayf · 12-18-2005, 05:57 PM

Am doing [img]smile.gif[/img] . Got my eye on these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XFX-GEFORCE-66...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NVIDA-GEFORCE-...QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for the advice!

Sir Degrader · 12-18-2005, 06:05 PM

I'd pick the first, he's got 100% approval rating, but has been there MUCH longer then the other fellow.

Sir Krustin · 12-18-2005, 08:10 PM

Make sure your mobo is PCI-E, if you're going to buy one of those.

Brayf · 12-19-2005, 04:40 AM

It is, thanks [img]smile.gif[/img] . Ideally I'd go for the XFX one, but they both seem pretty sound. I'm gonna bid for the second one as the auction ends earlier, and I'll have a second chance if I get outbid.

Nobody in my house actually has an eBay account, which means calling my aunt at work to use hers... On a Monday morning... It's only just worth it.

Edit: I've been priced out of the market for that one! Three hours left on the XFX card...

Edit2: ...Damn. Okay, I'm now looking at these two:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PCI-E-PCI-Expr...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-nVidia-GeF...hippingPayment

All advice welcome [img]smile.gif[/img] .

[ 12-19-2005, 08:50 AM: Message edited by: Brayf ]

Zink Whistlefly · 12-19-2005, 09:05 AM

Yes the 6600GT is the better choice over the 9800 pro. Raw speed wise it tends to be up to 25% quicker, but it also supports Shader Model 3 (SM3) which gives you fancy extras such as high precision High Dynamic Range in games like HL2 and Farcry.

Stay away from that X600 card! - much slower than the 9800 and 6600 cards! It's basically a 9600 pro.

12-18-2005, 12:16 PM	#3
Sir Krustin Symbol of Cyric Join Date: September 15, 2002 Location: Peterborough, ON, CANADA Age: 61 Posts: 1,394	The 6600GT is by far the best choice on bang/buck ratio. If you get the PCI-E version, you can move it to an SLI mobo later and "doubleup" the video cards for a performance boost, extending the life of card. NVidia GeForce 6600GT (agp) review on HardAvenue.com Note the 9800 in this review is the XT, not the Pro - the Pro would fare even worse. [ 12-18-2005, 12:18 PM: Message edited by: Sir Krustin ] __________________ If I say \"Eject!\" and you say \"Huh?\" - you\'ll be talking to yourself! - Maj. Bannister, <b>Steel Tiger</b>

12-18-2005, 08:10 PM	#7
Sir Krustin Symbol of Cyric Join Date: September 15, 2002 Location: Peterborough, ON, CANADA Age: 61 Posts: 1,394	Make sure your mobo is PCI-E, if you're going to buy one of those. __________________ If I say \"Eject!\" and you say \"Huh?\" - you\'ll be talking to yourself! - Maj. Bannister, <b>Steel Tiger</b>

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12-18-2005, 10:32 AM	#1
Brayf Zhentarim Guard Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Candlekeep Age: 38 Posts: 372	I want to spend <£60 on a graphics card. I've been looking at the 6600GT and the 9800Pro on Ebay. Which of these is better and how much should I pay? If you have any other recommendations, please let me know. The highest spec game I play atm is Unreal Tournament 2004, there's nothing else that I'll need it to run. I've been whining about my card for weeks now, and I'm bloody sick of it. I'm buying a new one for the new year if it's the last thing I do! Thing is, I don't know jack about them, so I need help [img]smile.gif[/img] . Thanks!

12-18-2005, 11:54 AM	#2
Sir Degrader Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Canada Age: 64 Posts: 2,871	9800.

12-18-2005, 12:31 PM	#4
Sir Degrader Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Canada Age: 64 Posts: 2,871	I fully retract my statement. Go for the 6600.

12-18-2005, 05:57 PM	#5
Brayf Zhentarim Guard Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Candlekeep Age: 38 Posts: 372	Am doing [img]smile.gif[/img] . Got my eye on these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XFX-GEFORCE-66...QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NVIDA-GEFORCE-...QQcmdZViewItem Thanks for the advice!

12-18-2005, 06:05 PM	#6
Sir Degrader Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Canada Age: 64 Posts: 2,871	I'd pick the first, he's got 100% approval rating, but has been there MUCH longer then the other fellow.

12-19-2005, 04:40 AM	#8
Brayf Zhentarim Guard Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Candlekeep Age: 38 Posts: 372	It is, thanks [img]smile.gif[/img] . Ideally I'd go for the XFX one, but they both seem pretty sound. I'm gonna bid for the second one as the auction ends earlier, and I'll have a second chance if I get outbid. Nobody in my house actually has an eBay account, which means calling my aunt at work to use hers... On a Monday morning... It's only just worth it. Edit: I've been priced out of the market for that one! Three hours left on the XFX card... Edit2: ...Damn. Okay, I'm now looking at these two: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PCI-E-PCI-Expr...QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-nVidia-GeF...hippingPayment All advice welcome [img]smile.gif[/img] . [ 12-19-2005, 08:50 AM: Message edited by: Brayf ]

12-19-2005, 09:05 AM	#9
Zink Whistlefly Avatar Join Date: March 20, 2005 Location: North Yorkshire, England Age: 44 Posts: 520	Yes the 6600GT is the better choice over the 9800 pro. Raw speed wise it tends to be up to 25% quicker, but it also supports Shader Model 3 (SM3) which gives you fancy extras such as high precision High Dynamic Range in games like HL2 and Farcry. Stay away from that X600 card! - much slower than the 9800 and 6600 cards! It's basically a 9600 pro.

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