7900 is Dead! I Need A New Budget Card

[Drunner611]

Well, I figured it would happen eventually. My 7900gt burned out. I bought it during all of those problems with them artifacting, but mine never had a problem. 2 weeks ago it went haywire. It's completely windows stable, but I can't see sh*t when I game, theres bars and lines all over the screen.

So, I know theres the 3850 and 8600 and stuff, but I'm looking for the best card around 150, up to 200. I'm in college so it's gonna kill me to drop even 200. Any suggestions. I was looking for comparos, but I'm bad at that.

Thanks alot.

[Envydia007]

8800GT man, add some dollars
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318
best warranty in the land

[Shalamay]

zipzoomfly.com has a xfx 8800gt for $200.00, a good card and warranty.

[xMrBunglex]

add some dollars

it's impossible to get people to stay inside your budget on this forum. personally, i'd go with a 3850. great card for the price.

[tbone8ty]

i knw your looking for some magical answer some magical card...but before you ask that you msut answer some questions

what games do you play? and at what resolution?

i just beat COD4 with my OC'd 7900gs and my settings were med high and at 1650x1080. and it played very well, a few slight hick ups but nothing to bauk at.

if your trying to stay under 200 i would say your best bet is the 3850 512mb there is no other card at that price that will beat it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241068

[Zytek_Fan]

3850 or 3870. ;)

[Drunner611]

i knw your looking for some magical answer some magical card...but before you ask that you msut answer some questions

what games do you play? and at what resolution?

i just beat COD4 with my OC'd 7900gs and my settings were med high and at 1650x1080. and it played very well, a few slight hick ups but nothing to bauk at.

if your trying to stay under 200 i would say your best bet is the 3850 512mb there is no other card at that price that will beat it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241068

Right, I was playing CS:S, COD4, Supreme Commander, Civ4, and Crysis when it died.

Question about the 8800gt, aren't there multiple revisions? How do I know I'm getting the new one?

The 3850 looks nice.

[EniGmA1987]

I actually think the newer A2 revision of the 8800GT clocks worse than the earlier revision.

I would get a 3850 though. Ya the 8800GT is a lot better, but price to performance the 3850 is a great card, and as you said, you would prefer a card around $150.

[tbone8ty]

8800gt is over your price range.

dont get less thatn 512mb

[cegras]

3850 512, I believe, is the perfect choice for you. Shop around.

[Jakalwarrior]

2900pro 512bit 512mb if you can still find one around 170, have a PSU that can handle it, and dont mind the noise (if you overclock).

[brenanh]

Another vote for the 512MB 3850

[Drunner611]

Well guys, I hate to bring up a dead thread. Believe it or not, I've been dealing with no vid card for over a month and the lack of 3d applications is driving me crazy.

Thanks to the government I'm getting a nice rebate check this year and now I actually have $$$ to spend on a card!

Still looking for the best thing under $200.

Is the verdict still for the 8800gt? I heard something about getting a brand card with a good cooler vs. a crappy one?

Also, the 9600gt? Still considered? I'm looking to oc whatever card I get and I believe I saw these with a Zalman vf900 on these already?

Should I even consider the 3870 if I'm looking to OC?

Thanks again.

[Waymon3X6]

so whats your updated budget?

[trt740]

XfX800 gs 109.00 after a rebate on newegg or any 9600 gt

[p0tter]

9600gt!

[troisanh]

used bfg 8800gt with lifetime warranty is hard to beat, just gotta find it.

[[cTx]Raptor22]

it's impossible to get people to stay inside your budget on this forum. personally, i'd go with a 3850. great card for the price.

:up:

[Zytek_Fan]

The 9600GT is a very good buy.

[Shalamay]

I looked the other night, newegg has some 8800gt's cheap...I think they had a few open box's around $180ish (the msi one with the nice cooler on it was one) and new ones with rebates around there too. They also have some 8800GTS 512's with rebates down to 220ish. The 9600gt's were around $135 or so with rebates. And 3870's were around the $170 area with rebates. I don't know about the 3850's cause I did not look, and 3870X2's around $420. I have a 8800GT and like it alot, but its on a low res. screen, I also have a 8800GTX and love it. For under $200, either the 8800gt's or the 9600gt's. I hate rebates, so I'd go with the open box 8800gt myself. Hope that helps.

[NickS]

9600gt

[Drunner611]

It looks like I can get the MSI 8800gt for $191 or a XFX 8800gt for $187
I can find the PNY 9600gt for $135
There is also a MSI 8800GTS for $222

I already have a V900 heatsink from the dead 7900gt that I will use if need be

So, I guess to sum up this thread these are my final 4 choices unless someone else spots me a better deal :up:
So, I'm going to OC whichever of these cards I choose with my V900.
I'm going to game lots. Maybe crysis, COD4, Bioshock, Supreme Commander, UT3, C&C 3

Thanks a lot.

[Hellfire666]

9600GT (160-170) or 8800GS (even 130-140 on eBay).

[Drunner611]

I jumped on the PNY 9600gt for $135. What a steal!

Thanks to everyone who helped!

I only have 1 question left. What is PNY's warranty status with aftermarket cooler installation? Will it be voided if I add the v900?

[ownage]

I jumped on the PNY 9600gt for $135. What a steal!


Yes that is cheap.
The 38xx series are getting another price drop (http://guru3d.com/newsitem.php?id=6675) very soon.
According to Guru3d the hd3870 will be $159 and the hd3850 will be $145.

[Drunner611]

Yes that is cheap.
The 38xx series are getting another price drop (http://guru3d.com/newsitem.php?id=6675) very soon.
According to Guru3d the hd3870 will be $159 and the hd3850 will be $145.

Yeah, I saw that too, but still, the 9600gt whoops the 3850 and is about even/better/worse in different situations with the 3870. Plus I still save $25 over the 3870 and the 9600gt runs cooler.

Still got that question though. Does PNY's warranty allow for aftermarket cooling without voiding it?

[gurusan]

Yes that is cheap.
The 38xx series are getting another price drop (http://guru3d.com/newsitem.php?id=6675) very soon.
According to Guru3d the hd3870 will be $159 and the hd3850 will be $145.

Yup, I'm waiting til next week so I can buy either another 3850 512mb or 3870 for my first dual gpu setup. I'm stoked :)

Still got that question though. Does PNY's warranty allow for aftermarket cooling without voiding it?

Unfortunately, no I don't think so. But just keep the original in good condition and put it back on if you need to rma it :)

[Kosior]

I jumped on the PNY 9600gt for $135. What a steal!

Thanks to everyone who helped!

I only have 1 question left. What is PNY's warranty status with aftermarket cooler installation? Will it be voided if I add the v900?

I'm not really sure but manufacturers let you change the cooler... It isn't crime :P and there is 99% chance that - if not overvolted- it will not die before the warranty goes out