Best videocard 4 a midrange system

[lazarus]

I'm building a PC for a friend, and he's letting me pick everything out. I have everything but the video card. I wanted to go for something that could run most games at 1680X1050.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor Socket AM2 Windsor 2.0GHZ 2X512KB 89W 90NM Retail Box

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18462&vpn=ADA3800CUBOX&manufacture=AMD

ASUS M2N-E ATX AM2 Nforce 570 Ultra PCI-E16 PCI-E4 2PCI-E1 3PCI SATA RAID Sound GBLAN Motherboard

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18885&vpn=M2N-E&manufacture=ASUS

Mushkin EM2 PC2-5300 1GB 2X512MB DDR2-667 CL5-5-5-15 240PIN DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15195&vpn=991379A&manufacture=MUSHKIN

Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 Heatsink Fan AM2/S939/S940/S754 92MM Fan 1350-2600RPM 18-27.5DBA W/ Green LED

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18621&vpn=CNPS9500%20AM2&manufacture=ZALMAN%20TECH

[bug]

a 7600 GT should fit the bill.

[DarkReaper]

7900GT?

Are you sure you still want an AMD chip?

The new Conroe chips perform a lot better.

[lazarus]

7600 GT looks good.

I was going to get him Conroe, but the motherboards are too damn expensive. If they were normal prices, I would jump all over a E6400.

[akira1971]

Parts are cheaper by about $52 if you went to NCIX's sister company, directcanada.com. Free (and fast) delivery as well.

[Deimos]

7600 GT looks good.

I was going to get him Conroe, but the motherboards are too damn expensive. If they were normal prices, I would jump all over a E6400.

There are MANY cheap motherboards for Conroe (Core 2 Duo). Well, reasonable priced anyways.
http://www.************.ca/vendor.php?v=51&raw=412544&vendpage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadacomputers.com%2Fin dex.php%3Fdo%3DShowProduct%26cmd%3Dpd%26pid%3D0109 12%26cid%3DMB.157
http://www.************.ca/vendor.php?v=202&raw=80859&vendpage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcvonline.com%2FproductD etails.aspx%3Fid%3D3969
replace the stars with "p r i c e n e t w o r k"

both below $150. And these are higher end models. You can get 945 chipset motherboards even cheaper.. maybe even <$100.

Athlon64 is still a very good processor. And, for anyone with Athlon64 there is no pressing need to upgrde to Conroe. And, in fact, its cheaper to upgrade just processor than motherboard and memory.. however, I'm talking "old" S754/S939 here.

As for the video card question, I'll throw my support behind the 7600GT as well. Its a lot of performance for a very good price. Very good value for your money. If you like ATI cards, I think X1800GTO is around the same price range. However, if this system will be used extensively for gaming, I would highly recommend getting a lower end CPU, even Celeron or Sempron, but getting faster video card like 7900GT or X1900XT.

[Amourek]

The 7600GT is a bit weak for that resolution. A 7900GS would be my pick.

[weedb0y]

I like my ATI 9800 Pro

[pestilenc]

The 7900GS is nearly the speed of the 7900GT for a lot less money. If you can afford it, that's the one to get. Just came out last week or so.

[chdude3]

The 7900GS is nearly the speed of the 7900GT for a lot less money. If you can afford it, that's the one to get. Just came out last week or so.Agreed. Until last week I would have said the 7600GT, but now the 7900GS is a really great buy.

[evanx]

The 7900GS is nearly the speed of the 7900GT for a lot less money. If you can afford it, that's the one to get. Just came out last week or so.
Agreed.

[Evil Baby]

7600 GT looks good.

I was going to get him Conroe, but the motherboards are too damn expensive. If they were normal prices, I would jump all over a E6400.


Somebody had a link to a $77 conroe capabile mobo. Then can be has cheap.

[MrDisco]

Somebody had a link to a $77 conroe capabile mobo. Then can be has cheap.

most likely the asrock vsta board.

[xwar]

1900xt

[Deimos]

Sure, X1900XT... if you can afford it, or find it lying around in a dumpster, in the bottom of your cheerios box.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11610BD6575&vpn=256-P2-N620&manufacture=EVGA
WOW, I really cant believe it. They've barely been released and already selling this cheap. CDN $221 for a 7900GS. thats like 90% of the performance, but only 3/4 the price. It would be foolish to get anything else.

(yes, I am really that excited.. and haven't even had my morning coffee yet!)

[Fantaz]

You can find some ATi x800 cards for around $100. I think that's best deal right now.

[jm20]

Sure, X1900XT... if you can afford it, or find it lying around in a dumpster, in the bottom of your cheerios box.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11610BD6575&vpn=256-P2-N620&manufacture=EVGA
WOW, I really cant believe it. They've barely been released and already selling this cheap. CDN $221 for a 7900GS. thats like 90% of the performance, but only 3/4 the price. It would be foolish to get anything else.

(yes, I am really that excited.. and haven't even had my morning coffee yet!)

Nice Price :-0 I hear they can overclock very well too, hitting almost 550-600 core. Depends on the stock HSF included and whether its the copper one on the factory OC model.

[TenzoR]

7900GS or ATI AIW X1900

[lazarus]

Well I decided to give him the option to get either a conroe or amd. I didn't realize that there are lower end boards available now.

I told him a Conroe w/ 7900GT would be his best bet.


Thanks 4 da insight. :)

[coreanbbq]

Thanks for the tip on the 7900 GS, I went ahead and purchased that from directcanada instead of getting a GT from CC for an arm and a leg more!! :lol:

[BaconMunch]

not to thread jack, but what board did you end up going with to sit with the E6400?

[bpopd]

ASUS M2N-E <--- VERY BAD MOTHERBOARD

If you go to www.AMD.com and look up "certified motherboards for AM2"

You'll see that all the other asus boards are listed, EXCEPT M2N-E.

Get gigabyte, or a Higher end ASUS