Perfect card for 1280 x 1024 ?

[jaqu]

What Graphics card would you guys say is the cheapest but good enough to max out most games at 1280 x 1024? (since thats my monitors max res, and im not interested in upgrading soon). 8600gt or 8600gts maybe?


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[ShyguyXPC]

Geforce 8800GS, 320 or 640MB 8800GTS (older 8800 cards), 9600GT or 512MB 8800GT

If I could find a good deal, I'd go for the 8800GS, but for a bit more the 9600GT or 8800GT would be better deals.

really not much difference between the 8600GT & 8600GTS other than clock speeds. the 8800GS is closer to the performance range of the 8600GTS, but a heck of a lot better in specs... don't know why nVidia took so long to release that card & why they even offered the 8600GTS, but oh well.

if you look around you can probably find a good deal after rebates on the 9600GT or 8800GT, for around the $100-120 range, which ain't that far from an 8600GT/GTS's $80-100 range, considering performance on the better cards are going to be more like 2-4 times better.

one question that remains is, are you referring to AGP or PCI-Express (PCIE) for the card slot to be used?

also whats the rest of your system specs, as that can also hold you back on video performace or over all game performance as well.


I'm running a 320MB 8800GTS currently, & though I don't have too many of the newer games, some older high end games I do max out on, FEAR, I run at 1280x1024 or 1600x1200, completely maxed out & get a good 40+fps on, Elder Scrolls Oblivion, I run that @ 1024x768 (sometimes I run @ 1280x1024 with HDR off) with HDR on & AA forced on, with graphics levels set a little more than half way, almost 2/3's up & get a decent 30fps in outdoors & indoors framerates are through the roof. Half Life 2 no troubles running 1600x1200 maxed, etc etc.

my 17" CRT monitor goes to 1600x1200. but I usually game at 1280x1024 for most games, unless I know I can do 1600x1200 with no troubles & get 40fps minimum.

[HeroesForGhosts]

The 8600 series is definitely not powerful enough to max out most games, even at 1280x1024. Shyguy suggested the 8800 GS, which is a great card for those on a budget and is only about 20-30$ more than the 8600 GTS. If you can shell out a bit more, by all means get the new 9600 GT, but the 8800 GS is probably adequate for most games at 1280x1024.

[KarmaKiller]

+1 for the 9600gt.
That is the card I'm running in my gaming rig, and it's pretty sweet. I have no problems maxing out games on 1680x1050, so 1280x1024 would be no problem for that card.

[ShyguyXPC]

Just have to make sure your running a PCI-Express 16x slot or better first though, as I don't think the 8800 series has any AGP slot cards. that'll be the only real limitation for ones system (since most systems can upgrade the PSU with out having to replace everything). the only other thing, is to make sure your current PSU can handle a card like that. basically make sure it has enough amps on the 12V line.

[ShyguyXPC]

speaking of good deals on a 8800GS: http://www.clubit.com:80/product_det...AprClear042508

just got that in my inbox a few minutes ago, now THAT is a nice deal. & it easily cuts into the 8600GT & GTS's price range.

[jaqu]

My specs....

Gigabyte G-31 intel chipset mobo
Intel E2160 @ stock 1.8
2x 1GB DDR 2 800 dual channel (trancend)
Biostar 8500GT 256 MB, 128 ibt GXF card (PCI-X)
Gigbyte 460 Watt PSU

Hmmmm, ok, i expected cheaper cards, so in that case, what card would you need to max games at 1600 x 1050? lol

Ok what I meant wih "max out games", was not like 8x AA and 16 AF.
Just max detail, with maybe 2x or 4x AA and 4x or 8x AF and so on..

No I just finished Crysis, so now that it is out of the way, all other games should be easier for my rig to handle right?

Wana buy COD4 and Hellgate London, and I would like to play medium to high grapics, and since im gonna have the opportunity to upgrade my rig soon, I wanna make the right choice.
I was aiming for a 8600GT 256MB (DDR2) or the 8600G 256MB (GDDR3) or the 8600GTS. The 8800's really out of my budget range at the moment.
Lol dont ask my what my budget is because I will buy in ZAR not in $.


Thanks for the replies.

[ShyguyXPC]

for what your asking, the 8600's are really not up to the task. the 8600GTS Might be, if you buy a fairly high factory overclocked model, but then your already in the price range of the 8800GS, 9600GT, & low end 8800GT models (256MB).

best advice I can give is search for a good deal on an 8800GS or 9600GT, & if those are still out of your range maybe save up a bit till you can get one. otherwise if you need a card NOW, then try to find the fastest 8600GTS you can for your money, it might be capable, then again it might not be, depending on the games, & how they actually use the card & rest of your system (effciency wise).

if you HAVE to, & DirectX 10 is not a big deal to you, you could search for some older prior gen cards, like a Geforce 7800GT, 7900GS or 7900GT to hold you over, might be able to find one for cheap these days with the newer gen cards being out. even ATI Radeon series cards would work good in this range, Radeon X1900/1950, GT, GTO, XT etc models.

[RamonGTP]

IMO, if you're a gamer, there is no reason to get anything lower than a 9600GT. The card performs great and the price is right. If you cannot afford it, wait until you can. It has enough balls to max out any game at that resolution except for Crysis, which is a crappy game anyway. Settling for less will lead to disappointment IMO.

[KarmaKiller]

I almost completely agree with Ramon. The only exception IMO would be the 8800gs. Which is the replacement for the 8600 line up, but yet it packs way more power then the 8600 line.
Another one, that's yet to be released, is the 9600gso. If you look on EVGA's website, they have pics and specs. But they are gonna be cheaper then the GT model, but perform very close to it.


And, you can max out every game (at least every game I've tried) with the exception of Crysis with the 9600gt @ 1680x1050. I own the EVGA model, and it's a great card for the price..