Buyers Guide

[candle_86]

Ok this is my first crack at this, taken from newegg.com prices, I'll try to keep it updated.

Best PCIe card under 50

Saphire x1650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102035&Tpk=x1650

great baseline card, comparable to the 6800nu and x800se

Best PCIe Card under 100

8600GT DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000048+1068409614+4027&Configurator=&Subcategory=48&description=8600GT&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

Great card for under 100, wasnt that great back at 150 but for 99 on newegg its a steal

Best PCIe Card under 150

7900GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141041

at 119 its well worth it and the x1950pro ang GT appear to have dried up

Best PCIe Card under 200

HD3850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000048+4017+1068310557&Configurator=&Subcategory=48&description=3850&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

The 512 model is just below 200 and well worth it

Best PCIe Card under 300

8800GT or HD3870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000048+1068423256&Configurator=&Subcategory=48&description=3870&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000048+1068310557&Configurator=&Subcategory=48&description=8800GT&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

Well worth it, close to the fastest cards power for sub 300 isnt bad

Best PCIe Card under 500

8800GTS G92
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000048+106791921+1067934653+1068310557&Configurator=&Subcategory=48&description=8800GTS&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

About 100 more than the 8800GT but brings near Ultra Power

Best PCIe Card over 500

8800GT or HD3870 Crossfire, dont wast time with the GTX or Ultra unless you already have one


Best AGP Card under 50

Zogis 6800LE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814136022&Tpk=6800Le

Near 6600GT power for under 50, best buy

Best AGP Card under 100

HD2600Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102709&Tpk=2600

Good baseline for anyone with a 9600 or FX Card

Best AGP Card under 175

HD2600XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161208

Best decent upgrade for the aging system

Best AGP Card over 175

7900GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150174&Tpk=7900GS

With the x1950pro and x1950xt gone and the 7950GT this is your highest AGP upgrade untill the HD3850AGP shows up

[KainXS]

its really sad that they got rid of the X1950 and 7950 series agp cards, my 7950 was a really fast card, I would have kept it if I had not gone Pcie

[candle_86]

i couldnt agree more, when an admin reads this, can you sticky, it might help out a lil with the what card should i get for my bugjet ect.

[Kursah]

If it is to be a sticky, updating like the version Tom's Hardware does should be done. I do enjoy reading theirs as it's got decent explanations to why what cards won in each segment and application (including OC and cooling in some aspects).

So far it's pretty decent though, but maybe add some links to those cards to show those that don't know what you're talking about, etc.

:toast:

[candle_86]

I intend to do month updates and yea let me get links for the cards on the egg.

Edit links added