Best value graphics cards?

[DaveWS]

Hi, I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card, and I'd like to make sure I spend wisely. :razz:

What's the best card(s) in the 50 - 100 quid range? I prefer to pay more around the 50 quid area rather than 100 though. PCI-e BTW.

My PSU is an Antec Earthwatts 380W, which I know isn't super powerful, but I'm not after 2 8800GTX's in SLI..

I've had my eye on this lately: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-073-PC&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=404

[Jakg]

If you can live without DX10 the x1950 Pro is probably the best you'll get. If you would rather a nVidia card then a 7900GS is another option.

Unfortunately stocks of the x19xx and 79xx series have gone totally, so your best bet is to try to find one on eBay.

[DaveWS]

Do you reckon my PSU is fit for it? I've got hardly anything in my PC, so I would think it would be OK (no floppy drive, only one HDD etc)

[zeromussov]

I think a x1950PRO is a nice choice. I have a x1950pro to and it's pretty fast. (well.. I have a faster version and some more MB, but I think it's one of the best cards in that range..)

Anyway, it will be good enough to play LFS on all high settings.

[lovretta]

Do you reckon my PSU is fit for it? I've got hardly anything in my PC, so I would think it would be OK (no floppy drive, only one HDD etc)

I have a 1950PRO, no problems for almost a year, and my PSU is also 380W (Tagan). So i reckon you would have no problems with it.

Just a suggestion: if it would be radeon 1950 series, rather go for 1950GT over PRO model. There were lots of 1950 PRO models which had problems with overheating input power transistors. Mine is model without those problematic transistors (Gigabyte).

Only difference between 1950 GT and PRO is default clocks. And most GT's overclock more then 1950 PRO.

[DaveWS]

I think I'm gonna go with this: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139552

Free delivery too.

[lovretta]

Good one :thumb: Also as I've seen, 7900 GS are better overclockers then 1950 :D

[mcintyrej]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136197/show_product_reviews

7900GT, No picture but that review says its an XFX.

[DaveWS]

I looked at that, but it's 20 quid more expensive than the 7900GS which is only 60 quid!

[Jakg]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141268

7800GTX for £52 - 512 MB of vRAM, and is actually faster than a 7900GT.

[DaveWS]

Damn! That's cheap, although I already bought the 7900GS last night. Looks like the 7800GTX would stretch my PSU a bit more anyway so never mind.

Someone will have themselves a bargain though. :tilt:

[Jakg]

Seeing as theres one in stock and that link is all over the eBuyer forums all i can say is if anyone else wants it get it quick!

[Stang70Fastback]

At first glance I was like, "JAKG!!! Quadruple post?!?!? TISK TISK." Similar-ish avatars.

[DaveWS]

Right I've got the card fitted. But I'm having some issues with it under certain situations.

I have an ASRock4CoreDual motherboard, and an E1240 processor, which I normally have overclocked to 2.4 Ghz (300 mhz is max fsb for that motherboard). Now this ran fine with my old gfx card. With the new one, the gfx card seemed to crash after a few minutes in windows (screen went black, came back, then finally froze). I now have the processor overclocked back to 2.14 Ghz, and no more problems. I'm just wondering why this happens in the first place? Another thing, which happens even now, is that when I'm playing a HD video the mouse sometimes seems a little jerky.

[dropin_biking]

What is your full system specs? It does sound like it may be a power related issue. However, that Antec PSU should be up to the task. Out of curiosity, which drivers are you running for that GS?
~Bryan~

[DaveWS]

- Antec Earthwatts 380w, 2 x 12v rails each at 17A (which does seem a little crap)
- E1240 @2.14Ghz (was running at 2.4 before)
- 1 GB Geil 2 x 512mb @667mhz (was at 750mhz)
- ASRock4CoreDual
- 1 Ide HDD
- 1 CD Drive
- XFX 7900GS 256mb
- 1 case fan

I'm only using the ones which came with the CD atm (91.47)

[h3adbang3r]

If you can scrape up around £85, you can get yourself a 9600GT, and the performance is around the same as an 8800GT 256, or a Raedon 3870.

EDIT: Ah, sorry, I didn't see that you already got a card :)

[DaveWS]

That new 9600GT does look like good value but it's overkill for me. :P

Back to the issues I mentioned above, I've sorted out the jerky video issue with more up to date drivers.

However as soon as I try overclocking my CPU again, the gfx card just crashes, and the whole PC dies.

I can't see how it would be a power issue, because I've managed to overclock my new gfx card (to 550/760), and with 3dmark05 running, there are no problems or letdowns...

[DaveWS]

I was having a shower an hour ago, and left the PC on. I came back to find no signal to my monitor and the graphics card fan running at what sounded like 100%. I tried rebooting, and it got halfway into loading XP when the monitor lost the signal input again and the gfx fan went mental again.

After booting into safe mode successfully on the second attempt, I tried again to boot into windows normally, and everything is fine again.

My question is, WTF just happened?!

I've looked at temps and stuff in rivatuner and everything looks completely normal... :shrug::schwitz:

[DaveWS]

Bump. This is still happening occasionally. In fact atm I am on my laptop because the desktop will not stay on for more than 5 seconds before the gfx fan going mental and the moniter signal dying.

[Kniebeejs]

I think your PSU is causing this problem.

[robt]

could be PSU. which graphics card did you get?

OT:just seen youre at loughborough uni, what course u taking? know someone whos there atm:thumb:

[DaveWS]

Auto Engineering. It's a 7900GS. Can't get it to boot to windows at all now.

[DaveWS]

Right well I can't see how it can be the PSU now, as I have just unplugged everything else which isn't needed (Case fans and CD Drive), and the problem remains.

[robt]

tried using ur old card? checked how hot the cables are where the PSU plugs into the mobo? thats how my pc went, wouldnt boot more then 20seconds then turned off, turns out the psu and mobo had melted themselves togther and it was turning itself off due to the immense heat created.

[BlakjeKaas]

What about the 8800GT?
Where I live it's the best price/quality.

I have one and it runs smoothly on a 380W power supply (although it's not recommended).

Forget about the 9600, (or in any case forget it if you'd live here) because it's near as expensive as an 8800GT (10-20 quid difference (I got one for around 105 quid)).

But hey! I don't know anything about the pricing there and what you have to spend etc..

[DaveWS]

The cables are fine, nothing seems to be overheating, I can't smell anything. I know the graphics card is not overheating either, as when it did boot into windows the last time, the temps were fine.

[DaveWS]

OK I have tried the card in another decent PC, and it's definately fubar. It didn't even send any signal to the monitor before the fan went into turbocharged mode.

If I send it back will they know if I tried to overclock it?

[Kniebeejs]

No they won't, if you don't tell them :)

[Jakg]

If I send it back will they know if I tried to overclock it?Never been proven either way, but i don't know anyone who's been caught unless the voltmodded it or something

[robt]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-009-PV&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912


hows about that for a new card :thumb: got the tip off from ATC dadge when i was looking for cards.

[Jakg]

*laughs*

You can pick up an 8600GT for less than £45 delivered. What makes it £90? 1 GB of RAM?! totally useless on a card like that i'm afraid...

[robt]

link? guesing its a 512mb model (hopefully)

[Jakg]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-075-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912

The card you linked to uses the slower DD2 memory, too - the DDR3 versions are MUCH faster.

[decks]

the link you posted is also DDR2 ram. the stats of both cards are exactly the same. only the memory is different. dadge's is 1gb @ £90 and yours is 512mb @ £45. so it's not as laughable as you may think. i would go for dadges because of means that i wouldn't have to upgrade for a longer time than if i were to buy the one you linked to.

[Jakg]

Oh cock - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-058-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912 - DDR3, but 256 MB.

You do know that 512 MB is a bit of a waste on an 8600GT, don't you? A higher resolution needs more memory, but with an "average" monitor (ie a 22" Widescreen), you wont be able to use all 512 MB of RAM - going for a 1 GB card will make NO difference in performance.

If 1 GB made it so futureproof why does nVidia's fastest card, the 8800 Ultra, have "only" 768 MB of RAM?

Memory doesn't mean that much - it's designed to sucker in the "bigger is better" crowd (which i used to be a part of). You cannot compare GFX cards on raw specs.

[decks]

i said nothing about future-proofing. i did say that i would need an upgrade sooner with your card.
but with that new card you're basically saying that 256mb of ddr3 is better than 1gb of ddr2? fair enough it is half the price but it has 75% less ram. and ddr3 ram is not 75% quicker than ddr2. and if your playing the new games your going to need more than 256mb m8. i thought you would of known that. for you to have that card (yours) at 1gb it will cost you about £180. this would mean that dadges card is better for the money. and to say that you can't compare cards on raw specs is just bs m8.
what would you rather have 1gb of ddr2 ram or 256mb of ddr3? also having ddr3 memory on a card that is only 128bit is like having a diesel porsche 911.

[Jakg]

Before i didn't properly look at the card specs, i just grabbed the cheapest DDR3 one I could find - tbh spending £80 on an 8600GT is lunacy, as you can get a GTS for £80, or an 8800GS for £90...

I'd go for the 256 MB option myself, provided getting a 24" monitor wasn't on my to-do list.

Looking around for less than £60 your options are either DDR3/256 MB or 512 MB/DDR2. I'd pick the faster speed over the lower memory UNLESS i had a 22" monitor or larger.

[decks]

and for an extra £30 you can double your ddr2 up to 1gb. but seriously dude. dadges card is better for the money. it would be cheaper too if ocuk didn't rip the knickers out of p&p. to have a 256mb card running more than a 22" screen at full resolutions (1680x1050 or more) is right on the max performance. i have a 7600GS 512 running arma @ 1680x1050 and it rocks at full settings. dadge on the other hand has a 7600GT 256 and running the exact same settings, his pc struggles at times. i would go for the 1gb because i believe that it is much better to have too much than it is to not have enough.
fair enough your cards ram speed is more than double but as i said befor if the card is only 128bit than ddr3 for that card is overkill. the playstation 1 is 128bit. dadge's is also 128 bit but the memory speed is much better for that bitrate.