Which Graphics Card?

[planetmike]

Hi, need some advice on buying a new graphics card...

First of all my system spec:
Gigabyte Triton 7KTA (?) motherboard
Athlon 2600+ XP processor
1GB RAM
Budget GeForce 5200 128mb graphics card (!)

Yes, I went cheap on the graphics card and now I regret it with continual lock-ups and system crashes from an overheating card!

Going to spend anything up to around

[Fozzer]

Hi Mike.... ;D...!

Have a peek here...>>>




Paul.
(Hereford).

[asda_price]

Hi Mike!  :)

That list doesn't include the X850 XT PE. That card conquers the list.  8)

(...espeically on non-AA!  :D)

The FSAA of the X850 XT PE is better than the 6800 Ultra.

It is very pricey however, so if you are looking for a better price but still good performance, then a 6800 GT is very good.

Rob.

[planetmike]

LOL

Interesting to see where my current card came!  Think that confirms the problems once and for all!

Thanks for your help.

Mike

[the_autopilot]

Good mainsteam card is the 6600 gt. Performs very well.

The 6800 GT is much better, but also much more expensive.

The x850 xt is the cream of the crop and its price demands the same.

The 6600 gt is the mininmum required for decent performce at high quality and resolution settings.

[planetmike]

That's made my mind up!
My local PC shop has just offered me a 6600gt at a reasonable price so I think that's what I'll go for.


Mike

[Gunny04]

I'll also be picking up a 6600 in the next week or so.... my built in MX440 is about as good as nothing! Cheers Gunny (the 6600 is a good budget choice)

[the_autopilot]

Make sure you get the 6600 GT. The regular 6600 isn't really good and not really worth its price (yes, its cheaper, but look at price for performence)

[planetmike]

Just installed the new 6600GT and all my problems are solved!
Much smoother performance and now I can turn up my scenery complexity and turn on my anti-aliasing!



Cheers
Mike

[planetmike]

Small update...

2 hours after installing my lovely new card - it blew up!
Now back in the shop being tested, but not a happy bunny!


Mike

[the_autopilot]

Hmm, what do you mean by blow up?

Did it overheat or was it a faulty card?

[planetmike]

Just had a call from my PC shop, it was a faulty card so I am now waiting on a replacement!



Cheers
Mike