Video Card Decision

[richiestang_78]

So I want to get a new card for my computer, currently I have a Nvidia 8800GT, I know its a good card but I was either thinking about buying another 8800 and SLI it. Or should I save up and get one of the 9 series( heard they were overall slower then the 8) or really save up and get a 200 series card?

[gta_bmx]

If you want to go with a 9 series card, you'd have to at least get like a 9800GTX to get something faster than the 8800 GT, and that'll run you about $130 for the 9800GTX which isn't that much faster than the 8800GT. And then of course you couldn't Sli a 9800 and an 8800 together.

If you want to go the cheapest, most bang-for-the-buck route, I'd pick up a used 8800GT off ebay or Craigslist for $70 or so and then Sli them. Then you can upgrade later on into 200 series cards when they're cheaper and sell the 8800gt's cards or put them in another box.

More expensive route would be to go with a 200 series card which would be about $250 per card.

[richiestang_78]

Anyone know of a good chart for Nvidia cards. Ive tried Toms Hardware but the sites not the easiest to navigate, well not for me at least, and would appreciate another good hardware review site. Ive heard one mentioned on Tekzilla but cant remember what it was or what episode.

[gta_bmx]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units

Wikipedia has a decent chart of Nvidia graphics card performance numbers like mhz, pixel and texture fill rates, memory sizes, etc..

[tehboris]

I would always go with the latest series cards just because they will support the latest rendering methods and possible do other things the older series cards won't do (the only example I can find here is the GPU folding@home client).

[richiestang_78]

The wikipedia thing is nice but I was hoping for more of a real world test. I looked on tomshardware and used there little compare charts, and the difference in performance seems pretty close for buying a 280 for a bunch or just getting another 8800gt for nothing and running SLI

The card that seems ot be on top is the 9800 GX2 but that thing seems a bit pricey and from what I gather is just basically 2 9800 stuck together in one card

[richiestang_78]

Picked up a 8800gt(not easy to find anymore they sem to be sold out everywhere) from microcenter and luckily caught it on the last day of a 45 dollar mail in rebate so 125 bucks total for it after I mail in the rebate that is.

[gta_bmx]

I am envious. I am using an Asus Nvidia 7300GT that I bought new for like $50 a year ago. It was a huge improvement over the onboard 6200 graphics. :-) Time for an upgrade, which means I'll need a better PSU and more cooling.