Author Topic: What is your GL Graphics Card of Choice? (Read 3974 times)

TriniXaeno · « **on:** April 02, 2006, 11:39:16 AM »

For me, a GL has always been a home to the mainstream graphics card.

That segment is loosely defined by a budget of US$100-150

At last review,

The best options at this level:

ATI X1600 (US$100-135)
ATI X800 GTO (US$108-150)
Nvidia 6600GT (US$125-145)
Nvidia 7600GS (US$139-150)

Now the recently released 7600GT brought some serious performance to the table but at US$185-220, it was just beyond the budget. Very tempting all the same.

As luck would have it, Nvidia released the 7600 GS, a slower 7600 GT with passive cooling, priced at US$139 - 150.

Sweet!

It is positioned to compete squarely with the x1600xt and while it won't break any 3dmark records, this card will have GLs running the latest games at decent eye candy level without breaking the bank.

see the benchmarks here:

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/geforce_7600_gs_preview/page12.asp

Be warned, the card is not a whole lot faster than the 6600GT in terms of raw power but it costs about the same price, so the performance gains are just an added bonus.

The passive cooling is a big plus as GLs tend to have their machines running near 24/7 and in high traffic, dust laden environments. That dust and dirt in the atmosphere is seriously bad news for gpu cooling fans which tend to fail after a year or two of such abuse.

Earning the 7600 GS as the GL Card of choice in my book.

Keep in mind, as a home user, the 7600 GT is the better spend, for US$50 more, you get at least 33% more performance out of the box.

If you're an ATI fan and want to 1Up the performance of the X800 to the level of the 7600GT, you'll have to step up to the US$240 price tage of the X1800 GTO.

If you were a GL owner, what would be your card of choice?

Comments?

Carigamers · « **on:** April 02, 2006, 11:39:16 AM »

pablo_tt · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2006, 11:46:03 AM »

With the popular games of choice nowadays (CSS, Battlefield 2 etc) I would be in the range of a 6600GT, 9800 pro. For "special reserved" machines, my weapon of choice would be the 7800GT. Not really into the top of the batch types of cards in the 7 series, but on average, the GT can satisfy a gamer's thirst on a medioker budget

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:05:41 PM »

fair options but did you know that the X800 GTO will wtfpwn both those cards in performance for the same money?

The X800 GTO scores 3900+ 3dmark 2005

Compare that to the 3300+ scores of a 6600GT and even less for the ATI 9800 Pro.

Here is a brilliantly detailed article exposing the power of these cards with tons of real world games.

http://www.behardware.com/art/imprimer/611/

pablo_tt · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:32:43 PM »

True dat!, but I reccomended those for the regular/light gaming. Pure performance for games like FEAR etc I would go towards the 7800 series of cards. The x1600 looks nice, but I am not all that much of an ati fan boy, however I am always open to the other side of the graphics venture

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:34:53 PM »

but if the cost is the same why use the older slower performing cards?

Also, the 7900 GT is the same price as a the 7800 GT and performs on bar with its bigger brother, the 7800 GTX.

They both can be had for us$300.00

The new generation is finally pushing out the old.

Carigamers · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:34:53 PM »

TrinireturnofGamez · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:36:59 PM »

x1600 is a very weak card , it has lots of shading power but no texturing power compared to the 6600gt , in most games a 6600gt will beat it .
i'd go with the 7600GS , but if you wait a few more months i'm sure you'll find a 7600gt sale somewhere.

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:47:04 PM »

yeah, the moment the 7600gt drops to US$150, we will be in GL nirvana.

but I've read a lot that there is no pressure on the card's pricepoint because ATI has no competing product that is cheaper.

The defacto competition is the X1800 GTO and that costs US$60.00 more than the nvidia offering.

If ATI drops the price on the X1800 GTO considerably, then we should get some cheap 7600 GTs coming our way.

Netizen1 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 03, 2006, 09:55:59 PM »

BTW, LOL @ laertes' Sig... ent, damn princess indeed....

* Voyd snickers

But back to the topic @ hand... I think the 7600GS looks like a decent card for the price, but OH WOW @ the GT

Check out this card from XFX

http://www.xfxforce.com/web/product/listConfigurationDetails.jspa?productConfigurationId=186033

590MHz Clock Rate
1.6GHz Memory

Oh my... Here it is on our favorite online retailer http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150140

just a little bit lower in price and I'll snap it up...

* Voyd waits for the price to hit US$199.99 or lower

SSSSSsssssooooon, my precioussssss.....

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #8 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:04:33 PM »

lol

no need to wait

I got mine for US$185.00

Narcissus · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2006, 05:38:08 PM »

how business/bulk buying discount or a sale sumwhere?

Netizen1 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2006, 07:25:14 PM »

Quote from: Narcissus on April 04, 2006, 05:38:08 PM

how business/bulk buying discount or a sale sumwhere?

I wanna know the same thing boy Narc

Come Baego, spill de beans...

Kaizen · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2006, 08:46:06 PM »

naturally the rule is you have to own a buisness and have a deal etc with the suppliers so no

yall cant get in on those sales unless is a public thing baego talkin about

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #12 on:** April 04, 2006, 10:19:38 PM »

muhahhahahha

you can watch mine and drool all over it

Narcissus · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2006, 07:18:24 PM »

buytrinidad could hook me up wit one wen de price comes down in sum weeks/months for a good price den?

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2006, 01:02:58 PM »

yeah, sure narc. No scene.

but on a more sombre note.

recently came across a benchmark showing temperatures of the 7600GS (Passive Cooled)

They were atrocious! Sky high temps.

Luckily a few manufactures have strayed from Nvidia's reference design and went the route of active cooling. Effectively halfing the temperatures under load. The down side is that for GL use, the fans on these cards will eventually fail. Lasting anywhere from six moneth to two years due to the heavy use they endure and extreme exposure to dust.

Beomagi · « **Reply #15 on:** May 06, 2006, 07:06:31 PM »

think the 7600gt is gonna soon replace that spot - $15x with a game for the xfx and msi - if you coun't rebates. Nice to see such hardware - that easily beats the previous series' high end - coming in at $15x with $40-$50 games.

TrinireturnofGamez · « **Reply #16 on:** May 06, 2006, 08:53:36 PM »

geforce 8600gt is slated to come out in a few months ... 7600gt will float down like the 6600gt did, more performance for us! , 7600gt sli for 250 anyone?

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #17 on:** May 06, 2006, 10:05:14 PM »

nice heads up on the 8600GT. I hope it lands at the $150 price point.

Beomagi, I am still seeing $175-180 as lowest price for the 7600GT.

Compared to $115.00 for the 7600 GS

BIG difference in price there.

Would be a dream for the 7600GT to come into the US$150 zone though. (without rebates, as that isn't useful for most of us in Trini)

Beomagi · « **Reply #18 on:** May 08, 2006, 05:16:25 PM »

Ah, no rebates - yeah that's the stopper

Carigamers · « **Reply #18 on:** May 08, 2006, 05:16:25 PM »

Author Topic: What is your GL Graphics Card of Choice? (Read 3974 times)

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