Best video card for under $250?

xfx geforce 8800gt (256mb) sells for around 209$ (last time i checked on newegg.com)

make sure it is the one without the free game

if you want the fastest card for under that price, i'd go for the 8800GT, that is, the 256mb version. the performance is amazing, especially at lower resolutions. other contenders are the HD3850 (both 256mb and 512mb models) and the HD3870 which possesses 512mb of dedicated video memory.

the only problem with the said fastest card is the memory limitation. games will be more and more memory intensive over time so this card will not be the best choice in terms of future-proofing a gaming rig. plus, if you want to game at higher resolutions or use the maximum amount of antialiasing possible, i'd go for the 8800GT 512mb version. but all of the cards above are great.

review: www.firingsquad.com/hardware/xfx_geforce_8800_gt

For under $250 the ATI 3870. For a little more money though you can get a 8800GT 512mb.

Don't get the BFG 8800GT , I had one and the sticker came off the fan and got stuck in it and fried the card.

Now when you say 8600 do you mean the xxx or just the gt not the gt xxx one cause I have the xxx one and to me it is a very nice graphic card but it is only temp one for me cause I'm going for like the 8800 or some thing like that.

So you are saying if I got like a card that has a 512mb then I'll be able to play games on a higher rez then like with a 256mb card could.

With a card with 512mb could I play some of the newer games at max or close to it. Also is there a card out there that will allow sc to be played at max everything.

In this price category I recomend not to take ATI :roll: . Better smth like 8600/8800brandao25

You obviously aren't good at recomending then. :roll:

[QUOTE="brandao25"]In this price category I recomend not to take ATI :roll: . Better smth like 8600/8800tequilasunriser

You obviously aren't good at recomending then. :roll:

Oh, really?

Then name any ATI product in that range and I will give an exmple of GeForce with same price (+/- $30) but better performence. Go ahead!

[QUOTE="tequilasunriser"]

[QUOTE="brandao25"]In this price category I recomend not to take ATI :roll: . Better smth like 8600/8800brandao25

You obviously aren't good at recomending then. :roll:

Oh, really?

Then name any ATI product in that range and I will give an exmple of GeForce with same price (+/- $30) but better performence. Go ahead!

Lets skip the e-penis masturbation and get to the point shall we?

You must be eagerly awaiting to compare the HD 3870 to the 8800GT (256). Both are great cards and both accel in their respecitive areas (I'd be happy with either.) The problem that I have with your comment is that you completely dismissed ATi all together but you were willing to list the sub-par 8600GT as a more suitable option than ATi's HD 38xx offerings. The 8600 series fails compaired to both HD 38xx offerings, so why even list it? Especially when the 3850 is available under $200 and can OC to speeds as high as the 3870 with low temps and stock cooler.

[QUOTE="brandao25"][QUOTE="tequilasunriser"]

[QUOTE="brandao25"]In this price category I recomend not to take ATI :roll: . Better smth like 8600/8800tequilasunriser

You obviously aren't good at recomending then. :roll:

Oh, really?

Then name any ATI product in that range and I will give an exmple of GeForce with same price (+/- $30) but better performence. Go ahead!

Lets skip the e-penis masturbation and get to the point shall we?

You must be eagerly awaiting to compare the HD 3870 to the 8800GT (256). Both are great cards and both accel in their respecitive areas (I'd be happy with either.) The problem that I have with your comment is that you completely dismissed ATi all together but you were willing to list the sub-par 8600GT as a more suitable option than ATi's HD 38xx offerings. The 8600 series fails compaired to both HD 38xx offerings, so why even list it? Especially when the 3850 is available under $200 and can OC to speeds as high as the 3870 with low temps and stock cooler.

QFT SON!

A lot of gamers seem to be OCing.

Is it a pretty worthwhile thing to do?

Sorry for double posting, but I have another thing to add:

PeoplementionedthatIshouldmakesureIhaveenoughpowersupply,etc.butIdon'tknowhowtomakesureIhaveenough.Currently,IhaveanEmachinesdesktop(T6412),thatIhavebeenrunningforawhilenow(althoughIhaveupgradeditwithabettervidcard,theRadeonX1300,andsomemoreRAM, so that now it has 1GB),andIhavebeenabletohandlemostgamescomfortably(med/highsettings).However,it'sbeguntochokeonsomeofthenewergames(SupremeCommander,Crysis for examples).Whichcardswillmyold(andbeloved)eMachinesrigsupport?

Might it be a good idea to just get a new computer? Newegg is out for me, because it doesn't ship to Canada.

Lets skip the e-penis masturbation and get to the point shall we? TEQUILASUNRISER

You must be eagerly awaiting to compare the HD 3870 to the 8800GT (256). Both are great cards and both accel in their respecitive areas (I'd be happy with either.) The problem that I have with your comment is that you completely dismissed ATi all together but you were willing to list the sub-par 8600GT as a more suitable option than ATi's HD 38xx offerings. The 8600 series fails compaired to both HD 38xx offerings, so why even list it? Especially when the 3850 is available under $200 and can OC to speeds as high as the 3870 with low temps and stock cooler. TEQUILASUNRISER

A lot of gamers seem to be OCing.

Is it a pretty worthwhile thing to do?

ChinkyChinker

Yes if you don't want to experience low performence in later games and/or don't want to buy a new card soon (year or 1.5).