Buying to a Specific Goal

[Computer-Ed]

To often when we buy hardware we try to buy for all purpose and fail to really focus on our specific goal. In the case I am presenting we want to buy a video card and keep our price as low as possible.

The card must be able to run MOST games thrown at it at 1680x1050 with game settings to no lower than medium and have some light AF and AA in effect.

We are looking here for the pure video card, assume a processor strong enough to handle the load as well as the RAM.

So with this critera in place what card will fill the bill for the least money?

(BTW DX10 support is not required but would be a bonus)

[qazwsx]

what about the 8600, the x1950, x1650 or the 7900. how much is not much?

[gvblake22]

You are just looking for a video card recommendation for those needs or do you need more than just the GPU?
DX10:
8800GTS 320MB
8600GTS

DX9:
X1950Pro
7900GS
7600GT

[Phosphorous]

I'd go with:

EVGA 7900GT

or

DX 10: EVGA 8800GTS

I go with EVGA because they have a lifetime warranty.

[Computer-Ed]

just working the video card right now. We tend to lump video card reccomendations together and never really get an idea of the target goal. In the above example I could show the 8800GTX with max RAM would be obvious overkill. Yet if it where an option, with no specific goal all would say it was the best without a specific goal in mind to judge it.

This is just a topic for discussion and hopefully has some useful info for someone.

I am curious does anyone really think the 8600 GTS has enough horsepower for this resolution of gaming without dropping the detail levels a lot?

Remember our goal is no lower than mid range detail, with moderate AF and AA as well. We have a set resolution and want to run all our gaming at that resolution. Finally we want to keep the price as low as we can and deliver on our goal.

[Dr. V]

Grab a 320MB 8800GTS.

Fits your criteria very well, extremely well actually.

This is considering that $300 is a good range for you.

[Computer-Ed]

Originally Posted by ST!X

Grab a 320MB 8800GTS.

Fits your criteria very well, extremely well actually.

This is considering that $300 is a good range for you.

I agree it seems a solid fit, now the question to the forum is, can we get a less expensive card and still meet the critera?

[onebxr]

I think the 8600gts has about the same punch as a 7900gs. With that said I can run most of my games, CSS, Rainbow Six Vegas, Far Cry, Ghost Recon, and FEAR without any problems or stuttering. I run my settings at 1440X900.
-1

[Computer-Ed]

Originally Posted by onebxr

I think the 8600gts has about the same punch as a 7900gs. With that said I can run most of my games, CSS, Rainbow Six Vegas, Far Cry, Ghost Recon, and FEAR without any problems or stuttering. I run my settings at 1440X900.
-1

Good point but one level down, boost the resolution to 1680x1050 and does it still play that smooth?

[gvblake22]

If you don't need DX10 support, then the X1950Pro should outperform the 8600GTS (especially at higher resolutions with AA and AF) and can be had for the same cost (maybe less). But that brings into question DX10 support and what exactly you mean by "most" games. Can you list some specific games you do play or want to be able to play? Games will continue to get more complex and require better hardware, but the video card you buy today will not be any better next year. So how far into the future do you want it to be able to play "most" games?