ATI or Nvidia?

[Razorbacx]

All,

My 8800GT just bit the dust and I'm back in the market for a new Video Card. My wife is so tight with the funds that I'm surprised that she's even letting me buy a new video card, so price is everything and I'm needing best bang for the buck. I've got to keep this under a hundred ($100.00), otherwise it's the onboard video for me. Looking around the net I find that the Nvidia 9500 and ATI HD 4350 are priced comparable to eachother, so I would like to know from those of you that KNOW, which is the best card. We do play games on the computer, Spore, BF2, COD4. We also like to play with our digital pictures and do some lite video editing.

Thank you in advance!

Razorbacx

[XstollieX]

Razorbacx

If I were in your shoes I would go with either a 9800gt or a 4850 both can be found for under 100 bucks. Newegg has a xfx 9800gt for 95.99 with free shipping or a powercolor 4850 for 99.99+shipping. I would probably take the 4850 over the 9800gt though. I have used a couple of 4850's in builds for clients and they are very nice cards. If I am not mistaking the 4350 and the 9500gt will both be steps down in performance while the 2 cards from above will be a step or two up.

[Apoptosis]

Do you plan on picking up Windows 7 this month?

If you are I'd suggest a Radeon HD 5000 series card... As I showed in my review they absolutely rock.



The have everything you need and with NVIDIA and all the issues they are having with Fermi you should be sitting pretty till next year when the Radeon HD 6000 series comes out ;)

I went out and bought a GeForce GTS 250 for my last review for $170ish after taxes and it got killed by the ATI 5750 and 5870 in nearly all the games and benchmarks I threw at it. Monthly driver updated, mix and match CrossFire, AMD Eyefinity... enough said...

The only thing you will be missing is PhysX. Well, that and 3DVision... Who do you know in your area with 3DVision though?

[XstollieX]

I definataly agree with Apoptosis. If you can swing the extra 30 bucks for the 5750 series card do it. For under the hundred dollar mark the 4850 is your best bet.

[vicaphit]

You could convince your wife to put away $5 per paycheck until you make up the additional to go with what XstollieX said. That way you are ready for DX11 when more games are released.

[XstollieX]

Can't take credit Apoptosis suggested the 5000 series. I am not one for saving so that thought didn't cross my mind. I just supported Apoptosis since he had a better idea than me.

[Razorbacx]

Well, looks like I've got some begging and pleading to do...HA! Thanks to all of you for your advice.

Razorbacx

[XstollieX]

Good Luck!

[Apoptosis]

The Sapphire Radeon HD 5750 that I reviewed is listed at $129.99 at Newegg... Not a bad value at all - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102859

When it comes to resale value you'll get more of your money percentage wise out of that card a year from now than you would a a radeon hd 4800 series card. Sure it will cost you $30 more today, but you'll recoup it down the road if you sell it in a year or so. I've become a fan of selling things before they break. The mentality of most people is that you shouldn't replace it unless it is broken, but the value of something broken is zero. If you find something on closeout or clearance and then can sell your current working whatever you come close to breaking even. It works for me at least.

[smack323]

i just bought a 5770 and 5750 to upgrade a 8800gts and 9800gtx - i figure both these cards with be a good jump from what i currently have in the systems. and like Apop said sell it before you break it.. I figureIi can get in the range of $170-$200 total for both these cards so it will be about a $50 per computer to upgrade.

the 4850 will be fine if you must stay under $100, I have another computer here at home with a 4830 and all my friends who have played COD:WOW with me said its very good for a really cheap card,