Best Graphics Card for $100

[bluefog25]

Hey, I was wandering if you could help me find the absolute best graphics card for around $100.

On newegg.com, I found this card for $95. While its labeled as a x700, its actually a x800 GTO.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[cleeve]

The X800 GTO 128mb is usually the best card for about $140.

If you can find it for $95, it's the best deal of all time...

 

[pauldh]

Why do you say it's a GTO? That one user review? Everything about that name, description, pics, and Sapphire part number point to a vanilla X700 128MB.

Here's the GTO, priced $114 shipped. I think these low clocked 128MB GTO's are your best bet. Or a plain X800 128MB, which has the same specs. I bought this one from Newegg; hard to beat for the price after rebate. I don't like that style heatsink/fan on the Sapphire and would actually rather have the larger heatsinks found on the powercolor models. After those, Next option would be a 6600GT, which are about the same price.

 

[Nytro]

hmm, a GTO underclocked? That's bad . At this point u could find a 6600 GT(wich has SM 3.0) with 128 mb(or 256 if u r lucky) at @110$. It could be the best choice for that price....

 

[conroe]

128mb GDDR2 x800GTO, $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102644R

I've had good luck with newegg's refurbished products. Out of thr four things I bought there refurbished the only problem I have had has been a fryed PS2 mouse port on a mobo, so I just use a USB mouse. They give a get 14 day RMA period.

128mb GDDR3 6600gt, $102
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814170072R

 

[raven_87]

Hmm.

GTO's have alot of headroom. Personally, I'd save the few bucks on the GTO,
then about 2 weeks later, invest in a Silencer or Zalman setup then see what you can achieve.

Simply becuase the card does not possess SM 3.0, does not make it inferior (preformance wise)

 

[bluefog25]

So in general, is it more important to have a 256-bit memory interface versus a 128-bit memory interface, over 256 megs of RAM versus 128 megs of RAM?

For example, my dad had first pointed out this card, as well as this card to me, but they appear to be stripped down 6600s; also they have 128-bit MIs, though they do have 256 megs of RAM. So would the X800GTO (256-bit, 128 RAM) still be preferable?

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[raven_87]

X800GTO is possibly your best option. Having double your VRAM on a 128bit bus really cuts on preformance.

6600LE = crap
If you could pick up a 6800LE, those can be unlocked to 12x1 or best case scnerio about be 16x1. Not to mention the Vertex shaders. You just need to be handy with RivaTuner....doubtful

I'm still voting for the GTO unless you can find a cheap(er) 6800GS.

 

[pauldh]

hmm, a GTO underclocked? That's bad . At this point u could find a 6600 GT(wich has SM 3.0) with 128 mb(or 256 if u r lucky) at @110$. It could be the best choice for that price....

No it's not underclocked. it's just the 128MB versions come with slower memory clocks than the 256MB versions. Even clocked 392/700, it will beat out a 6600GT more often than not.

 

[pauldh]

I agree with raven, the 6600LE is junk. Also, a plain 6600 reguardless of the amount of memory, is going to be way slower than a 6600GT or X800. DOn't be fooled into thinking a 256MB GF6600 > 128MB 6600GT; by far it is not.

So in general, is it more important to have a 256-bit memory interface versus a 128-bit memory interface, over 256 megs of RAM versus 128 megs of RAM?

The amount of memory rarely means anything in a card of this class. All things equal, sure it's better to have the 256 bit memory interface; it's double the bandwidth. But there's more to performance than that. A GF6600GT makes up for only 8-pipes and a 128-bit memory interface by sporting some high clock speeds both on the core and memory. So it will beat out a Radeon 9800 pro which has a 256-bit memory interface and also 8-pipes. When going between X800 (or X800GTO) and 6600GT, the 12-pipelines and 256-bit memory interface of the X800's helps the card outperform the higher clocked, 8-pipe, 128-bit 6600GT.

I still think the 128MB X800 and identical 128MB X800GTO, are going to offer the most performance for you budget. I don't see SM3 in a 6600GT to be worth anything honestly, but if you decide to go with the 6600GT, it is still a great performer for that price. But more games than not, the X800 would perform better.

 

[Black-heart]

A x800GTO kicks a 6600gt up the butt. I read some benchmarks on this. Seach x800gto review into google and you will see.

It will be difficult to find a 256mb 6600gt, anyway it will be well over a $100 a basic 6600gt 128mb goes for a lmost £100.

You got the deal of the century

GET IT.

 

[pauldh]

Just make sure you are comparing 128MB GTO's clocked with 350(700)MHz RAM, and not the 256MB version with mem clocks of 490(980) MHz. Sure, if he wants to spend $50 more, he can buy a faster clocked 256MB GTO for $150 no rebates: http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=AT-P8GTOFR&c=pw It's a Fireblade Edition even; not bad for $150 shipped free!

 

[ivoryjohn]

Saphire X1600 oem for $111.

 

[bluefog25]

Do you have a link for that?

So it sounds like the X800GTO is the way to go...except maybe once I get a link to that x1600? I dont know much about the x1600.

If we were to go with the X800GTO, does anyone see any significant advantages of one of these?

 

[bluefog25]

Any more input? Anyone think the 20 bucks is worth the 256megs of RAM?

 

[pauldh]

So it sounds like the X800GTO is the way to go...except maybe once I get a link to that x1600? I dont know much about the x1600.

The X800GTO is a better gaming card than a X1600 pro. Ths X1600XT seems to do well though, so it all depends on what X1600 you are talking about.

If we were to go with the X800GTO, does anyone see any significant advantages of one of these?

OK, you linked to 3 refurbished cards; 1-128MB and 2-256MB. Are you asking advantage to the 256MB GTO or advantage to buying a refurb 256MB card?

I used to be a big fan of Newegg refurbs. In general, very few problems, as long as you test them right away. I try to avoid them now though as the savings isn't usually great enough for the 14 day warranty, you often don't get any of the extra cables or adapters, and I have had 3 of my Newegg refurbished cards die in under 1 years time. I'd spend $15- $35 more and buy a new one if it were me.

As far as the 256MB version. In general no, it's not worth it. BUT, in the case of the X800GTO, the 256MB ones come with higher memory clockspeeds and will definately outperform the 128MB card. So in the GTO, yes the 256MB version is better.

If you haven't looked at this yet, it would be a big help for you as all these cards are tested. http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/digest3d/index0512.html It has a super high clocked X1600XT which seems to match the perfromance of the X800GTO 256MB. The X800 128MB is the same specs as the X800GTO 128MB, so use that one for comparison. Then there is a X1600 pro also in there. Just check their clock speeds vs the ones you look to buy.