Which card: X800 or 6600 or 7300LE/GS/GT or?

[ikjadoon]

I'm looking for a sub-$80 card, PCI-e. The power supply is a 305W, unknown amps on the 12V. Yes, it is a Dell. I'd prefer a single slot cooler because the computer is BTX, but dual is fine as well. This card is mainly meant to stop the computer from using onboard for memory, meaning no TurboCache or HyperMemory Cards. I'd also like some gaming opinions and ability to run Vista--possible or in my dreams? By that I mean full Aero.

I had a X1300 Pro inside, until I found out that for some odd freaky reason, the X1300 nor the X1600 will work...

I have brought it down to these few cards, but I am willing to get another if it is worth it:

X300SE
X550
X700SE
7300LE
7300GS
7300GT
6600
6600LE
X800

Thanks!

~Ibrahim~

I'd like to buy from NewEgg, as they are handling my RMA, but if another seller has a lower price, I'm game.

NewEgg Link

 

[prozac26]

X800.

 

[ikjadoon]

That is whay I thought: 3X the pipelines of the rest of them, an unheard 256-bit memory interface in a "budget" card, and a price to boot: $65! I only wish it had 256MB of memory, but...

I wish I could spend a bit more and get a 7600GT or a X800GTO(2) but I'm pushing a maximum of $80 as it is. Thanks!

~Ibrahim~

 

[trinitron64]

x800xl
cheap
16 pipelines
good speed with core and memory

 

[prozac26]

You can find a 256mb version. 7600GT is in the $150-$200 range.

 

[ikjadoon]

I'm looking for the 256MB, but I don't know if I can find it my price range.

Do you think that it will work with the 305W PSU? I have a Pentium Dual-Core at 2.8, 1GB of 533Mhz, one hard drive, two dvd drives and nothing else. I feel like I might be pushing it. The guy who I talked to at ATI said that he knew guys using a X800GTO on a 350W beatifully.What do you guys think?

~Ibrahim~

 

[enforcerfx]

x800 for sure, it would be the best overall. Your 2nd option if the x800 isnt in stock, would be the x700. They both would work fine on 300W dell PSUs, just dont leave your computer on 24/7 though.(Fried my x700 in 5 months that way)

 

[ikjadoon]

Got it! Thanks for the reassurance! Yeah, the machine is on like for 8 hours a day, then turned off. And nothing major in the graphics department, the most would be a site Flash animation or a DVD.

This, amazingly, will be the fastest graphic card I have ever owned , even though it is for my dad's office computer; I might load a few games, just to test it out.

~Ibrahim~

 

[angry_ducky]

Save another $13 and get this: Open box Powercolor X800GTO 256MB GDDR3: $93 It will pwn all the other cards you mentioned, plus it's got 256MB VRAM.

If that's too rich, or you don't trust the open-box, then get this: MSI X800 128MB GDDR3: $72 after rebate. Amazing performance for the dollar.

 

[asdasd123]

the 7300gt 256mb gddr3 from inno3d would be a nice competitor since it performs at par with a 6800gs. http://www.pcmoddingmy.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.374 too bad I couldn't find it in newegg. I've heard people buy it for around 80-100 dollars tho.

 

[ikjadoon]

Well, Angry Ducky, the X800 I was looking, with rebate, comes down to $64. My max budget is only $80. I sorely wish I could save a few extra dollars and get the X800GTO, but this isn't a gaming rig. I just want the thing to quit using the system memory and maybe play a few games, nothing big.

I would consider the 7300GT, but it has 8 pipes versus the X800's 12. The cheapest GT I could find at $80. So, we have the X800 at $64 and the 7300GT at $80.

A compairson:

NewEgg Compairson

Possibly. It is kind of close, but I feel like I am pushing my budget using the max. amount of money. I'm kind of confused now...They both look good, but I am leaning towards the X800 for the money.

~Ibrahim~

 

[pauldh]

I have owned that same MSI X800 for quite a while and it's a decent card for the money. It is definately above a 6600GT and X1600 pro. It's identical to a 128MB X800GTO, which is below the 256MB ones with higher memory clocks. My vote goes to the MSI or Visiontek X800.

Clockwise from Bottom left: MSI X800 128MB, BBA 9800 Pro, Sapphire X1600 Pro, HIS IceQ X1300 Pro:

 

[ikjadoon]

Got it. I'm going with the X800. Thank you, all!!

~Ibrahim~

 

[asdasd123]

the 7300gt i was talking about was a gddr3 version which was superclocked and performed near to a 6800gs or x800xl if you just checked the site out. But goodluck with that x800 then

 

[ikjadoon]

I checked out the link, don't worry! I wouldn't disregard any advice. I just can't find a 7300GT that matches the price range I'm looking for. The X800 is only $64, while the cheapest 7300GT, I don't think it is SuperClocked, was at $80...If my budget was a little higher, and how much I wish it was, I would certainly go for that.

~Ibrahim~

 

[angry_ducky]

the 7300gt i was talking about was a gddr3 version which was superclocked and performed near to a 6800gs or x800xl if you just checked the site out. But goodluck with that x800 then

That 7300GT with GDDR3 is only available in Asia. Beleive me; I've checked because I'd love to get my hands on that card.

I checked out the link, don't worry! I wouldn't disregard any advice. I just can't find a 7300GT that matches the price range I'm looking for. The X800 is only $64, while the cheapest 7300GT, I don't think it is SuperClocked, was at $80...If my budget was a little higher, and how much I wish it was, I would certainly go for that.

That X800 that you're getting will kill all the 7300GTs that are available outside of Asia. [/quote]

 

[4745454b]

Ahhh, I think we forgot something guys.
"even though it is for my dad's office computer" If this isn't for gaming, other considerations must be made other then speed. Which of the cards has no fan? (cutting down on the office noise.) Which is most effient, drawing the least power? Which is most effient at any custom/most often used software? If this is an office computer, speed is no longer king. I'd buy the fastest no fan GPU I could find.

 

[ikjadoon]

You are right. Speed isn't everything right now. But, I also want a card that can run Aero without difficulty. I may get a low-end card, but I don't want to give him trash, either. I don't want to give him the lowest card there, just a card that'll offload any CPU tasks and possibly run Aero. This will probably be the last upgrade to the machine and I want to finish it on a good touch. I might try a few games, but you are right. Speed is not the point here....

~Ibrahim~

 

[Detson]

See? This is why Vista rocks. Not so much for the people who hang around here, but for the average guy who wants to play a little WoW on the weekends. Think of the installed base of name-brand PC's with decent, discrete graphics cards this will create. Maybe people will finally start playing something besides Solitare and Minesweeper. Microsoft uber alles! Don't worry about power consumption, btw. I've got a 350 watt psu with the x800xl, and no problems so far.

 

[pauldh]

If it's for vista and not gaming, I wouldn't buy a potent 128MB card. That's one case I'd look for more memory and sacrifice a little 3d power. Maybe something like this card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125021

 

[pauldh]

I don't buy into the claims people make about that 7300GT beating a 6800GS and X800XL. For one, his review is testing 10x7 no fsaa. :roll:

This review has it clocked 550/1600 and it rarely matches the 6800GS once res and eye candy are boosted. It's pretty close though. Here's another review clocked 640/1600!!! I'd expect higher numbers if it were a 6800GS/X800XL killer. yeah it's great to see a budget card approach 6800GS performance. But really, a 6800GS would have to be about $100 to be a good buy now also with 7600GT pricing. But if this 7300GT lists for $125 USD and sells for over $100, then a 7600GT for $135 would spank it stock never mind overclocked and be well worth the extra money IMO. Does this make sense. Not trashing the card or trying to take away from it's accomplishments. Going buy suggested retial pricing it's a hot little card. But It just comes down to street prices as it indeed would be a real fun enthusiast buy for $75-80. $100+ I'd look elsewhere.

 

[ikjadoon]

I can't use that particular board for two reasons. Firstly, I can't use that board because of the Dual-Slot cooling, REQUIRING you have two slots. This a BTX system, so it is kind of backwards. Meaning the PCI-e x16 is the farthest slot and cooling will not fit, as it will hit the back of your case. If that was the only reason, I would pick another maker with a single slot X1600PRO.

But, alas, there is another. Dell and ATI have both confirmed that the X1300 and X1600 have problems working with some Dell systems. I have confirmed that my system is one of those by purchasing a X1300PRO, only to find that it would not work. Very inconveinent, as you know.

That is why I didn't list either of those cards in my initial list....The X1300PRO was my first choice, but with the problems.

It isn't really for gaming, so maybe a 7300GS? That is one of the only cards left in my price range, minus the X800. I picked the X800 because it was faster. I haven't yet bought the card yet. If no cards can fit the bill, I can wait for some of the low-end DX10 cards, which should work better on Vista because they are based on DX10. Thanks for the info, Detson!

~Ibrahim~