gpu recommendations

[krazyq]

Budget is less that 300 bucks and i need 2.
one for gaming the other just for viewing other monitor.

3 monitors total (2X 22WS", 1X19" WS)

I was thinking:

1- 1 9600gt, and 1 8400gs(unless theres something better for that price range)

2- 1 3870 and 1 3470 or 3450

3- 8800gt and 1 8400gs (unless theres something better for that price range)

EDIT:

I just realised that the 3870 is DDR4 whilst the 8800gt or 9600gt is DDR3...and bigg diff?

gonna purchase within a week.

thanks

 

[lancec2c30]

Is the 3870 you are looking at going to be a X2?

 

[krazyq]

Is the 3870 you are looking at going to be a X2?

no:

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

i was kinda stickin more towards the 9600gt and 8400gs unless someone has an objection.

 

[maroon1]

I just realised that the 3870 is DDR4 whilst the 8800gt or 9600gt is DDR3...and bigg diff?

No, it doesn't make any big difference. Even though 8800GT is DDR3, it performs better than HD3870

8800GT > 9600GT = HD3870

If you are going to buy 9600GT then I recommend this one because it come with a free The Witcher game
Newegg.com - MSI N9600GT-T2D512 OC GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

It have higher clock speed than the other 9600GT as well

 

[krazyq]

thanks maroon...i think the 9600gt it will be then.
but wat about the other gpu? will the 8400gs be sufficient enough?

and what current games can the 9600gt maxout if paired with 2gigs of ram and a q6600 @3ghz?
cod 4, nfs ps, gow, (i know not crysis)??
cant think of any other recent games.

 

[ThirdLeft152]

the 9600gt should hold its own, i've seen pretty good reviews on them. as long as your not going above 1680x1050 i think it should max out pretty much any game.

 

[maroon1]

and what current games can the 9600gt maxout if paired with 2gigs of ram and a q6600 @3ghz?
cod 4, nfs ps, gow, (i know not crysis)??

I have 8800GTS 320MB and play both COD4 and NFS PS on 1680x1050 with highest settings

And I think 9600GT 512MB is faster than my 8800GTS, so there is no need to worry

I play also The Witcher on Max settings, and it is one of the best RPG games I ever played. It is even better than oblivion in my opinion

will the 8400gs be sufficient enough?

For non-gaming, 8400GS is more than enough

 

[gurusan]

any of those cards will do pretty well...

My 3850 gets between 60-95fps during multiplayer @ 1680x1050 everything maxed out and 4xAA

 

[B.S.O.D.]

Do not get the 9600GT. Its an 8k series card with a 9k series label. The new 9600gt has half of the stream processors that the 8800gts has, and the 8800gt beats out that card. The only reason Nvidia released the 9600 is because it is cheaper to produce, having 33% less transistors. The 9600 gets about 30% lower frame rates, so the thing is is it worth saving a minuscule amount of money to get a much lower performer?

 

[maroon1]

Do not get the 9600GT. Its an 8k series card with a 9k series label. The new 9600gt has half of the stream processors that the 8800gts has, and the 8800gt beats out that card. The only reason Nvidia released the 9600 is because it is cheaper to produce, having 33% less transistors. The 9600 gets about 30% lower frame rates, so the thing is is it worth saving a minuscule amount of money to get a much lower performer?

All benchmarks are showing that 9600GT is just slightly behind 8800GT

Click here to see one of those benchmarks