Low-End Graphics
We'll close this price guide with the budget graphic cards that are currently available. We feel that the vast majority of users are better off purchasing a mid-range card, which in many instances are two or three times as fast as the budget offerings (sometimes more). Reason being is if you don't intend to play games (which is generally why you need a better graphics card), you should probably just use whatever graphics card you already have - even integrated graphics is sufficient rather than investing money into a low-end card. If you're looking to add a graphics card in order to get better video decoding, NVIDIA's PureVideo and ATI's AVIVO solutions are worth considering, but again you might as well upgrade to a mid-range offering. As we look at the various products, the reason we make this recommendation should become clear.
Beginning here, we have the X1300 cards. The AGP X1300s are somewhat overpriced, as you can easily pick up a 6600 GT and get much better performance than an X1300 can ever deliver. The same rule applies to the X1300 for PCI-E applications. An X1600 Pro, 6600 GT, or 7600 GS can be had for about $100, which you would find us suggesting without any hesitation over an X1300 (PCI-E).
Any one of these X300 cards should be sufficient for its intended use of basic video support and the only thing we would suggest is that you try to stick to the $50 (or lower) price point. We see no real need to spend much more than that for a card of this caliber. About the only motive to purchase a $50 graphics card is if you want a DVI output for an LCD display, since most integrated graphics solutions omit that feature.
These 7300 GS cards are meant to replace the 6200 TurboCache cards. Just as with the X300 cards, we again recommend you stick to the lower end of this spectrum because the $100 mid-range cards offer a much better solution. We mentioned DVI outputs as being one reason for a budget graphics card, but of course the HTPC market often fancies a cheap, preferably fanless, graphics card over integrated graphics due to the enhanced video decoding quality (AVIVO/PureVideo) and additional connectivity options (component out). At $100 or so, X1600 Pro and 7600 GS meet all of those requirements, so if you start nearing that price point we recommend you upgrade to the next level.
That brings this video card price guide to a close. If we missed anything you feel is worth mentioning, feel free to let us know in the comments section. We'll be back again next week, taking a look at the storage market. Thanks for reading!
We'll close this price guide with the budget graphic cards that are currently available. We feel that the vast majority of users are better off purchasing a mid-range card, which in many instances are two or three times as fast as the budget offerings (sometimes more). Reason being is if you don't intend to play games (which is generally why you need a better graphics card), you should probably just use whatever graphics card you already have - even integrated graphics is sufficient rather than investing money into a low-end card. If you're looking to add a graphics card in order to get better video decoding, NVIDIA's PureVideo and ATI's AVIVO solutions are worth considering, but again you might as well upgrade to a mid-range offering. As we look at the various products, the reason we make this recommendation should become clear.
Beginning here, we have the X1300 cards. The AGP X1300s are somewhat overpriced, as you can easily pick up a 6600 GT and get much better performance than an X1300 can ever deliver. The same rule applies to the X1300 for PCI-E applications. An X1600 Pro, 6600 GT, or 7600 GS can be had for about $100, which you would find us suggesting without any hesitation over an X1300 (PCI-E).
Any one of these X300 cards should be sufficient for its intended use of basic video support and the only thing we would suggest is that you try to stick to the $50 (or lower) price point. We see no real need to spend much more than that for a card of this caliber. About the only motive to purchase a $50 graphics card is if you want a DVI output for an LCD display, since most integrated graphics solutions omit that feature.
These 7300 GS cards are meant to replace the 6200 TurboCache cards. Just as with the X300 cards, we again recommend you stick to the lower end of this spectrum because the $100 mid-range cards offer a much better solution. We mentioned DVI outputs as being one reason for a budget graphics card, but of course the HTPC market often fancies a cheap, preferably fanless, graphics card over integrated graphics due to the enhanced video decoding quality (AVIVO/PureVideo) and additional connectivity options (component out). At $100 or so, X1600 Pro and 7600 GS meet all of those requirements, so if you start nearing that price point we recommend you upgrade to the next level.
That brings this video card price guide to a close. If we missed anything you feel is worth mentioning, feel free to let us know in the comments section. We'll be back again next week, taking a look at the storage market. Thanks for reading!
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bongbong - Sunday, July 23, 2006 - link
The fastest 7300GT with ddr3 1400 mhtz meory is faster than a 6600GT and a 6800 and its price a bit lower than the geforce 6600GT so go for it.Its a mid end car masquearading as low end card.
bongbong - Sunday, July 23, 2006 - link
There are lots of reviews on the web of the ddr3 powered 7300GT whose memory clocks at default of 1400 mhtz.It beats the 7600 GS whose memory is at 800 mhtz.
The only 7600 that can beat the 7300 gt with ddr 1400 mhtz memory would be the 7600 GST
which has the extra t and 1400 mhtz gdd3 memory also.
It is however expensive in my country where a 25 usdollar difference in price from the 7300 GT (both 256mb versions at gd3 1400mhtz) is substantially felt by filipinos.
Also the 7300 GT by Inno3d overclocks up to 1600 mhtz mem and 600 core.
Just ggogle for inno3d 7300 GT ddr3 reviews or look up www.trustedreviews.com
Im suprised these hi speed 7300 GTs arent widely available in America.
They are very much worth the hype.
dstigue - Saturday, July 15, 2006 - link
You're right about the 7900gt's needing to be moved down to high end but I think the x1800xt's should be too. x1800xt's compete very well with the x1900gt's and at a better price point I might add. Those three cards are in a deathlock as far as price/performance goes. I picked up a x1800xt 512 for $300 with $20 mail in rebate on newegg. And I will tell you I am very happy with my purchase. But I don't think my system is ultra high end either.Ozo - Thursday, July 13, 2006 - link
Why don't you guys include the Gainward BLISS 7800GS+?This thing is basically a 7900GT, and Overclockers UK will ship to the US. I didn't even realize this card existed until I started looking for dual-DVI to drive two big flat panels, and stumbled across references in newsgroups. Very sweet card. It already has an Arctic Cooler.
Yes, I know $445 (delivered) is a lot, but this will extend the life of my S754 system for yet another year. Switching MB's, memory, I/O cards, re-installing XP, etc. is a major hassle when all I need is a faster graphics card.
BTW, I love your guides. Very useful - Thank you!!
jluquette - Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - link
I'm curious to know what the difference between some of the different models (from the same manufacturer) of X1900 XT are. For example, Sapphire has 3 different X1900 XT models listed at newegg; model numbers:100149L $355
100149 $389
100149SR $399
Newegg's comparison chart between the three can be found here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCompare.asp?S...">http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCo...25%2CN82...
These are all X1900 XTs; not AIWs, not GTs, not XTXs and not Crossfires. They're all X1900 XTs with the same core and memory clocks--yet for some reason there's a $50 price span. Sapphire doesn't list anything helpful to differentiating these models--so does anyone know what the differences might be for $50? Is it possibly the software bundle that's different? Or the accessory packs?
On one hand, the memory and clock speeds are the same--and so is the pipeline count--so I feel confident that these cards should be equivalent in performance. But on the other hand, what could possibly prompt a $50 increase from the low end to the high end?
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Joe
rrcn - Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - link
From what I can tell: 100149L is the retail version of 100149, which is OEM. 100149SR is the same as 100149L, except 100149SR has a greater software bundle.Hope that helps.
Haider Farhan
erple2 - Thursday, July 13, 2006 - link
One other difference I've noticed: the 100149SR comes with 2x DVI to VGA adapters. Whether it's an oversight on the listing of the 100149L, I don't know.jluquette - Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - link
Thanks!It looks like you're right. Looking through the supplied pictures shows that the SR comes with the game select disc among other software goodies. However, I'm confused as to why the OEM version of the card is ~$30 more expensive than the retail version (before rebate)--and nearly $60 more expensive after rebate.
In general, isn't the retail version of anything supposed to be more expensive than the OEM version? The retail version is supposedly the same as the OEM version, just boxed up and fancy, right?
Joe
rrcn - Thursday, July 13, 2006 - link
Correct. I was pondering the same thing, why that OEM card is more expensive than the retail version. It could definitely be a pricing mistake, I'm positive it's happened before. I wouldn't stress over it...obviously go with the retail version. ;-)
Correct again. ;-) Sometimes though, the OEM will be just the card -- no power adapter, dongles, etc. Always read the "what's included" portion before buying.
Haider Farhan
unclebud - Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - link
"However, with performance generally lower than the 6600 GT, the X1600 offerings really aren't very attractive."to somebody biased towards nvidia perhaps :/
i have a friend playing wow on nvidia 6600. don't see a bit of difference, except that his dvd drive stopped working
"Rather than going with an X1600 or the X700, we feel you'll get more for your money if you spend the few extra dollars and select the 7600 GT as your choice."
how is paying twice the price a "few dollars more"? in what universe?
"This is a truly buggy situation. Windows does not pick it up as a Sapphire using drivers provided by Sapphire,"
this is like what i experienced with the 3dfuzion (3dfuzjunk imo) 6200 pci that i bought. i will just have to reflash the bios and reload windows, because the pci bus is tarfed now and the second monitor ouput on the 5500 pci i swapped back doesn't work now either
i agree sapphire drivers are junk! some of the discs they ship with their cards are completely out of date. sorry, i know this doesn't help, but rest assured i feel the same pain... good luck. maybe try driver cleaner (althought that hasn't helped me either)