Best Graphics Card?

[IchI]

Yo, my friend is buying a new computer as his is just ****ed up and I have the responsability of making sure its 'the shit' so I would like some advice on graphics cards.

Basiclly he is looking to spend anything from £200-400 on a graphics card. But if anything is the same as when I bought mine just because it has a coupel more numbers on the end it doesn't mean its the best one, especially when they charge much more money for them.

So basiclly, what is the best gaming graphics card to date thats avalible on http://www.overclockers.co.uk/ or any other reliable UK online retailer

Take into acount he will NOT be overlocking. I have asked for advice before and some people say "well this is better than this if you overclock" He/I are looking for something that is straight out of the box and will be future proof for as long as possible.

Here are the other components I adviced his to get, I would be greatful if you could comment on my choices:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939)
Asus A8N32-SLi Deluxe nForce4 SLi X16 (Socket 939)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 667MHz Value DDR2

Thanks (sorry to be so blunt when asking, just trying to make sure I get a straight answer ) all this RAH RAH RAH RAH confuses me

 

[Stigmata]

Do NOT go for socket-939. AT ALL.

If you're looking for good CPU components, definitely look into the new Intel Core 2 Duos. The E6600 is a great processor, but it also has amazing overclocking capabilities when you pair it with the right motherboard. I forget which one it is, but I think Asus can help you out with that

If you don't want to go Intel (they're actually good this time, even a bit better than AMD right now), then make SURE you're getting a Socket-AM2 motherboard and a dualcore processor. If you go with Athlon64 processors, make sure to get the proper memory: Only DDR2 will work, and you must be able to get half the speed of the RAM by dividing the CPU speed by a whole number. Example: If you have a 2.4GHz Athlon64, and you have 800MHz DDR2 memory, you can reach 400 by dividing 2400MHz by 6. But if you have a 2.2GHz processor and the same RAM, you won't be able to reach the proper speed (2200/6=366.6, 2200/5 = 440).

As for the video card, I'd personally wait until DX10 cards start rolling out. However, I'm under the impression that that's going to happen in about a month from now, so if it's later than that, you might want to opt for a value card for now.

 

[SAJ]

I would go with Stigmata on this one, Intel have it sewn up this round and 939 is dead tech.
On the video card side of things I would wait for nvidia's dx10 card that is due to launch in November. It will cost your friend all of his £400 budget, but if future-proof is what he wants then that's the card for the moment.

If you need more details for your purchase then you could do worse than taking your questions to the overclockers forums directly, that bunch of geeks have all the answers and then some, and there's more of them in the tech forums so your more likely to get answers.

 

[Asus]

Personally, I'd go for an ATI X1900XT or X1950XT. 48 pixel shaders would probably be as future proof as you can get atm. DX10 cards are coming soon though.

Socket 939 uses DDR memory. Socket AM2 uses DDR2 memory.
Pick a socket AM2 CPU/board if you want the ability to upgrade down the line.

 

[Fliko]

ASUS P5W DH Deluxe is what I currently use for my CONROE, and I love it.

Overclocking is also nice and easy on it IF you don't put the voltage to the very last setting.. can't remember the number, but the bios lock you out of the CPUVoltage inless you reset a jumper.

 

[hungryduck]

at this point, its best to wait for DX10 cards to come out, as they are rather close to release....

 

[The Brick]

Yeah DX10 cards are close, but I suggest not getting one straight away yet. There will be problems and they need time to fix them. By that time there will also be more valuable offers for DX10 cards. Also, the nVidia cards (G80) are likely to get their ass kicked by ATI's cards (R600).

I myself am getting a new pc this week, and I'm very positive on getting an x1950pro. One of the best performance/price ratio at this moment (while it's still a high-end card).

 

[-Psy-]

Get an X1900GT (£150)

And one of those fancy Intel processors as they beat AMD's highest-end models.

Oh, and they have a great power to price ratio.

I think.

 

[Dynasty]

Seeing as DX10 is coming, and hes willing to spend £400 on a card, id go for a cheaper card that still does the business. Its what i have done.

I bought a Connect3D x850pro for £110. Why? Because it helps me play games NOW with max settings, 1024res and helps me save for the DX10 cards which will be £500 a pop most likely on release.

Or alternatively go for the ATI X1900XT or X1950XT series. £300 odd and is the best card money can buy.

 

[The Brick]

Get an X1900GT (£150)

And one of those fancy Intel processors as they beat AMD's highest-end models.

Oh, and they have a great power to price ratio.

I think.

Ehm, check out the X1950pro, it's cheaper, a weeeeeee bit faster and costs less power than the X1900gt.

 

[Asus]

Ehm, check out the X1950pro, it's cheaper, a weeeeeee bit faster and costs less power than the X1900gt.

Yeah, if you don't want to wait for DX10 cards but want to buy one down the line that would be a good way to go.

 

[IchI]

When a motherboard says SLI does that mean you need an SLI video card? Or does a SLI video card simply mean you can have x2 of them on a motherboard?

 

[The Brick]

If you have an SLI mainboard, it means that you can use 2 nvidia cards to work together. It's called Crossfire with ATI cards. It's basically the same. You can still use a single card of either brand.

 

[Dumb Dude]

If you are going for the absolute best, I'd wait for nVidia's 8800gtx which should hit stores on November 8th. Its going to be the first DirectX 10 graphics card (which means next to nothing without Vista) and its going to own. That day will be a sad day for my wallet.

 

[Asus]

If you are going for the absolute best, I'd wait for nVidia's 8800gtx which should hit stores on November 8th. Its going to be the first DirectX 10 graphics card (which means next to nothing without Vista) and its going to own. That day will be a sad day for my wallet.

Your wallet will hurt even more 6 months from then when they come out with an even better DX10 card.

 

[IchI]

Your wallet will hurt even more 6 months from then when they come out with an even better DX10 card.

Hmmm, I would have thought that tha new DX10 cards are more about suport than amazing new technology in the chips. Meaning DX10 cards will be more powerful than todays but simply have the capabilitys of DX10. So having a bigger better graphics card in 6months will be obvious, it happens with all graphics cards. But the way you say it makes it out to be a HUGE step.

I don't know anything about DX10 or graphics cards, but for me DX10 is software and for the new cards it all about suporting that with new features. Not whole new chips.

 

[-Psy-]

DX10 has unified shaders.

So every single pipeline of a gfx card is doing something everytime which in turn means more fancy shading and rendering techniques without harming the fps.

 

[The Brick]

It's just that the first generation of DX10 cards from nVidia won't have unified shaders

 

[IchI]

Okies, its come to crush time and I'm finalising the system for my friend. Here is what I have

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+ 2.60GHz (Socket AM2)
Asus M2N32 WS Pro nForce 590 SLi (Socket AM2)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 667MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel

Connect 3d Radeon X850XT 256MB GDDRIII DVI + TV PCI-E (Until the DX10 cards come out, only £90)

All of this comes up to £670 so nows all I need to know is will it work well together? Because the motherboard is SLi does that mean the ATI card will work? My friend does plan on getting an Nvidia DX10 card when they come out. Urrr what else.... the ram? is that good? blah blah blah, generally is it all set for purchase

 

[-Psy-]

Get a Intel Conroe for christ's sake.

It'll bring the price down a lot!

 

[IchI]

So.... What about this?

Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB)
Asus P5W64-WS Pro Intel 975X (Socket LGA775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 667MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel

Connect 3d Radeon X850XT 256MB GDDRIII DVI + TV PCI-E (Until the DX10 cards come out, only £90)

The motherboard says "Quad PCI-E x 16 slots" does that mean you can have 4 graphics cards :O also it doesn't say if its SLi or Crossfire, does that mean it suports both or none?

- Intel Core™2 Extreme / Core™2 Duo Ready
- Quad-core CPU Ready
- DDR2 800/667/533
- FSB 1066/800/533
- Quad PCI-E x 16 slots

 

[Asus]

A lot of boards with 2 PCI-express 16x slots and an Intel chipset support crossfire (look for the the support listed). I believe only motherboard with an Nvidia chipset will support SLI.

 

[IchI]

Okies, thanks for ALLL your help. I'm very greatful. I ordered his new PC now just need to wait until it gets here then I need to put it together for him

THANKS THANKS THANKS!