Whats the best sub $100 PCIx16 videocard?

[wallabing]

$100 is max. Will the 7300GT be a good choice? The only thing I'm looking at is Dual monitor support, and just playing world of warcraft and some other light games.

I'm pairing it up with a Core 2 duo E6300,

1GB (2 x 512Gmb) PNY optima DDR2 533mthz RAM dual channel kit

Any other suggestions? ANy help appreciated

 

[F1N3ST]

The X800GTO is the best.

 

[vnf4ultra]

The 7300GT's with GDDR3 are nice. They're faster than the DDR2 versions of the card.
Here's one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122008

Also the x1650pro might be a good consideration. (right at $100 if you count the rebate).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161037

The ati x800gto is also nice, but it doesn't have shader model 3.0 support since it's older, which is a downside.

 

[F1N3ST]

The cards arent really fast enough to take advantage of SM3.0 IMO. But the X800GTO blows away those 2 cards, if you can live without 100% of the eye candy. And you can flash the bios of these to get 16 pipelines sometimes.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131007

 

[Rick]

And you can flash the bios of these to get 16 pipelines sometimes.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131007

To do this, it has to be a GTO², no?

 

[vnf4ultra]

The cards arent really fast enough to take advantage of SM3.0 IMO. But the X800GTO blows away those 2 cards, if you can live without 100% of the eye candy. And you can flash the bios of these to get 16 pipelines sometimes.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131007

Cons: R430 core, runs a little hot, no way to unlock the 4 extra pipelines.

Quoted from:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16814131007
The GTO^2 and the GTO16 could use 16 pipes, but this model can't.

The standard x1650pro actually is faster than the x800gto.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=590&model2=568&chart=224
(it should be noted the x1650pro in the benchmark has gddr3, while the one I linked to is ddr2, so it will be somewhat slower than on the benchmarks).

After looking at the chart though the 7600gs looks like it might be a good card in this price range as well.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=531&model2=568&chart=224

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143054

 

[F1N3ST]

If you can spend 13$ more, a 7600GT is 113$ now

 

[wolfram]

Cons: R430 core, runs a little hot, no way to unlock the 4 extra pipelines.

I wrote what that review hehe
And that's completely true I really tried to unlock the 4 extra pipes, but there's no way to do it.

 

[johnmayo]

I think this is a great GPU...

Click..

When I purchased it..I only paid around $50 because there was like a $30 mail in rebate.
So I got two for SLi.

 

[F1N3ST]

7600GS' suck IMO! Just cuz you have one dosnt mean its the best, but hey everyone has an opinion, and this is mine

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Correction, the pipelines on the Connect3D X800GTO can be unlocked to the full 16 by flashing the BIOS to an X850XT.
Also, the 7600GS is not a bad card but the 7600GT is definitely better, owing to the faster RAM and clocks. The 7600GS can easily be beaten by a GDDR3 X800GTO. It's basically a less-expensive version of the X800GTO for all the NVIDIA fans out there .

 

[vnf4ultra]

Correction, the pipelines on the Connect3D X800GTO can be unlocked to the full 16 by flashing the BIOS to an X850XT.

You mean the the x800gto that costs $65 more($155) than the others and is therefore more expensive than a 7600gt, which is a better choice for the money?
Also, even the "mighty" connect 3d x800gto won't unlock to 16 pipes.

Cons: Newer versions don't have unlockable 16 pipes, but it still runs very nicely anyway.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16814142052

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Look here vnf4ultra. It's not completely reliable I admit, but it's possible.

 

[wolfram]

I found this:

UPDATE Dec. 1st 05: It seems the Connect3D GTO modding times are over.

 

[vnf4ultra]

Look here vnf4ultra. It's not completely reliable I admit, but it's possible.

I didn't mean that it was never possible. I know that many people have x800gto's, x800gto^2's, and x800gto16 cards running with the full 16 pipes.
Now though, you don't know what core you're getting(you never could be sure you'd get a "good" card), and have a high chance of getting one that won't unlock.

I would never recommend counting on getting a card that can unlock. As long as the card works at stock, then you got what you paid for. It is wrong to be angry that a component will not unlock/overclock, since these activities are not guaranteed and are a "bonus." So don't count on unlocking/overclocking just because some people say "but mine can."

Unlocking is a nice bonus though when it works.

 

[johnmayo]

How does the 7600GS suck?

I think that a FX5500 does..

Also is there any ways i can make my 7600GS any better?

 

[F1N3ST]

You can voltmod them and then they compare to a GT but lose by a little. And I agree, 5500FX's do suck. I think the following components suck:

AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
Gigabyte GA-M55SLI-S4
1024 MB of G.Skill PC2-6400 Ram
7600gs in SLi
250 gig SATA WD Caviar
2 Lite-on DVD-RW
RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black

 

[johnmayo]

That doesn't suck its better than a lot of people's computers..

 

[F1N3ST]

Well, thats your opinion.

 

[K@in]

clever....

also you can oc the 7300 Gt gddr3 to um 625/950 or some thing a bit less with the stock cooling. it out performs the 7600 gt at those speeds!

 

[CrossFire851]

Well lets stop the flame wars you two

The 3800 x2 sucks trust me I don't feal speed unless it is at 2.6Ghz. But like I have said in many other post this CPU is crap (UNLESS OC'D THEN IT OWNS ) I don't see why AMD even released such low-end cpu.



Your sytem is a bit iffy, but hey I am used to something with a highier calibur.

 

[wolfram]

Please stop that flaming war. If not, Howard will delete your posts, and possibly, ban you.

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Ok guys. What`s going on in here then?

We take a dim view on flaming around here. If you can`t agree to disagree, I suggest you carry on your argument via pm`s and not on the forums. I have edited out the foul language.

If this carries on, I will start deleting posts.

Regards Howard TS Moderator.

 

[johnmayo]

Howard..How does techspot rankings work?

I apologize for my flaming..

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Take a look HERE and scroll half way down the page. That will explain it nicely.

Regards Howard