Which PCIe Graphics Card to buy in JUL 07 ?
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This serves as a one-stop location for decision-making for buying graphics cards. In addition, a new section on the LCD monitors, to complement your graphics cards.
The main stream cards (aka mid-range cards) now come standard with 256MB memory. There are preciously few games that show a substantial performance difference moving up from 256MB to 512MB, unless you really max out the settings with very high resolutions (i.e. 1600 x 1200 and higher) and AA/AF enabled. Therefore, a faster 256MB or 320MB card is better than a slower 512MB card for resolution of 1280 x 1024 and below. Also, a 128-bit high clock memory card can be faster than a 256-bit low clock memory card. A case in point will be the 7600GT (128-bit), running much faster (20%) than the 6800GT (256-bit).
CURRENT GENERATION OF GRAPHICS CARDS (DirectX 10 capable - DirectX 10 API available only in Windows Vista OS)
GeForce 8800 Ultra 768MB, 8800GTX 768MB, 8800GTS 640/320MB, 8600GTS, 8600GT, 8500GT, 8400GS
Radeon 2x00 series
HD 2900XTX, HD 2900XT 1GB DDR4, HD 2900XT 512MB DDR3, HD 2600XT, HD 2600pro, HD 2400XT
CHEAPEST LOW-END CARDS - Weak 3-D Performance
These HD 2400, 8400, 8500 series (except for overclocked versions) are best suited for 2D-display and simple 3D games (modern 3D games unplayable). Instead of buying such cards, I recommend onboard graphics (i.e. ATI R480/R482/R690 chipsets, Nforce 6100/6150/7050 chipsets, Intel 915G/945G/965G chipsets), if playing modern 3-D games is not your forte. Most of them come with a PCIe X16 slot, so you can add on a powerful graphics card later.
CARDS TO AVOID
ATI
X1x00 series (e.g. X1900) - superceded by HD 2x00 series
NVIDIA
GeForce 7 series - superceded by GeForce 8 series
8800GTS 640MB - outperformed by a cheaper HD 2900XT
First DirectX 10 Games
Company of Heroes (with 1.7 Patch) - 1 Jun
Call of Juarez (with patch) - 12 Jun
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 - 26 Jun
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition - 26 Jun
The list of 256MB (unless otherwise stated) PCIe DirectX 10 cards to buy in each S$ category as follows:
WHERE TO BUY:
$100 to $199
Xpertvision 8500GT DDR3 Sonic (600/1200MHz) - 169 Potterhouse.net
Eagle 8600GT (default clock 540/1400MHz) - 189 Bliss
Xpertvision 8600GT Sonic (600/1600MHz) - 199 Potterhouse
S$200 to $299
Eagle 8600GTS - 285 Bliss
$300 to $399
Elsa 8600GTS (default 675MHz/2GHz) - 309 C.A.S.H.
$400 to $499
Zotac 8800GTS (default 500/1600MHz) 320MB - 456 Bizgram
Leadtek 8800GTS 320M Extreme 540/1680MHz (using 1ns memory - can overclock to 2000MHz)- $475 Mediamart
$500 to $799
ASUS HD 2900XT 512MB - 618 PC Themes
$800 and above
Powercolor HD 2900XT 1GB - 883 Bell
EQS 8800GTX 768MB - 888 Potterhouse.net
8800Ultra 768MB - 1200+
3D Marks 06 Scores
This benchmark is highly sensitive to the CPU's speed. Can varies a lot (up to 30% difference) if running the card on different CPUs, from a single-core FX-55 to a dual-core E6700.
2nd hand Graphics Card Market Price (Rough estimates - varies due to card obsolescence, card age and remaining warranty period)
X1650XT <130
7600GT <130
X1800XL <140
7800GT <150
7800GTX <170
8600GT <170
7900GS <170
X1900GT <180
7900GT <200
X1800XT 512MB <210
X1950pro <220
7950GT <250
X1950pro 512MB < 250
X1900XT <260
7950GT 512MB < 270
8600GTS < 280
7900GTO 512MB <290
X1900XT 512MB <300
7900GTX 512MB <330
X1900XTX 512MB <340
X1950XT <350
X1950XTX 512MB <360
7950GX2 1GB <380
8800GTS 320MB < 420
8800GTS 640MB <560
HD 2900XT 512MB < 590
8800GTX 768MB < 700
TIPS on buying 2nd-hand cards
1st - Buy the card with some warranty period left.
2nd - The card must come with receipt or warranty card (to make claim of warranty with distributor later - note: some brands do not have warranty card. Having the receipt is sufficient, as distributor depends on the warranty sticker on the card itself).
3rd - Buy from someone who have a lot of postings (at Market place/sales garage in VR-Zone forum), and have done some selling transactions. Check that there are no posting of complaints by buyers on that person.
4th - Inspect the card closely during the meeting with the seller. Check for signs of burnt marks/smell.
5th - Go to seller's house and see that the card is operating properly in his computer (this depends whether the seller is willing to do this for you). Peace of mind for both parties, actually, because seller is also protected from buyer's subsequent accusation that the card is already spoilt.
6th - Check out the card on the same day. If spoilt, immediately contact the person for refund.
Of course, despite the above, problems can still occur, especially, if there are people who are out to cheat you in the first place.
If the card is found spoilt and buyer refuses to take back the card, you can still go to the distributor for repair/ replacement. Applicable if you follow rule 1.
LCD Monitors (D-sub and DVI unless otherwise stated)
Recommended to go for wide-screen, the next evolutionary step in LCD monitors.
19" (widescreen 1440 x 900)
HannG - 249 C.A.S.H.
Acer AL1916W - 258 C.A.S.H.
Chimei - 259 C.A.S.H.
Samsung 940NW - 269 DAT
Benq 19WT - 273 Bliss
Dell SE198WFP - 279 dell.com.sg
Philips 190CW7CS - 321 Bliss
LG 194WT - 339 Fuwell
Viewsonic VA1912WB - 344 Bell
20" (widescreen 1680 x 1050)
Acer 2017 (1400 x 1050) - 317 Videopro
Dell E207WFP - 339 dell.com.sg
Benq FP202W - 349 Cybermind, Skylet
LG 204WT - 399 - Videopro
Philips 200WS8FB - 435 Bliss
Samsung 206BW - 439 Videopro
Viewsonic VG2030WM - 469 Fuwell
22" (widescreen 1680 x 1050)
Chimei CMV-221D - 389 C.A.S.H.
Acer 2216W - 425 C.A.S.H.
Viewsonic VX2235WM - 455 Bliss
Dell E228WFP - 469 dell.com.sg
Samsung 226BW - 475 Videopro
LG 226WQ-BF - 485 C.A.S.H.
Philips 220WS8FB - 519 Bliss
Benq FP222W - 529 Potterhouse
24" (widescreen 1920 x 1200)
Dell 2407WFP - 899 dell.com.sg