Best PCI express Video card for under $200?

[Real.PUA]

The 8600GTS is alright, it's about the same price as the x1950 and 7950. But for a pure gaming card, I agree with the advice given, I would go with x1950 for $150 or scrape the cash together for an 8800gts 320mb for ~$250.

[Chrome IV]

I'm building a budget system now, got myself a Sapphire Radeon X1950 512MB.

I was considering an XFX 7800 GT, but it was hard to find.

Both got good reviews from hardware sites. Look them up.

[Fate]

I'd get a 7950GT/GTS if I were you. The GeForce 8xxx series really isn't there yet. For the price of an 8 series card you could get a 7 series card that would be physically faster, and simply lack hardware DirectX 10 support, which at the moment is beyond useless anyway.

[jesus_is_my_homeboy69]

Originally Posted by Fate

I'd get a 7950GT/GTS if I were you. The GeForce 8xxx series really isn't there yet. For the price of an 8 series card you could get a 7 series card that would be physically faster, and simply lack hardware DirectX 10 support, which at the moment is beyond useless anyway.

The 8800GTX is faster than any other card.
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†Jesus†

[Fate]

Uh-huh. The GeForce 8800GTX also costs 7-800 dollars. I could build a whole system for 800 dollars, drop a 7950GT in it, and be perfectly happy with it for a good year or two before DX10 games actually started happening.

The OP's question was about decent cards under $200, and the 7950GT's are easily hovering around the $199 mark these days.

The Radeon x1900/1950 series is viable, too, and the 1950 is pretty much neck-in-neck with the GeForce 7950GT while beating it in a few tests. I simply discount the Radeons these days as their drivers are traditionally crap (they're getting better) and Nvidia's Linux support is currently miles beyond ATI's.

Back in the 9800 Pro days I was an avid Radeon Advocate. Not at the moment; That may change again at some point in the future.

[Real.PUA]

Eh the 8800GTX has dropped below 500 now.