Graphics Card Help

**looqas** · 11-29-2007, 02:12 AM

If the clocks are the same and the cooler is the nvidia stock cooler then the product is identical in hardware point of view. The manufacturers just copy the reference board and slap their own stickers to it and voila! They have their brand model.

So. Go for the lowest price or IF some vendor has a very good warranty for a reasonably price then go for it.

At least XFX and EVGA have life time warranties so they are good bets.

Supporting MB with turbo cache means that your video card does not have insufficient memory itself so it has to borrow system RAM to store video card data like textures. This is not the problem in your case since all the cards have 512MB but it sure looks good on the advertisment doesn't it :)

**Vreki** · 11-29-2007, 03:33 AM

Before you buy a 8500, you should take a look at this chart:

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html

**Sam1990** · 11-29-2007, 03:55 PM

So I guess I made a mistake buying the XFX 8400 GS 256MB / 512MB w/ TurboCache that I have right now, which is I guess another reason I should get a new one.

I know this is off the topic, but could anyone let me know how to overclock processors and memory. Because, I have 2GB ram that you can overclock. It says it has 663MHz but I think it's only running at about 333MHz from the BIOS I ran.

Hmm.. looking at the chart you gave me Vreki, it seems that the 8500 GT only gets 17.5 FPS. Maybe I should ask another question.

What would be the best video card to buy for PCI Express, thats better than my current XFX GeForce 8400 GS 256MB for under $110, that I can purchase at a store.

**looqas** · 11-29-2007, 04:06 PM

Your BIOS tells you correctly the speed so no oeverclocking needed. It's DOUBLE data rate (DDR) so your memory controller is actually working at that 333MHz speed, but this DDR technique "doubles" the effective memory speed. 2x333 = 666MHz.

Tough luck. Ain't much to choose from with that budget. You could sell your old card and 110 + 8400GS value = closer to 200$ which is almost the money needed to get 8800GT which in turn would be the best buy now.

**Sniper1432** · 11-29-2007, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by Slawek View Post

What would be the best video card to buy for PCI Express, thats better than my current XFX GeForce 8400 GS 256MB for under $110, that I can purchase at a store.

Unfortunately you won't find a decent card that cheap at a local store.

**Sam1990** · 11-29-2007, 04:14 PM

Is it worth the $60 to go from the 256MB 8400GS to the 512MB 8600GT?

**Sniper1432** · 11-29-2007, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by Slawek

Is it worth the $60 to go from the 256MB 8400GS to the 512MB 8600GT?

yes, but even the 8600 is not that great :/ especially on new titles like COD4, Crysis, etc...

**Vreki** · 11-29-2007, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by Slawek View Post

Hmm.. looking at the chart you gave me Vreki, it seems that the 8500 GT only gets 17.5 FPS. Maybe I should ask another question.

What would be the best video card to buy for PCI Express, thats better than my current XFX GeForce 8400 GS 256MB for under $110, that I can purchase at a store.

I am not familiar with the American market, but pricerunner has the 8600 GT as the best card below $110.
Its not a great card and it is not "Future Proof", but the test has it a 43 FPS compared to the 17 FPS of the 8500, and that will mean a lot.
You should be able to run the current BF games at medium at least.

The 8800 GT is the absolute best value for money at the moment, but that doesn't help you if your budget is limited to $110

As for overclocking, it is not something you should do if you cant afford to replace damaged components.

**Sam1990** · 11-29-2007, 04:29 PM

Well, it's not really my budget, but I just don't want to spend over that much because I just spent $600 on the new computer I bought, and well I still have to pay that off.

Vreki, I currently have 18-20 FPS on BF2 with the 8400GS on High settings without AA.

See, all I really need is a small upgrade from my 8400GS because I still get minimal lag on BF2 when playing with like over 35 people. So, does anyone have any suggestions on which video card would be a decent upgrade, preferably one I can purchase at Tigerdirect.

**jesus** · 11-29-2007, 07:33 PM

Originally posted by Sniper1432 View Post

yes, but even the 8600 is not that great :/ especially on new titles like COD4, Crysis, etc...

i play cod4 maxed at 1280x1024 at 40+ FPS, and play crysis at all medium at 1024x768 at 25 - 30 fps (but that's expected)

i can max UT3, bioshock, gears of war, etc too

so what are you talking about?

**Namakan** · 11-29-2007, 09:07 PM

8600 is a very nice budget card, sniper..gimme some of what your smoking

**Sam1990** · 11-29-2007, 10:27 PM

Alright, so what I need to know is:

Should I return the XFX GeForce 8400 GS 256MB DDR2 / 512MB w/ TurboCache, which I'll get $59.99 back and buy the XFX GeForce 8600 GT 512MB DDR2? Or, should I buy the XFX GeForce 8600 GT 256MB DDR3. Or should I just stick with my current one?

**jesus** · 11-29-2007, 11:35 PM

Yes, defiantely return the 8400, and what resolution are you playing at?

**Sam1990** · 11-30-2007, 12:08 AM

1024 x 768

If I do return the 8400GS, which card should I get? The XFX 8600GT with 256MB DDR3 or 512MB DDR2? There's a $10 difference between them. If you have a different won that doesn't go over $129.99 that you prefer better, please let me know.

After I return this one and get a new one, I'll save up for an 8800GT or maybe an SLI motherboard.

Graphics Card Help

Graphics Card Help

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