which card for $100?

[technix]

I mention $100 but could maybe go +$20 more.

I'm just curious what you'd recommend.

Right now, I have a Geforce 7950GT. It's getting a bit old in the tooth, huh? I guess that card would be too old to sell. I can find a place in a new build I'm working on!

I am not sure what a good upgrade would be.

I suppose all the good cards (used) are getting snatched up in the B&S section?

If I go new, what do you recommend?

I could wait probably as new ATI and soon Nvidia cards (Fermi?) will be released in the near future? Thus, current cards will get reduced?

I also don't know if I should go again with Nvidia or give ATI a try. Some posters seem to be dissatisfied with recent ATI cards?

I dual boot Linux so I'm inclined to stick with Nvidia but their current cards seem to be a bit old considering the generation compared to recent ATI cards.

However, I'm mostly curious right now so I would consider an ATI card. ATI fans who use Linux insist the situation is improving and are extremely patient!

I'm also curious what Windows users say of which they prefer (if they have owned both...). :)

I though maybe GTS 250, ATI 48xx series and ATI HD 5770. These are over $100 but not by much. Any chance of finding any of those used?

Okay, any recommendations?

[headsh0t]

Ya a 250 would be a decent upgrade from your current card. You could get a 5750 if you wanna keep budget low and not spend as much for the 5770. I might have an 8800gt 512mb for sale soon ;)

[_dangtx_]

used? gtx+ but you can get 8800gt's for as low as 50-60 if you look, gts 512 for maybe 60-70.

new? hmmm...too expensive what you find aroudn teh 100$ mark for the bang :)

[MonsterSound]

Gigabyte GeForce GTS 250 OC 740MHZ 1GB 2.0GHZ DDR3 - $129.99 (AR)
It's just outside your spec. budget but worth considering.

[sswilson]

When I was pricing $100 Nvidia cards for my second Folding farm (new) I had hoped to get my hands on a 250 for sub $120, but it just wasn't out there. Ended up having to settle on a 9800 GT.

[belgolas]

Originally Posted by technix

I mention $100 but could maybe go +$20 more.

I'm just curious what you'd recommend.

Right now, I have a Geforce 7950GT. It's getting a bit old in the tooth, huh? I guess that card would be too old to sell. I can find a place in a new build I'm working on!

I am not sure what a good upgrade would be.

I suppose all the good cards (used) are getting snatched up in the B&S section?

If I go new, what do you recommend?

I could wait probably as new ATI and soon Nvidia cards (Fermi?) will be released in the near future? Thus, current cards will get reduced?

I also don't know if I should go again with Nvidia or give ATI a try. Some posters seem to be dissatisfied with recent ATI cards?

I dual boot Linux so I'm inclined to stick with Nvidia but their current cards seem to be a bit old considering the generation compared to recent ATI cards.

However, I'm mostly curious right now so I would consider an ATI card. ATI fans who use Linux insist the situation is improving and are extremely patient!

I'm also curious what Windows users say of which they prefer (if they have owned both...). :)

I though maybe GTS 250, ATI 48xx series and ATI HD 5770. These are over $100 but not by much. Any chance of finding any of those used?

Okay, any recommendations?

My recommendation is wait till the end of March or early April as many peoe including me will be selling GPU's. You will be able to take one of mine for around $120 as I think that is a fair price for a year and a few months old GTX260 core 216 Super Clocked.

[technix]

Okay, thanks for the great advice!! I can wait until early April. I just thought other people might have the same idea (waiting for better deals and maybe a good, used card). :)

Sounds like a lot of Nvidia recommendations even though the most recent ATI architecture is newer? Is this accurate? ATI HD 4850 is a $100 card right now? Well, used, it is? But, everyone is mentioning Nvidia cards. It's okay with me, though. Nvidia is preferred by the majority of Linux enthusiasts even with some progress from ATI/AMD working on Linux support. I just thought the Nvidia suggestions were interesting. I think I want a card that isn't any weaker/older than a 9800GT, too, btw.

[Bond007]

If you want the fastest gaming card under $120 after tax and new, it is the HD 4850. Obviously there are faster cards, but they cost more or are used.

Powercolor HD 4850 for $105. They have gone on sale for $90 if you keep you look for sales.

Other than that you have to consider if you want a slightly slower gaming nvidia card, but that has CUDA, etc or spend more to get those features and the same speed. You could make the same kind of trade off only instead of Nvidia perks, you get DX11 etc of the 5k series from ATI.

Its really all about what you need most. 1. Gaming speed, 2. folding, cuda, physx, or 3. DX11, better power consumption, eyefinity

That being said, I have no idea about drivers and problems associated with running Linux.

[technix]

Originally Posted by Bond007

If you want the fastest gaming card under $120 after tax and new, it is the HD 4850. Obviously there are faster cards, but they cost more or are used.

Powercolor HD 4850

Originally Posted by Bond007

for $105. They have gone on sale for $90 if you keep you look for sales.

Other than that you have to consider if you want a slightly slower gaming nvidia card, but that has CUDA, etc or spend more to get those features and the same speed. You could make the same kind of trade off only instead of Nvidia perks, you get DX11 etc of the 5k series from ATI.

Its really all about what you need most. 1. Gaming speed, 2. folding, cuda, physx, or 3. DX11, better power consumption, eyefinity

That being said, I have no idea about drivers and problems associated with running Linux.

Tough call... I probably use my card for 3D, video (maybe video editing) and graphics than gaming but I like the option (for gaming)!

[technix]

Oh yeah, I think I have a good question... just thought of it...

I get confused about all the brands and cooling designs.... reference cards...'non-reference' cards with "specialized coolers." Some brands that are recommended for Nvidia are EVGA and XFX and perhaps BFG depending on price. I know some people 'in-the-know' will say to go for the ones with good warranties...

As for ATI, maybe Sapphire and Powercolour??? I am not familiar with the preferred ATI cards. Also, I think speed of the card, the Core Clock is not as important as many of these cards can easily be clocked or it depends on the design mostly?

Most of these questions particularly apply to brand new cards as I would just look for 'a deal' if buying used but I might want to determine if a former owner clocked 'the heck' out of it or not? :)

I think if I wait long enough, I can probably decide between a GTS 250 and an ATI HD 4850... maybe they can be had for $100 - $120 by then?