Graphics card advice

[st0rm3rs]

I need some free-advice.
I want to add some eye-candy to Crysis, but a CPU, mobo upgrade has to wait till Christmas.

This is what I have (you uber-geeks better not laugh): Intel D915GEV, Intel CPU 3GHz, 2x256MB 1x500MB 533MHz, GForce 6600GT 258MB

Financial: Keep in mind that I am on a very strict budget R1200.

Logistics: Where is a good place to buy in Cape Town Area.
What about www.landmarkpc.co.za is this a reliable website?
Matrix Warehouse?

Technical: Should I go (256MB DDR3) or (512 DDR2)?
MSI, Asus, XFX, what's the difference?

 

[hj2k_x]

See my sig man

 

[killadoob]

nothing u will buy for 1.2k will give you eye candy in crysis

look around for second hand cards as you might be able to pick up 3850's or 8800gts 320 meg's for around that price

 

[Glordit]

I would say for R1200 you got a choice between a 8600GT or a HD3650 although these will probably get you about 20-30fps in Crysis with all settings High at 1024x768. if you want it to look good, 9600GT/8800GT/S or HD3850/70 is the best option.

as for Brands... The are all the same. Period.

 

[st0rm3rs]

nothing u will buy for 1.2k will give you eye candy in crysis

OK, maybe then only a grape-flavored chappie or two??
I'm not so keen on 2nd hand goods.

What would make the biggest difference? 512DDR2 or 256DDR3

 

[Glordit]

OK, maybe then only a grape-flavored chappie or two??
I'm not so keen on 2nd hand goods.

What would make the biggest difference? 512DDR2 or 256DDR3

IMO, I would probably go with DDR3 at lower resolutions. DDR2 512 would be better for Higher resolutions but with a 128bit bus, they are both going to be a bit chocked when you turn up the detail.

 

[MrE]

OK, maybe then only a grape-flavored chappie or two??
I'm not so keen on 2nd hand goods.

What would make the biggest difference? 512DDR2 or 256DDR3

Cards in that price range are going to suck, period (in terms of eye-candy handling abilities.
That being said, 256mb DDR3.

 

[Glordit]

Cards in that price range are going to suck, period (in terms of eye-candy handling abilities.
That being said, 256mb DDR3.

Yup, true rather save a little more and you can get a HD3850 for about 1.7k - http://www.prophecy.co.za/gecube-hd3850-256mb-pcie-graphics-card-p-23669.html
No use buying a 8600GT.

You could wait for a abit and see how the New 9500GT performs when it comes out in June.

Otherwise, It's your money and choice at the end of the day

 

[hj2k_x]

Yup, true rather save a little more and you can get a HD3850 for about 1.7k - http://www.prophecy.co.za/gecube-hd3850-256mb-pcie-graphics-card-p-23669.html
No use buying a 8600GT.

You could wait for a abit and see how the New 9500GT performs when it comes out in June.

Otherwise, It's your money and choice at the end of the day

Yip, the 9500GT can only be better than the 8500GT

 

[Glordit]

Yip, the 9500GT can only be better than the 8500GT

Supposed to be "Half-a-9600GT" so should be better than the 8600GT & GTS

9500GT details

 

[hj2k_x]

Supposed to be "Half-a-9600GT" so should be better than the 8600GT & GTS

9500GT details

Well if the 9600GT is going for R1800 now then it had better be pretty cheap!

 

[kronoSX]

I would say for R1200 you got a choice between a 8600GT or a HD3650 although these will probably get you about 20-30fps in Crysis with all settings High at 1024x768. if you want it to look good, 9600GT/8800GT/S or HD3850/70 is the best option.

as for Brands... The are all the same. Period.

I also believe that they are all the same,sometimes the same is not really the same

 

[kronoSX]

i was just thinking can we really trust second hand grafix cards,not the refurbished ones but those that get sold in classifieds...etc,i mean when will we really notice the breakdown at high temps...by then it will to late....guy is gone with your money

 

[st0rm3rs]

I have very bad luck, when it comes to 2nd hand or online shops.
That Murphy's a biatch.

 

[killadoob]

second hand vga cards are just fine

with all the new vga cards that come out now why would second hand be bad?

i mean if there is something wrong with vga cards the person could always go and get it swopped out rather than do a dodgy sales if you ask me

 

[SanchoP]

I bought a second hand 850XT for R400 from someone at SystemShock. Slightly faster than the 8600GT and I'm playing Crysis at lowish at 1280x1024, because I find resolution makes much more difference than all of the other bells and whistles.

I've bought pretty much my entire PC from either SystemShock or Prophecy Classifieds for a fraction of what they would have cost new and I'm very happy.

With a few exceptions, everyone their is very reliable IMO.

Re OP I would look at either a 3650 new, or maybe a second hand 8800GT/S from someone who's upgrading to 9800 goodness.

 

[st0rm3rs]

<noob question>
Will the ATi cards work on my Intel motherboard
</noob question>

 

[cyberarmy]

<noob question>
Will the ATi cards work on my Intel motherboard
</noob question>

Yes, that's why intel's chipset support ATI's cross-fire setup.

 

[MrE]

<noob question>
Will the ATi cards work on my Intel motherboard
</noob question>

Yes, it's just another brand, not a different type of hardware.