New Graphics Card

[KtheC']

I am looking to buy a new card and would greatly appreciate some input on what's good out there.
These are my current specs:

XP3200 cpu
1gb PC3200 Corsair ram
Asus A7V600 mobo
500w psu
1 40gb WD hd 7200 rpm
1 20gb WD hd 7200 rpm
Pioneer DVD writer
TDK CD-RW writer
floppy drive

I know that the newer cards require some extra power. I want Nvidia only. Money isn't really an issue.
I know that there have been other postings on this topic, but I wanted to list my specs for current replies.
Thanks

[CDN_Merlin]

6800 ultra? I think thats the top end Nvidia card.

256 meg version.

[KtheC']

I saw that. The specs I read on it said that you needed a 480w minimum power supply. I didn't think
that I had enough to support that card and everything
else.
Thanks for you reply though

[WarAdvocat]

Nvidia Geforce FX 6600 GT

I just bought a BFG Geforce FX 6600 GT OC and it's running fine, and there was no PSU requirement. It's running great on my Athlon 64 3000+ system on a 400 Watt PSU.

For the extra few percent performance, I'm too cheap to pay the difference. I got my card retail at a CompUSA brick-and-mortar location for $265.00 including sales tax. No Muss, no fuss, no shipping, with bonus same-day-installation.

Here is a CompUSA product link. You can enter your zip code to check availability.

You can probably buy this card for a 220 or so online also, just check pricewatch.

[Krom]

6800 or 6800 GT are good cards that won't break the bank as badly as a 6800 Ultra. All nvidia cards are made using nvidia refrence boards so there is no real difference in quality between them, all you are really shopping for is the sticker on the cooler (and what the cooler looks like). I prefer leadtek myself, I have a couple of their Nvidia cards and I am quite happy with them.

[Mr. Perfect]

The 480 watt requirment is for overclocking the card. I don't remeber what they recremend for a system that is not overclocked, but it was down around 350 or something. Look around and you should find the press releases about the revised power requirments. Your 500 will definetly do fine.

[Pun]

Money isn't really an issue.
Thanks

If money isn't an issue, buy the 6800U and a new power supply.

[Grendel]

Or a 6800 GT. Stay away from the 6600 cards

[KtheC']

I was looking at the 6800 GT cards. They look good to me.
Thanks everyone

[Iceman]

Can anyone give me a feel for the performance difference between a 6800GT and a 9800Pro?

[Vindicator]

Can anyone give me a feel for the performance difference between a 6800GT and a 9800Pro?

Quite a bit. (more benchmarks at bottom)

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphi ... 00-23.html

[Iceman]

Thats the 6800U versus the 9800XT. I have a 9800 Pro and I am curious to know if the difference between it and a 6800GT is worth buying such a card ...

[Vindicator]

Hint: if the 9800XT gets spanked, the 9800 Pro is gonna be spanked even more.

Personally, I am perfectly happy with my 9800 Pro.

[Krom]

Thats the 6800U versus the 9800XT. I have a 9800 Pro and I am curious to know if the difference between it and a 6800GT is worth buying such a card ...

The 6800 GT is to the 6800 Ultra what the 9800 Pro is to the 9800 XT. Only one rung down on the ladder, so the 6800 GT will perform about twice as fast as the 9800 Pro.

[Mr. Perfect]

Heh. The 9800 XT even get's edged out a little by the 6600 GT, and the 6800 GT is easily twice as fast as a 6600GT.

I would have jumped on a 6800 GT ASAP if they wheren't so damn expensive. This time last year you could buy the second-rung 9800 Pros for $200 flat, but the X800 Pros and 6800 GTs are still up around $400.