What video card for $150?

[freedon]

I made this thread that I'm going to buy a new computer, but seems that nobody payed attention
http://www.sharkyforums.com/showthre...hreadid=207108

So I'll just ask about the video card here becuase that's one of the stuff I'm not so sure of.

ATI SAPHIRE OEM RADEON 9500 128MB DDR Black BULK
Specifications: New Black PCB Version
$139 @ newegg

I already pasted my budget, but if there is a $20-$30 difference on another card that will make a HUGE difference from 9500np, then I'll try to ask for more $

[Chuck232]

Anything here:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...alue=4808,3668

Except the first 2 would be a good choice over the R9500np. They're faster and only a bit more.

[hwmicre]

I wouldn't go 9500np. Either go 9600Pro (as Chuck mentioned, stay away from 'Lite' or 'SE' versions) or even Ti4200 if you want to go cheap and don't care about DX9 or AA/AF. There's other recommendations (9500Pro, 9700np), but I'd say they're over budget for ya.

[Un4given]

Newegg has the Tyan G9600 Pro for $163 w/free shipping, and unless you are in Cali, there is no sales tax. This card is nice looking, has a good cooling solution (covers memory as well as GPU), has hardware monitoring for voltage and temps, as well as an O/C utility from Tyan specifically for this card.

[freedon]

ok, so no 9500np

that Tyan looks impresive

there's also the Built By Ati 9600 pro for $175


anybody have experience on Tyan cards?

[Un4given]

Originally posted by freedonX
ok, so no 9500no

that Tyan looks impresive

there's also the Built By Ati 9600 pro for $175


anybody have experience on Tyan cards?

The card wasn't perfect, but HardOCP managed to get the core on this card overclocked to 525MHz from the stock 400MHz settings. The memory used was only rated at 275MHz, even though the default setting was for 300MHz, and they only managed to get the memory to 612MHz, so 306MHz, but it still performed quite well.

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTAyLDE=

[Chuck232]

I think the 3.6ns RAM used was a mistake. Hopefully the retail cards have 3.3ns RAM at least.

I'd prefer the Tyan R9600 Pro over the BBA R9600 Pro cause:

1. It's cheaper

2. Has a few more features like a hardware monitor so you can monitor fan speed and temps.

[freedon]

the BBA is no longer available, then Tyan it is

will make my order today