Video card
 

I just got some money and want to replace my video card, build my entire pc myself but am not sure what video card to buy since I really have not been paying antention to them for a while. Looking for a high end card for no more than 400 dollars. Was thinking Radeon All in Wonder but was not sure... thanks in advance.

There are several cards right over $400, but aren't worth it in my opinion.

The two best cards under $400 right now are the GeForce FX 5900 Ultra and the Radeon 9800 Pro. Both cards are about equal with each of the cards "winning" in different aspects. Either one will suffice. NewEgg has 5900 Ultras for below $400, but their cheapest Radeon 9800 Pro (256 MB) is a little over $400. The 128 MB version of the Radeon 9800 Pro is a lot cheaper and delivers nearly the same performance in most games/applications.

If it were me, I'd get the GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256 MB. Extremely powerful card for under $400. That, or find somewhere selling a Radeon 9800 Pro 256 MB for under $400. I know they're out there.

-Lasereth

Heck, get an ATI (fully ATI branded for warranty) 8600 with 256mb ddr on board for arounf 250.00 and call it a day witha rock solid card and 150.00 to put back in the bank.;)

Get an ATI, it's proven Nvidia will not perform as good in Half-Life 2. Anything from 9600, 9700 or even 9800 if your budget allows you will do.

No such thing as the 8600. :( If you're talking about the 9600 Pro, that card isn't anything special. The GeForce 4 TI4200 8x beat it out in most tests (yes, a GF4 beat out a DX9 9600 Pro).

NVIDIA isn't doing as well in Half-Life 2 because everyone tested it with the wrong drivers. On top of that, NVIDIA slaughters every ATI card in Doom 3. Like I said before, each card does better on different tests. The 9600 Pro is not a wise choice. I hate to say it, but it's simply an overpriced DX9 compatible card. Sort of like the GeForce FX 5200 and 5600/5700. The GeForce 4 beats out ALL of those, even the Ultra versions.

I'd still go with a Radeon 9800 Pro or GeForce FX 5900 Ultra. If you want to spend something well below $400, list your price and I'll give my opinion on that price. Good luck!

-Lasereth

Yeah, my mistype:D

You might want to look at <a href="http://tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25476">this thread</a>.

Yeah, lots of info on the 9800 and 5900 in that one!

-Lasereth

i have a 9800 and i love it.