Which graphics card to buy?

[gxsaurav]

I am in need of a new graphics card. It needs to be a simple midrange graphics card for normal PC operations like running the OS, watching movies etc. My budge is $200. There will be no gaming.

I will also be running 3ds Max & Other such workstation applications but not a lot.. I have heard that ATI graphics card have problems in the view port with 3ds Max etc, is this true?

Feature wise Radeon 3650 is better then 9600GT, however the cost of 9600GT is more compared to Radeon 3650. So what should i do? Buy a Radeon 3650 or buy 9600GT.

[Revolution.]

go for the 3870 .. i think it would be in your price range.. if not .. get 3650 for bang for your buck or 9600GT cause its the latest peice of technology. up to you.

peace out .. hope that helped you out a little bit.

[BGM]

if your not gaming, $200 is a large budget

this would probs do the job: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814136019

good choice, unless you can afford a FireGL card :)

[J400uk]

A 9600GT is a hell of a lot better performing than the rubbishy ati 3650, which is just a warmed over 2600 pro.

[+PeterUK MVC]

Its really between 9600GT or HD 3870 for the top end of your budget or what about the 8800GS?

[chconline Veteran]

The 9600GT will blow the 3650 out of the water... it's like, more than twice as fast -- and that's only a conservative guess.

[ViperAFK]

You can't even compare a 3650 to a 9600 gt in terms of performance.

[RAID 0]

I'd go with the 9600.

[Richmc]

I just bought a 9600 to replace my dying 7800gtx. What a difference. Can play Crysis with everything on high and COD4 maxed out. The stock cards start at $179 so under your budget limit.

[gxsaurav]

I know I cannot compare 9600GT & ATI 3650 in terms of gaming, but as I have already mentioned that I will not be gaming with this card, I prefer XBOX 360 for that. I am comparing them in terms of features.

Although my budget is $200, but the cheaper the better. I was preferring ATI due to higher feature set in general desktop usage, the only thing I am concerned about is how the quality will be in 3ds max with ATI cards cos I have never used them in ATI Gaming cards.

So far, from all the reviews I have read, ATI 3650 pwns GeForce 8600GT in feature & performance, & pwns GeForce 9600GT in features. The extra performance in Geforce will hardly be used in my case.

Anyone used here apps like 3ds max & maya on ATI 3xxx series cards?

[include]

lol @ your avatar

[toadeater]

8800GTs, $199 after rebate:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814122047

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814127329

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130318

[Robbie Khan Reviews]

The 8800GT is what invented the words "bang" and "buck" :)

[AimLXJ]

It's funny how everyone is posting video cards that people use for gaming...

Go for ATi's FireGL: http://ati.amd.com/products/firegl.html http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....amp;x=0&y=0

Whether you’re an engineer designing mechanical subassemblies or an animator creating eye-popping visual effects, the ATI FireGL™ series of PCI Express and AGP workstation graphics accelerators offers complete top-to-bottom solutions with industry leading performance, ground-breaking features, and unprecedented visual fidelity for the most demanding workstation users from entry-level to ultra high-end at prices to match any budget.

ATI’s award-winning ATI Mobility FireGL™ workstation graphics technology enables engineers, animators, and designers to run professional 3D CAD and DCC applications whenever and wherever they go. ATI’s innovative ATI Mobility FireGL solutions have been integrated into mobile workstations by leading manufacturers including Dell, HP, IBM, and Fujitsu Siemens.

Card is not for gaming, its for 3D stuff ;)

Edited March 7, 2008 by BlackShadow

[include]

The 8800GT is what invented the words "bang" and "buck" :)

That would be the 6600GT, but whatever.

[Robbie Khan Reviews]

That would be the 6600GT, but whatever.

Not to today's standards which is the topic here...

[ViperAFK]

That would be the 6600GT, but whatever.

Must be nice living in the past, lower gas prices.

:p

[BGM]

It's funny how everyone is posting video cards that people use for gaming...

Go for ATi's FireGL: http://ati.amd.com/products/firegl.html http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....amp;x=0&y=0

Card is not for gaming, its for 3D stuff ;)

i already said this, i did, i did :D

they cost over $200 though don't they ?

[Joe User]

I am in need of a new graphics card. It needs to be a simple midrange graphics card for normal PC operations like running the OS, watching movies etc. My budge is $200. There will be no gaming.

I will also be running 3ds Max & Other such workstation applications but not a lot.. I have heard that ATI graphics card have problems in the view port with 3ds Max etc, is this true?

Feature wise Radeon 3650 is better then 9600GT, however the cost of 9600GT is more compared to Radeon 3650. So what should i do? Buy a Radeon 3650 or buy 9600GT.

Depending on how much you're going to use 3ds Max, you want something like a Ati FireGL or some of the Matrox cards.

[gxsaurav]

Well, I am from India & FireGL cards cost a lot here & are hard to find, I would rather buy a Dell workstation instead of looking for a separate workstation graphics card.

I am getting Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 here for $135 with 256 MB DDR3 Memory, should I deal? The only card better then this will be Radeon HD 3850 which will go over $200.

Note : The rate in $ is approx, as I need to Pay Rs 5,500 for the Radeon HD 3650.

[Crazysah]

Thats a good deal for the 3650!

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, I just have a few questions:

- Does 9600GT has two independent display controllers (to drive two displays simultaneously with independent resolutions, refresh rates, color controls and video overlays for each display)?

- Where does 3870 get its source of sound from? Can 9600GT or 3870 get digital audio signal from from a soundcard through SPDIF?

tia

[Hak Foo]

The 3650 is nice in that it can be ran fanless-- PowerColour and HIS sells it that way, and the Sapphire card can be fitted with an Arctic Cooling Accelero S2 (about USD 20)

However, the price difference is here like USD 80/105 for 512M GDDR2/GDDR3 cards here.

If my Sapphire GDDR2 version is typical, there isn't an audio-inbound connector. If you want to use sound over HDMI, I think it sets up a second sound device "inside" the card.

[richardsim7]

No need to spend so much money, you're not going to game, an 8600GT will serve you just fine :)

-Rich-

[gxsaurav]

No need to spend so much money, you're not going to game, an 8600GT will serve you just fine :)

-Rich-

That makes sense but for only $15 more I am getting Radeon 3650 which gives more features then GeForce 8600GT, so it makes sense to buy HD 3650