[pc_boy]

I was wondering what the best vid card for around 100 dollars is. I was looking at the ATI X1650XT 256MB and the 8600GT GDDR3. I know that the 8600 has dx10, but i wanna know what would give the overall best FPS in games.

Also, what's the best CPU for around 70 dollars (overall benchmarks)?

[b1gapl]

The X1650XT is a little stronger than the 7600GT, but the 7600GT is cheaper, and overclockable.
Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

For the CPU:
AMD - X2 4000+
Intel - E2140

[vernong1992]

if ur willing to splurge an extra $14

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100199L Radeon X1950GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

that spanks both the gt and the x1650xt

but otherwise the 7600gt is good if you can't dish out hte extra cash

[Sora]

Card: Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100189 Radeon X1900GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Supported Video Card - OEM
CPU:Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail

Those 2 will give you the best performance around that price

[b1gapl]

I was about to put up the X1900GT, but thought the X1950GT wasn't much more.

[Sora]

the X1900GT Original card is faster than the X1950GT if im not mistaken. The X1950GT is faster than the Rev 2

EDIT: Actually even the Original X1900GT is faster than the X1950GT with 12 more mhz on the core and 60 on the memory, while the original has 75 more mhz on the core which helps a lot. The X1950GT is 80nm fabrication though

[vernong1992]

wow theres an x1900gt at newegg??

i thought newegg removed those a while ago... but nice find dude...

also the Open Box versions of better cards are also noteworthy

[b1gapl]

Originally Posted by Sora

the X1900GT Original card is faster than the X1950GT if im not mistaken. The X1950GT is faster than the Rev 2

You're right. The X1900GT is 75MHz faster than the X1950GT, on the core. So the X1950GT, is just a downclocked version?

[Sora]

As i stated in the edited version the X1950GT is yes just a downclocked X1900GT with a smaller nm fabrication even though the X1950GT is built on a smaller fabrication process that does not help the speed of it.

[maroon1]

Newegg.com - MSI NX8600GT-T2D256E OC GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

This video card 8600GT is slightly slower than X1950GT but it has higher overclocking potential, it produce better image quality and support DX10 and 8600GT beats X1950GT in newer games like STALKER

Benchmarks
AnandTech: More Mainstream DX10: AMD's 2400 and 2600 Series