So you have decided to chuck that old graphics card or the onboard graphics. Or maybe the new Uber rig you got didnt have any onboard graphics.
So what to do now, confused...well you came to the write place :bleh:
For a brushup, read the following great writeups
http://www.techenclave.com/forums/604014-post1.html
and
http://www.techenclave.com/forums/622067-post16.html
I'll ask a few questions first.
Quest. A. What you need the graphics card for?
Choices :
A1. You got a new rig which has no onboard graphics and need something basic to power your rig.
A2. Some very light gaming.
A3. Moderate gaming, will play some upcoming games but not at very high resolutions and/or don't have the cash to spend on an expensive card.
A4. A bit better then moderate, the card should last me about 1 yr or so.
A5. Good levels of gaming with Budget a mild concern.
A6. Absolutely no holds experience, maybe a little with in my budget.
A7. No Budget for me, I want the best.
Quest. B. Will you be watching HD content (720p and 1080p) on this machine?
Choices
B1. Yes a lot of HD content.
B2. Some HD content.
B3. Nope, maybe once in a blue moon.
Quest. C. Do you have a PSU/SMPS powerful enough for a high end GPU?
Choices
C1. Yes, I have a powerful SMPS.
C2. No, I don't have a powerful SMPS, all I have is what came with my cabinet.
C3. Erm, I have a decent aftermarket SMPS.
Now lets discuss the various choices we mere mortals have in India for graphics cards.
I am only listing cards here which are in my opinion worth looking for, other cards have now mostly become obsolete.
1. Onboard Solutions
2. nVidia 7100GS
3. nVidia 8500GT
4. nVidia 8600GT
5. nVidia 8600GTS
6. nVidia 7900GS/GT/7950GT
7. nVidia 8800GTS 320MB
8. nVidia 8800GTS 640MB
9. nVidia 8800GTX 768MB
PS : I am not sure if the ATI X1900 series is easily available in India, and judging by the usual poor availabiliy of ATI graphics cards, I am guessing it's not.
Also, all these can handle Vista Aero Interface easily, so if thats why you are looking for a Graphics Card, just pick the cheapest one.
Now lets discuss each and every card with the Questions A to C in mind.
1. Onboard solutions : Price ~ Nil
Ideal for :
Good choices are :
a. AMD's 690G chipset which is by far the best onboard solution right now b. next up is the nVidia's 7050 chipset which is close behind
c. nVidia's 6100/6150 lineup
d. Intel's onboard 965 lineup
The first three are AMD only and the last is Intel only, the last is no good for light gaming.
2. nVidia 7100GS : Price ~ 2000
Ideal for :
Keep in mind that these discrete GPU's are way way better then any onboard solution available right now, so if you can only spend that little extra, you can spend it here.
3. nVidia 8500GT : Price ~ 5000
We have now gone up the ladder a bit. Lets see, ideal for :
If you want to watch HD Content in all its glory, then this is the bare minimum you should be aiming at.
Also keep in mind that you do need HDCP capability if you intend to watch Protected HD content.
HDCP capability for 8500GT is not mandatory and brands like XFX don't have HDCP enabled 8500GT's. Search about the brands available to you and make sure you buy a HDCP enabled 8500GT, POV 8500GT is HDCP enabled.
Oh and with a HDCP capable graphics card, you also need a HDCP enable monitor.
4. nVidia 8600GT : Price ~ 7200
This is the price segment (7 to 10k) where it all gets fuzzy, we have too many choices in this price range, I'll summarize at the end of this price range which card one should go for.
For now, the 8600GT is ideal for :
Again, nVidia guidelines don't mandate HDCP in a 8600GT so XFX misses out again. Galaxy 8600GT is a good buy in this range, has an aftermarket cooler, comes OC'd from the factory and has HDCP.
8600GT's are highly overclockable, and its better to obtain a factory OC'd model like the Galaxy one for a good performance card.
5. nVidia 8600GTS : Price ~ 10000
This card is IMO not worth the purchase till prices fall down to say 8000-8500. The performance is equal to 7900GS and sometimes even lesser and still the card is costly. Anyways, ideal for.
Good news though, is that all 8600GTS must be HDCP capable, so close your eyes and pick the cheapest one you can find.
6. nVidia 7900GS/GT/7950GT : Price ~ 10000
The old gen high end cards make the decision in this segment so very hard. I'll try and be concise, but first lets see what these cards are ideal for.
These cards donot have HD decoding capabilities like the DX10 cards do (8xxx series from nVidia). That means that you'll be stressing your CPU when you watch HD Content, so make sure you hava powerful CPU (Anything Dual Core)
Also, some of these cards have HDCP some don't, so if thats a concern, do your homework before buying.
Now my take on the midrange segment :
If you have to have DX10 playability, that is don't want to play the games in DX9 mode, then go for the 8600GT OC'd edition.
If however, HD Content is not much of a concern and you are a gamer on a tight budget, then pick up any 7900 series graphics card you can lay your hands on. Just remember that these won't sell like the 8600GT's will after one year.
Performance wise 8600GT<8600GTS<7900GS so make your decision carefully.
The 8600GTS are not worth the money till the price drops down.
My choice in the mid range segment : Galaxy 8600GT OC'd Edition
7. nVidia 8800GTS 320MB : Price ~ 18000
If you want some sort of decent DX10 playability and can afford it, this is the bare minimum you should be looking at.
Ideal for
All 8800 Series cards have HDCP capabilities, so no worries there.
This is the best card available in India after the 8600GT and if you have the cash to spend, then this is one of the best things money can buy.
Should play most DX10 games at moderate settings/moderate resolutions, no problems in handling any of the older DX9 games.
8. nVidia 8800GTS 640MB : Price ~ 25000
A step up from the 8800GTS 320MB version, an OC'd 8800GTS 640MB comes quite close to performing like a 8800GTX 768MB
Ideal for
This is certainly a costly card and performs like one, should handle the DX10 games better then the 320MB version thanks to the more VRAM that is available.
Also, OC'd versions/when OC'd they perform closely to the 8800GTX 768MB so if you can spend 25k but not the 33k it costs a 8800GTX here, then this is what you should get.
Lastly we have the monster.
9. nVidia 8800GTX 768MB : Price ~ 33000
This is currently one of the best graphics cards money can buy.
Ideal for, well everything.
Costs a lot though and if you can't spend so much, look for the 8800GTS 640MB Version.
Final Words :
While there are many Graphics cards available to choose from, here's a short summary of what card you should get.
Low End/Daily use/No Gaming/Light Gaming : Onboard or 7100GS
Mild Gaming/HD Movies/ Low End Discrete GPU : 8500GT
Mid End/Moderate Gaming : 8600GT
Mid High End/Heavy Gaming : 8800GTS 320MB
High End/Heavy Gaming : 8800GTS 640MB or 8800GTX 768MB
Cheers
Deepak
So what to do now, confused...well you came to the write place :bleh:
For a brushup, read the following great writeups
http://www.techenclave.com/forums/604014-post1.html
and
http://www.techenclave.com/forums/622067-post16.html
I'll ask a few questions first.
Quest. A. What you need the graphics card for?
Choices :
A1. You got a new rig which has no onboard graphics and need something basic to power your rig.
A2. Some very light gaming.
A3. Moderate gaming, will play some upcoming games but not at very high resolutions and/or don't have the cash to spend on an expensive card.
A4. A bit better then moderate, the card should last me about 1 yr or so.
A5. Good levels of gaming with Budget a mild concern.
A6. Absolutely no holds experience, maybe a little with in my budget.
A7. No Budget for me, I want the best.
Quest. B. Will you be watching HD content (720p and 1080p) on this machine?
Choices
B1. Yes a lot of HD content.
B2. Some HD content.
B3. Nope, maybe once in a blue moon.
Quest. C. Do you have a PSU/SMPS powerful enough for a high end GPU?
Choices
C1. Yes, I have a powerful SMPS.
C2. No, I don't have a powerful SMPS, all I have is what came with my cabinet.
C3. Erm, I have a decent aftermarket SMPS.
Now lets discuss the various choices we mere mortals have in India for graphics cards.
I am only listing cards here which are in my opinion worth looking for, other cards have now mostly become obsolete.
1. Onboard Solutions
2. nVidia 7100GS
3. nVidia 8500GT
4. nVidia 8600GT
5. nVidia 8600GTS
6. nVidia 7900GS/GT/7950GT
7. nVidia 8800GTS 320MB
8. nVidia 8800GTS 640MB
9. nVidia 8800GTX 768MB
PS : I am not sure if the ATI X1900 series is easily available in India, and judging by the usual poor availabiliy of ATI graphics cards, I am guessing it's not.
Also, all these can handle Vista Aero Interface easily, so if thats why you are looking for a Graphics Card, just pick the cheapest one.
Now lets discuss each and every card with the Questions A to C in mind.
1. Onboard solutions : Price ~ Nil
Ideal for :
Good choices are :
a. AMD's 690G chipset which is by far the best onboard solution right now b. next up is the nVidia's 7050 chipset which is close behind
c. nVidia's 6100/6150 lineup
d. Intel's onboard 965 lineup
The first three are AMD only and the last is Intel only, the last is no good for light gaming.
2. nVidia 7100GS : Price ~ 2000
Ideal for :
Keep in mind that these discrete GPU's are way way better then any onboard solution available right now, so if you can only spend that little extra, you can spend it here.
3. nVidia 8500GT : Price ~ 5000
We have now gone up the ladder a bit. Lets see, ideal for :
If you want to watch HD Content in all its glory, then this is the bare minimum you should be aiming at.
Also keep in mind that you do need HDCP capability if you intend to watch Protected HD content.
HDCP capability for 8500GT is not mandatory and brands like XFX don't have HDCP enabled 8500GT's. Search about the brands available to you and make sure you buy a HDCP enabled 8500GT, POV 8500GT is HDCP enabled.
Oh and with a HDCP capable graphics card, you also need a HDCP enable monitor.
4. nVidia 8600GT : Price ~ 7200
This is the price segment (7 to 10k) where it all gets fuzzy, we have too many choices in this price range, I'll summarize at the end of this price range which card one should go for.
For now, the 8600GT is ideal for :
Again, nVidia guidelines don't mandate HDCP in a 8600GT so XFX misses out again. Galaxy 8600GT is a good buy in this range, has an aftermarket cooler, comes OC'd from the factory and has HDCP.
8600GT's are highly overclockable, and its better to obtain a factory OC'd model like the Galaxy one for a good performance card.
5. nVidia 8600GTS : Price ~ 10000
This card is IMO not worth the purchase till prices fall down to say 8000-8500. The performance is equal to 7900GS and sometimes even lesser and still the card is costly. Anyways, ideal for.
Good news though, is that all 8600GTS must be HDCP capable, so close your eyes and pick the cheapest one you can find.
6. nVidia 7900GS/GT/7950GT : Price ~ 10000
The old gen high end cards make the decision in this segment so very hard. I'll try and be concise, but first lets see what these cards are ideal for.
These cards donot have HD decoding capabilities like the DX10 cards do (8xxx series from nVidia). That means that you'll be stressing your CPU when you watch HD Content, so make sure you hava powerful CPU (Anything Dual Core)
Also, some of these cards have HDCP some don't, so if thats a concern, do your homework before buying.
Now my take on the midrange segment :
If you have to have DX10 playability, that is don't want to play the games in DX9 mode, then go for the 8600GT OC'd edition.
If however, HD Content is not much of a concern and you are a gamer on a tight budget, then pick up any 7900 series graphics card you can lay your hands on. Just remember that these won't sell like the 8600GT's will after one year.
Performance wise 8600GT<8600GTS<7900GS so make your decision carefully.
The 8600GTS are not worth the money till the price drops down.
My choice in the mid range segment : Galaxy 8600GT OC'd Edition
7. nVidia 8800GTS 320MB : Price ~ 18000
If you want some sort of decent DX10 playability and can afford it, this is the bare minimum you should be looking at.
Ideal for
All 8800 Series cards have HDCP capabilities, so no worries there.
This is the best card available in India after the 8600GT and if you have the cash to spend, then this is one of the best things money can buy.
Should play most DX10 games at moderate settings/moderate resolutions, no problems in handling any of the older DX9 games.
8. nVidia 8800GTS 640MB : Price ~ 25000
A step up from the 8800GTS 320MB version, an OC'd 8800GTS 640MB comes quite close to performing like a 8800GTX 768MB
Ideal for
This is certainly a costly card and performs like one, should handle the DX10 games better then the 320MB version thanks to the more VRAM that is available.
Also, OC'd versions/when OC'd they perform closely to the 8800GTX 768MB so if you can spend 25k but not the 33k it costs a 8800GTX here, then this is what you should get.
Lastly we have the monster.
9. nVidia 8800GTX 768MB : Price ~ 33000
This is currently one of the best graphics cards money can buy.
Ideal for, well everything.
Costs a lot though and if you can't spend so much, look for the 8800GTS 640MB Version.
Final Words :
While there are many Graphics cards available to choose from, here's a short summary of what card you should get.
Low End/Daily use/No Gaming/Light Gaming : Onboard or 7100GS
Mild Gaming/HD Movies/ Low End Discrete GPU : 8500GT
Mid End/Moderate Gaming : 8600GT
Mid High End/Heavy Gaming : 8800GTS 320MB
High End/Heavy Gaming : 8800GTS 640MB or 8800GTX 768MB
Cheers
Deepak
..
hyeah: 
