I need help getting a new graphics card

[angryemobeaver]

Well as many might know, my graphics SUCK! For christmas im getting a Platinum Pass, a new 19" Flat Screen Monitor, and a new graphics card. I plan on getting a Geforce 9500 GT Graphics.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4035118&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=TBBTkwCjCVyBpAgf%20mwzygtCjCVRqCjCVRq

^ This sight says i can order it for only $45.00

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8983745&st=graphics+card&type=product&id=1218004430629

^On Bestbuy's website it says $110.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130378&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-EVGA-_-14130378

^Here is says $60.00

http://www.provantage.com/xfx-pvt95gydf3~7PINE0CN.htm

^Here it is $85.00

And on Walmart there are tons, but i don't know which kind.

 

Can anyone tell me if i can trust those websites (besides Bestbuy, Circuit City, Walmart, ect..)? And also, on Walmarts website; i see some graphics cards that cost only $100 and are 9500, but ones that are over $400 and are 8800! Is the higher the number, the better? Can someone please help me? I want to have reflected water on RCT3, and have good FBS (over 15 would be fine.) Any recommendations?

[TheBannedKid]

Each card you presented was not the same card. Each manufacturer take the NVIDIA chip and incorporates it into their own card. Each one is built around the same chip but some are low end and others are high end cards.

 

The first one, from TigerDirect, is the same one from NewEgg. I would trust NewEgg over anything. This card has slower memory than the others, called DDR2. There is DDR3 now and it will be more expensive to get a card with DDR3. The memory size is 512MB which is pretty good.

 

The BestBuy card is too extreme for your needs. The standard is 512MB right now and this card has 1GB. Though if you find a 1GB for a good price there's no reason to not get it.

 

The Provantage card has DDR3 memory, hence the higher price.

 

I would go with anything on NewEgg. Are you sure that these cards will work with you computer? How much memory do you have? Do you have a PCI-Expressx16 slot? And what CPU do you have too?

 

This card isn't bad.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130378

 

More high end, I would suggest this for the price. Plus it's 1GB.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130395

 

Personally I would go with a better series, like the 9800 GT with 512MB DDR3 at 256-bit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150316

 

The 8800 has some cards that are two cards in one. That's why they are so expensive. Normally the best 9 series card is better than the best 8 series card, but not all 9 series cards are better than the 8 series cards. I would stick with the newest, the 9 series.

[jjeerr]

ATI 4670: for $80 on newegg, not the fastest video card in the world, but will run anything out today great, much faster running most games then the 9500GT (which is really just mod'ed 8600GT)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161249&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-Hightech+Information+System+Ltd.-_-14161249

 

If you live in the US, buy from newegg. They are the best, maybe not the cheapest, but the best. I wouldn't buy from TigerDirect.

[Freefallbestrideever]

Don't waste your money on a 9500gt. The ATI HD4670/4830 and Nvidia 9600/9800gt are the lowest i would recommend.

[terrancew_hod]

^What he said.

 

What are the specs on the machine that you have? Will it accept a pci-express-based graphics or AGP? You need to know this before you get the card to make sure you can install it so you won't be mad on Christmas because you got something you can't use.

 

Also, a higher number doesn't necessarily mean a better card. The 8800 GT 512 beats both the 9600GT and 9500GT and I saw it on Newegg for about $139. I have this card on my machine and it runs really well... even in PC emulation mode on my "Hackintosh" through Parallels.

 

The card you are looking at is a budget card, and although it should be enough to get some good rates in RCT3, if you can swing a better card try to get one.

 

Terry