9800 GTX+, GTS 250... So many cards! Which one to choose?

[tinkerC]

I am about to pull the trigger on my graphics card. One card, Asus VH226H 21.5" screen, and I am rather confused by which card would be better...

I want to change my current decision, as the GTS 250 is better, and possible cheaper

The competitors are as follows:
(Dual DVI
eVGA GeForce GTS 250 Graphics adapter - 1 GB - GDDR3 SDRAM
(1 DVI, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI)
eVGA GeForce GTS 250 Graphics adapter - 1 GB - DDR3 SDRAM (not as nice looking )
(Dual DVI)
eVGA GeForce 9800 GTX+ - 512 MB (Current decision)
(Dual DVI)
PNY GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit GDDR3

Cheapest is the GTS 250 - 1 GB - DDR3 SDRAM. My understanding is that the GTS 250 512MB is exactly like the 9800 GTX+, so that is not here. Also, what is the best brand to get video cards from? eVGA has a track record I know of for being cheap while not cheap quality, but does anybody else know of a good brand to look at?

Tom

 

[smolex]

Hey Tom,

To start with your video card all depends on what your going to be doing with it. If you plan on doing intense gaming, video editing, or graphical work then a very nice high end geforce GTX 470 or 480 would be useful.

If you are going to be using it as a HTPC, internet, online movies and basic gaming like (World of Warcraft) then any of the cards you have selected are good. You want to get the most out of your money so if a 1GB GDDR3 is the same price as a 512GB GDD3 withe same other specs go with the 1GB.

As for brands EVGA, Sapphire, Zotac, XFX are all great manufacturers though can be pricer then something from Gigabyte, Sparkle and MSI which are also good but would suggest the others first if you can pay the extra. Thanks.

 

[tinkerC]

Hey Tom,

To start with your video card all depends on what your going to be doing with it. If you plan on doing intense gaming, video editing, or graphical work then a very nice high end geforce GTX 470 or 480 would be useful.

If you are going to be using it as a HTPC, internet, online movies and basic gaming like (World of Warcraft) then any of the cards you have selected are good. You want to get the most out of your money so if a 1GB GDDR3 is the same price as a 512GB GDD3 withe same other specs go with the 1GB.

As for brands EVGA, Sapphire, Zotac, XFX are all great manufacturers though can be pricer then something from Gigabyte, Sparkle and MSI which are also good but would suggest the others first if you can pay the extra. Thanks.

I am looking for a card that is the best for under $140.

Tom

 

[Meomy]

"Best" for under that is without a doubt the GTS 250 1024mb cards.
Next best would be the GTX 260 (216+).
Those two cards will well in truly get you out of trouble for both gaming and general use (incl Design Software etc).

I highly recommend the GTS 250 1024mb card until you are ready to upgrade to a Fermi card.

what is the best brand to get video cards from? eVGA has a track record I know of for being cheap while not cheap quality, but does anybody else know of a good brand to look at?

I can personally vouch for "Gainward" cards, as you may observe in my signature. All ports/connections work. I am unable to give you "real" user feedback with the brands you have queried.

 

[sandman32]

I;m thinking about this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814125285

Fastest clock speed for the GTS 250 1024mb that I could find, the big zalman cooler seems like it should help with temps and fan noise. I'm going to do some more research though, as I'm not buying a new video card for 2-4 weeks.

 

[tinkerC]

"Best" for under that is without a doubt the GTS 250 1024mb cards.
Next best would be the GTX 260 (216+).
Those two cards will well in truly get you out of trouble for both gaming and general use (incl Design Software etc).

I highly recommend the GTS 250 1024mb card until you are ready to upgrade to a Fermi card.

what is the best brand to get video cards from? eVGA has a track record I know of for being cheap while not cheap quality, but does anybody else know of a good brand to look at?

I can personally vouch for "Gainward" cards, as you may observe in my signature. All ports/connections work. I am unable to give you "real" user feedback with the brands you have queried.

Thank you! If the Thanks system was active, I would give you one. I am thinking about this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/EVGA-GeForce-GTS-250-1GB-DDR3-PCI-Express-2.0-Graphics-Card/13952358, what is you take on this one?

Tom

 

[flatfoot]

"Best" for under that is without a doubt the GTS 250 1024mb cards.
Next best would be the GTX 260 (216+).
Those two cards will well in truly get you out of trouble for both gaming and general use (incl Design Software etc).

I highly recommend the GTS 250 1024mb card until you are ready to upgrade to a Fermi card.

what is the best brand to get video cards from? eVGA has a track record I know of for being cheap while not cheap quality, but does anybody else know of a good brand to look at?

I can personally vouch for "Gainward" cards, as you may observe in my signature. All ports/connections work. I am unable to give you "real" user feedback with the brands you have queried.

Thank you! If the Thanks system was active, I would give you one. I am thinking about this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/EVGA-GeForce-GTS-250-1GB-DDR3-PCI-Express-2.0-Graphics-Card/13952358, what is you take on this one?

Tom

There are cards with better coolers, i. e. such that blow out the hot air to the rear. The one you linked doesn't even have exhaust openings in its PCI bracket.

 

[tinkerC]

Thank you! If the Thanks system was active, I would give you one. I am thinking about this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/EVGA-GeForce-GTS-250-1GB-DDR3-PCI-Express-2.0-Graphics-Card/13952358, what is you take on this one?

Tom

There are cards with better coolers, i. e. such that blow out the hot air to the rear. The one you linked doesn't even have exhaust openings in its PCI bracket.

Well, that means that I don't need another dust filter, and also, the GPU is cooled just like a CPU. Also, it is cheaper than many cards with the covering and half of the RAM.

As an alternative, what about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-nVidia-GeForce-PCI-Express-GS250XYDFU/dp/B002733L54

Tom

 

[flatfoot]

Thank you! If the Thanks system was active, I would give you one. I am thinking about this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/EVGA-GeForce-GTS-250-1GB-DDR3-PCI-Express-2.0-Graphics-Card/13952358, what is you take on this one?

Tom

There are cards with better coolers, i. e. such that blow out the hot air to the rear. The one you linked doesn't even have exhaust openings in its PCI bracket.

Well, that means that I don't need another dust filter, and also, the GPU is cooled just like a CPU. Also, it is cheaper than many cards with the covering and half of the RAM.

As an alternative, what about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-nVidia-GeForce-PCI-Express-GS250XYDFU/dp/B002733L54

Tom

Why in the world would you want to filter an exhaust? So the dust that makes it into your case stays there?
I think the reason why its's cheap is that it's equipped with that clunky, cheap cooler.

The XFX card you linked looks fine.
With this one, the hot air is lead directly out of the case instead of being left to the case fans.

 

[tinkerC]

Well, that means that I don't need another dust filter, and also, the GPU is cooled just like a CPU. Also, it is cheaper than many cards with the covering and half of the RAM.

As an alternative, what about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-nVidia-GeForce-PCI-Express-GS250XYDFU/dp/B002733L54

Tom

Why in the world would you want to filter an exhaust? So the dust that makes it into your case stays there?
I think the reason why its's cheap is that it's equipped with that clunky, cheap cooler.

The XFX card you linked looks fine.
With this one, the hot air is lead directly out of the case instead of being left to the case fans.

Except that the XFX card is 512 MB, and rather worse than the 1 GB version. I have an extremely cool case. I hadn't realized that was exhaust, I thought it was intake! Do you know of any cheap GTS 250 1GB cards?

What do you think of this one?

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-nVidia-GeForce-PCI-Express-01G-P3-1158-TR/dp/B002O0KM3O/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_3

Tom