PC Video Card

[FatalT]

Alright guys, I'm getting an actual desktop PC soon so I'm looking for a great PC Video Card. A friend of mine recommended the GeForce 9600 GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130328) to me but I've been reading up on cards and I'm not sure what would be the best one to go with.

From what I've read, it looks like the Radeon 4870 is the best card on the market right now. I'm not looking to spend close to $300 on a graphics card right now, though. The Radeon 4850 is almost half the price as that one, but I'm not sure if it would be better than the nvidia cards. On the nvidia side there's the 8800 GT which everyone here was raving about a few months ago.

What's the best card on the market right now from what I've been looking at?

[FatalT]

Not bad, but I'm looking for current-gen video cards though. Comments are saying that card was the best of 2006, though!

So far I've got this list compiled:

Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT ($120): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130328

Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT ($150): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS ($160): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500004

ATI Radeon HD 4850 ($170): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261027

Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX ($195): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130385

The 8800 GTS is the G92 model which is reported to be better than the GT and previous GTS models. I'm thinking about going with the 9800 GTX.

[laesperanzapaz]

choose between 9600gt, 8800gt, and 4850.   9800gtx actually underperforms or equals the 4850 in plenty of cases.  whats your REAL budget

[FatalT]

choose between 9600gt, 8800gt, and 4850.   9800gtx actually underperforms or equals the 4850 in plenty of cases.  whats your REAL budget

My real budget is however much it takes until I start to feel guilty. I'm slapping it onto a credit card.

I think I'm going to go with the 4850.

[Smooth Groove]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133229

Get this.  It's a fantastic bargain at $215 AR (Newegg is reliable w/rebates).

According to Hardocp, it's a faster card than the 4870 in most situations.  http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTU0NCwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0

Get a SLI board so that you can add another 260 when you have the money. 

[TVC15]

choose between 9600gt, 8800gt, and 4850.   9800gtx actually underperforms or equals the 4850 in plenty of cases.  whats your REAL budget

If you aren't on a budget, ignore any card from nVidia's *600 line.  Go for *800 only.  frankly, at this point, I'm still recommending 8800 GTs since everything since hasn't been THAT hot.  After my OG 8800 GTS died, I just bought a GT as an interim card until the new hotness came out. . .and it's still not here.

Also note that while the ATI card might have better numbers, after years of dominance, developers are coding to nVidia cards, and I'd safely say they still have the advantage when it comes to most games.

And although I love Smooth Groove, I would not recommend SLI unless you literally have money to throw away.