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This is one of the dumbest video cards ever made.

Read why here: http://bensbargains.net/deal/105636/

Then what do you recommend CompWiz17? I own 8800ultra in one computer and is looking for a good ATI vid card. Which ATI version do you recommend for about $200? Thanks in advance.

for under 200 you could get a 4890 on many different sites-ATI's fastest single GPU card. 2 by 6 pin PCIE, same as your 8800GTX.

the nvidia equivalent at 200 is the gtx 275.

what monitor resolution? you might be able to get away w/ a 4870 if you're not at 24" (1920)

good luck!

I am using 24" and at max resolution. I have the 8800 "ultra" I think it's different from the GTX because of the higher ram and shader clock (atleast I pay for the different anyways. $480 a year ago)

I want to try out ATI since I have never use an ATI card before, have always used Nvidia ever since I build my first comp 12 years ago.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes windowswiz please tell us why the same priced ati card is better.

ATI's drivers are remarkably buggy and rarely get fixed - they simply release a new card with new drivers that have different bugs, which also rarely get fixed. And in the past, their support people have been WAY condescending and obnoxious.

After years of being a loyal ATI customer, I finally had enough about five years ago. nVidia based stuff (five different cards running on five machines here) doesn't exhibit anywhere near the same issues.

#4, ATI cards from the top: 4870 X2, 4850 X2, 4890, 4870. MSI HD 4890 is on sale at Newegg for $170. Search this forum for 4890 and 4870.

#4 -- First if you're considering buy into that product segment, such cards are intended for a resolution of 1920x1200 and higher, and you still get to run with AA turned up. In overall gaming benchmark it's fairly evenly balanced, it then depends on the titles you play because there are titles where one might provide a boost. One nice upside to the GTX 275 is an appreciably lower idle consumption (appox 40W). If you like to leave your gaming box on all the time this will provided a pay back over time, while either is going to be better than your Ultra.

There's one performance consideration and that is OC'n. Many find it quite simple to get an extra 15% (and more) jump over stock 4890 settings (850 vs 960Mhz) and that will push FPS above the GTX275. You can OC the GTX 275 10-12% (633 vs 725Mhz); however as it uses GDDR3 and less of it, the ATI cards 1Gb of GDDR5 memory really display a strong increase when OC'd, and that really endows it with added FPS at the high resolutions.

The GTX 275 price falls between $185-215, while 4890's are pricing anywhere between $170-200. Right today pricing isn't the foremost concern, what should be is buying a quality card from a manufacture that has a good warranty. XFX has a double life warranty, when properly entered on line at time of purchase, you transfer it and the new owner continue to have it covered. This is great selling point when you go to upgrade to your next card. The other thought is the cooler and if a rear exhaust is a better for your enclosure, or can you use the normally quieter open cooler that will exhaust inside the case, with that design adding extra air flow in and of the enclosure might need.

As legitreview.com called it back in early April...
"Legit Bottom Line: This battle is too close to call, but that doesn't matter as the consumer wins no matter which card they pick."

As to ... [Truncated]

Now as to this 9600 "GSO" card with DDR2 128-Bit interface, it's more like 9500GT with DDR2, but extra texture units. Keep in mind this will sacrifice much in memory bandwidth compared to the original GSO's DDR3 on 192-Bit.

So if you take into account these B-M's it ends up on par or behind the 4650 and probably uses more power!
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/HD_4650_OC/2.html

The Sapphire 4650 DDR3 is on sale at Egg for $45 -AR $10; although it had Free Shipping just a couple days ago, you'd need to pick up the shipping now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102838

1GB DDR2 on this card is like putting a roll cage and racing slicks on a Hyundai Accent.

#8 -- Thanks!