Best Sub $150 Video Card???

[XyBeRWaReZ]

I'm looking for a 256MB video card that is has the best overclocking ability for the money. I need to upgrade from my cheesy ATI 9200 AIW with only 128MB!
I checked PCWorld magazine and they said that the EVGA eGeForce 6600GT w/256MB is the top value graphics card, but I don't think they take overclocking into consideration.
Also would getting a lower 512MB video card for sub $150 be better than using a higher end 256MB sub $!50 video card?
Anyone have any good suggestions? I'd really like to upgrade ASAP!!! HELPPPPPPP PLEEEEAAASSSEEE!!!!

[Brians256]

Most games won't take advantage of the higher amount of GPU memory. Go for the 256MB cards unless you know your app needs it (e.g. 3D CAD).

[XyBeRWaReZ]

Originally Posted by Brians256

Most games won't take advantage of the higher amount of GPU memory. Go for the 256MB cards unless you know your app needs it (e.g. 3D CAD).

Well lemme tell you what I'll be using it for.

1. Gaming, Elder Scrolls IV, Halo, F.E.A.R., and maybe a couple others.
2. Some 3D CAD, I'm trying to use software to render my 3D waterblock designs, but not all to complicated, so I guess maybe the higher memory shouldn't make too much difference.
3. Converting movies and video clips to different formats.

So if I should go with the 256MB vid card, then do you have any recommendations? There are a ton of different brands out there and not all reviews overclock them, so that's why I'm asking this question in the forums. I wanted to find the best card for my money that would have the highest amount of overclockablility.

[Brians256]

I can't comment on the overclockability. I have heard that Oblivion won't use more than 256MB of video ram, but that is just a passing comment on a forum. You should do more digging. Most exisiting PC games are tuned to work well on 256MB or less of video ram. The CAD may or may not do better with 512MB of video ram.

I was hoping someone else could jump in, since these are just rules of thumb that I'd use. I would buy an nvidia 6600GT right now if it was my money. Hmmm.... actually, I already have one.

[XyBeRWaReZ]

Originally Posted by Brians256

I can't comment on the overclockability. I have heard that Oblivion won't use more than 256MB of video ram, but that is just a passing comment on a forum. You should do more digging. Most exisiting PC games are tuned to work well on 256MB or less of video ram. The CAD may or may not do better with 512MB of video ram.

I was hoping someone else could jump in, since these are just rules of thumb that I'd use. I would buy an nvidia 6600GT right now if it was my money. Hmmm.... actually, I already have one.

You wanna push that over my way :wink: hehe. How about the XFX GeForce GT 256MB TV Dual DVI AGP (PV-T43A-UD)? Someone suggested to me that that's a good card to get for the money.
Thanks for the info, looks like I'll just stick to the 256MB card.