nVidia Cards

[patrickaupperle]

I was looking on newegg for a semibudget-budget video card and found these:

XFX PVT86SWAQG GeForce 8400GS 512MB (256MB on Board) 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150241


MSI NX8400GS-TD256EH GeForce 8400GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127316

MSI NX8400GS-TD256E GeForce 8400GS Support up to 512M (256MB onboard) 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127296

Which would be suggested? Would these work in ubuntu? Would there be something else, in the same price range, that would be better? Do you think any of these could run doom 3 (no big deal)?

[AsoSako]

.

[forrestcupp]

It will definitely work in Linux. But keep in mind that they change their numbering scheme with every generation. So the 8400 is the equivalent of the 6200 in the 6xxx generation. It is the low end.

You probably can't beat it for the price. It will do you good if you're not into heavy gaming. I don't know how well it will handle Doom3, though.

[patrickaupperle]

Under Device Manager these cards show up (I only have 1 card, i dunno why there are 2), and I can play. It is really annoyingly slow. I hope the nVidia cards will work better than what I have in this laptop now.

Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller

Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller

[patrickaupperle]

I would go with the XFX one, because XFX usually make great cards with awesome clock rates, that are hard to break... :D
You should consider waiting for the 9xxx series which are coming shorty however.
Yeah, I might wait for the 9xxx series, but will they be expensive:confused:? And I thought the XFX card looked the best, too.:)

[AsoSako]

Yeah, I might wait for the 9xxx series, but will they be expensive:confused:? And I thought the XFX card looked the best, too.:)

They might be a bit more expensive, though the low-end cards should be affordable. In any case even if they are expensive, the prices of the 8xxx series should fall soon after the release of the 9xxx series, so there is another reason to wait. :)

[Superkoop]

You should wait it out a bit before buying, and then get a slightly better card. Wait until the release of the 9xxx series, prices should go down on the other cards, and then you can get a better card.

That's what I'm doing at least.

[patrickaupperle]

Your right. I still dont think ill be able to get an 8800 ultra, though.
:lolflag::lolflag::lolflag:

[~LoKe]

Do you still run Windows? No? Then don't bother with a DX10 card. Get something from the 7 series if it fits your budget.

[NullHead]

wow my GeForce 7600 gs is almost as good as all of those :lolflag:

I would go with the xfx one btw ...

[patrickaupperle]

Do you still run Windows? No? Then don't bother with a DX10 card. Get something from the 7 series if it fits your budget.
nVidia will focus driver development and things on the 8/9 series more so than the 7 series. The 8 series is also a little faster, I think.Also I asked the Ubuntu community about the 7 series vs 8 series and several people recommended the 8-series.

[~LoKe]

nVidia will focus driver development and things on the 8/9 series more so than the 7 series. The 8 series is also a little faster, I think.Also I asked the Ubuntu community about the 7 series vs 8 series and several people recommended the 8-series.

The Ubuntu community isn't the authority on everything. I, like others, assumed a 8600GT would be better than a 7900GS. I was, unfortunately, mistaken. The 8 series is only better than the 7 if you need DX10.

[patrickaupperle]

Do you think that the BFG Tech BFGR76256GSOCE GeForce 7600GS 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card or the XFX PVT86SWAQG GeForce 8400GS 512MB (256MB on Board) 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card is a better card?

Just to make something clear, I cannot afford the 7600GS so this is just a curiosity thing.

[~LoKe]

Do you think that the BFG Tech BFGR76256GSOCE GeForce 7600GS 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card or the XFX PVT86SWAQG GeForce 8400GS 512MB (256MB on Board) 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card is a better card?

The 7900GS.

[patrickaupperle]

The 7900GS.
7600GS?

That is what I said in my post.

[~LoKe]

Typo on my part; kept thinking of my card.

Yes, the 7600GS is still better than an 8400GS.

[patrickaupperle]

I expected as much. It IS more expensive. the 7300GT is about the same though. which of those (the 7300 and the 8400 I was speaking of earlies) is better?

[~LoKe]

I expected as much. It IS more expensive. the 7300GT is about the same though. which of those (the 7300 and the 8400 I was speaking of earlies) is better?

Hm...probably the 8400GS. I think the performance is comparable, and the 8400 has support for DX10 in case you find a use for it, as well as newer drivers as was mentioned. I've had bad experiences with the 7300GT and will never touch it again.

[patrickaupperle]

Hm...probably the 8400GS. I think the performance is comparable, and the 8400 has support for DX10 in case you find a use for it, as well as newer drivers as was mentioned. I've had bad experiences with the 7300GT and will never touch it again.

I would guess that it would also beat the 7200GS then. So, for the money, i made a good choice to start with.:)

[forrestcupp]

The problem with waiting for the 9xxx series is how long will it be before nvidia drivers support them in Linux? Also, there is always something new coming out. If you can't afford a 7600 or an 8500 (which isn't much better than the 8400) go for it. Just don't expect heavy gaming. It will run compiz and neverball without any trouble, but I don't know about most new 3D games.

[NullHead]

This is my view on this question here.

If you're going to game in Windows Vista/(maybe even xp) than go with a 8 series for the directx 10 features.

If you're going to game in Linux with Wine than buy a 7 series ... they're cheaper and just as good as DX9 as the 8 series cards are.

Now there is ways to use directx 10 in windows XP, but imo it's not really worth the effort ... so I would buy a 7900GTX or a 7600GS ... with my 7600GS I can play Crysis(on low, but still looks nice), Call of Duty 4 (optimal settings runs great I get 40fps), Every game in Orange box (all on high), I can play Call of Duty 2 (all settings maxed), Battlefild 2 and 2142 (both maxed out) and Eldar Scrolls IV Oblivion ... now some of those games have DX10 library ports for windows XP, but they play very nicely with DX9.

So my overall vote would be this card here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130021).

[herbster]

I just got a new rig going and got an 8800GT. I had a 7600GS and love it, but the 720p playback was not perfect and 1080 was a slideshow, and that's my main interest along with gaming from a card. The 8800 does the job with ease.

Gotta get the card you need, holmes. Definitely know what you will use it for so you don't buy one whose power you can't/won't take advantage of.

[geekygirl]

Interesting discussion...if you are on an ultra tight budget and gaming isn't what your primary PC use is then sure get a 7600GS...personally I would spend the extra $10 (based on Australian prices lol) and get the 7600GT.

But if you had up to $100 to spend on a GPU I would buy an 8600GT 512MB, and of course the list grows the more money you have.

The argument about Linux never running DX10 whilst true, isnt the basis for advising people to only buy a 7 series card...why not just tell people to buy a 6600GT?...same thing really...oh wait newer GPU, more shader pipelines etc..better graphics performance...

An 8 series card whilst in most cases capable of using the DX10 API wouldn't even handle a DX9.0c based game very well...yes a 7600GS will outperform a 8500GT..but I would get the 8500GT if you were building a HTPC.... I wouldn't game on it though...then again I wouldn't game on a 7600GS lol

Things that need to be considered rather than just what games will run at what fps are things like screen resolution - becoming more and more a deciding factor given the sizes you can get a monitor in these days - 30" gaming...yes please!! Another thing to consider is overall system build - no point having an uber GPU if your system gets bottlenecked at the CPU or memory now is there?!

Here is a good place to have a look and compare between cards:
Tom's Hardware VGA charts 2007 cards (http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1058&model2=716&chart=318)

Oh buy the way on a personal note when I changed from a 7600GT to an 8800GTS 320M KO ACS3...games as simple as WoW were like a breath of fresh air (gaming with all the candy turned on High is always nice...), Oblivion was played for the first time with everything maxxed out at 1280x1024...that was a pipe dream on the old card!

But to use the argument that you don't need an 8 series card because Linux cannot use DX10 is possibly misleading to someone who may read this and considering an upgrade - personally I would get an 8 series card for gaming over the older DX9 7 series card - but that depends on the model as it is true with the 8 series and older 7 series - low end cards will never match a higher end previous generation card...it should alos depend on the games and system you are using....not whether something is DX10 or not.

Cheers!

[forrestcupp]

You guys are forgetting that the OP's budget is about $45 and he said he doesn't game, except for maybe Doom3.

[NullHead]

oh .. not going to game ... well dx7 cards work easier/better in linux anywho .. and they're cheaper ... so my vote is still dx9 GeForce 7 series.

[patrickaupperle]

You have all givin me a lot to consider. I will be looking at the VGA Charts 2007 then go from there.

[patrickaupperle]

Interesting discussion...if you are on an ultra tight budget and gaming isn't what your primary PC use is then sure get a 7600GS...personally I would spend the extra $10 (based on Australian prices lol) and get the 7600GT.

But if you had up to $100 to spend on a GPU I would buy an 8600GT 512MB, and of course the list grows the more money you have.

The argument about Linux never running DX10 whilst true, isnt the basis for advising people to only buy a 7 series card...why not just tell people to buy a 6600GT?...same thing really...oh wait newer GPU, more shader pipelines etc..better graphics performance...

An 8 series card whilst in most cases capable of using the DX10 API wouldn't even handle a DX9.0c based game very well...yes a 7600GS will outperform a 8500GT..but I would get the 8500GT if you were building a HTPC.... I wouldn't game on it though...then again I wouldn't game on a 7600GS lol

Things that need to be considered rather than just what games will run at what fps are things like screen resolution - becoming more and more a deciding factor given the sizes you can get a monitor in these days - 30" gaming...yes please!! Another thing to consider is overall system build - no point having an uber GPU if your system gets bottlenecked at the CPU or memory now is there?!

Here is a good place to have a look and compare between cards:
Tom's Hardware VGA charts 2007 cards (http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1058&model2=716&chart=318)

Oh buy the way on a personal note when I changed from a 7600GT to an 8800GTS 320M KO ACS3...games as simple as WoW were like a breath of fresh air (gaming with all the candy turned on High is always nice...), Oblivion was played for the first time with everything maxxed out at 1280x1024...that was a pipe dream on the old card!

But to use the argument that you don't need an 8 series card because Linux cannot use DX10 is possibly misleading to someone who may read this and considering an upgrade - personally I would get an 8 series card for gaming over the older DX9 7 series card - but that depends on the model as it is true with the 8 series and older 7 series - low end cards will never match a higher end previous generation card...it should alos depend on the games and system you are using....not whether something is DX10 or not.

Cheers!

I checked the chart and I think I might be going with a 7300 GT. It's still ceap, but looks like it out preforms the other cards I was looking at. Does EVGA make good cards?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130025

[patrickaupperle]

I just ran into some money.

Found it laying around the house isn't much, but might pay for a better card.

[forrestcupp]

the 7600 is a great card. It's not top of the line, but it will kick the snot out of an 8400.

[patrickaupperle]

I think I might be able to buy an
EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

[Sunforge]

I was looking on newegg for a semibudget-budget video card and found these:

(snip) GeForce 8400GS 512MB (snip)

Which would be suggested? Would these work in ubuntu? Would there be something else, in the same price range, that would be better? Do you think any of these could run doom 3 (no big deal)?

Speaking from personal experience where I've run a 6800 GT and an 8400 GS, the 6800GT could run Doom3 with no problem at all and all the effects you could turn on. The 8400 - meh - it would run but very, very slowly.

On the upside the 8400 was recognised by every distro I whacked on my machine and ran at native resolution, where the 6800 sometimes took persuasion to get the same results.

If you're after a general purpose card for straight ahead 2D with Compiz, go for the 8400GS as it'll work out of the box. If you're after games, try to pick up one of the older generation of high end gaming cards which are rapidly becoming great bargains.

[patrickaupperle]

I see what your saying. What about the 7600GT?

[chalewa]

im currently in the market for a new nvidia card as well


im kinda with the original poster in that i do absolutely no gaming...

the only thing that i am looking to do with this card is play some some x264 video and run compiz smoothly.

i can spend what it takes, but i would love to be able to get this done for ~$100.

[mysticrider92]

Under Device Manager these cards show up (I only have 1 card, i dunno why there are 2), and I can play. It is really annoyingly slow. I hope the nVidia cards will work better than what I have in this laptop now.

Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller

Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller

Am I missing something? Are you trying to install this card in a laptop? That will not work, the cards you are looking at are desktop only (PCI Express bus).

If you are putting it in a desktop, I would go with the XFX 8400. I have a XFX 7600 GT, and am very impressed with it. The stock cooler is a bit load (I replaced it with a fanless model), but the card is very fast for the price.

[edit] chalewa: ATi has a new 3000-series line that might be worth looking into. For just under $100, you can get an HD3650, which looks fairly fast, and supports some new technologies (PCIe 2.0, HDCP, DX10, CrossFire, etc..).

[patrickaupperle]

Am I missing something? Are you trying to install this card in a laptop? That will not work, the cards you are looking at are desktop only (PCI Express bus).

If you are putting it in a desktop, I would go with the XFX 8400. I have a XFX 7600 GT, and am very impressed with it. The stock cooler is a bit load (I replaced it with a fanless model), but the card is very fast for the price.

[edit] chalewa: ATi has a new 3000-series line that might be worth looking into. For just under $100, you can get an HD3650, which looks fairly fast, and supports some new technologies (PCIe 2.0, HDCP, DX10, CrossFire, etc..).
No Sorry for the misunderstanding. I was stating that my lappy with that card could run doom 3. The card would go in a desktop.

[chalewa]

t] chalewa: ATi has a new 3000-series line that might be worth looking into. For just under $100, you can get an HD3650, which looks fairly fast, and supports some new technologies (PCIe 2.0, HDCP, DX10, CrossFire, etc..).



any idea on how that works with ubuntu? the x600 that i have in my desktop now has been nothing but a pain.