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04-07-2008, 10:20 AM
|  | Balling...Straightly | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Warren, RI
Posts: 35
| |  Questions About My New Box
So I'm a few weeks away from finally bidding adieu to my 2GHz Centrino processor and 64MB ATI 9600 gfx card. It's a sad day indeed. Anyway, I'm going to be building up a purdy new machine, but I need some advice from you guys on what graphics/sound cards I should go for. I want to strike a balance between price and performance here...I'm looking to spend $1100-$1200 or so on the whole system, so I can only budget maybe $150 for a gfx card and $100-$150 for a sound card.
Are there any decent gfx cards in that price range? CS is the only game that I play, but I would like something relatively high end.
Is the sound card a big deal, or will a random $60 one work just as well for me as a $150 one? I do a decent amount of music recording (xlr and 1/4" through a USB interface), if it matters.
Anyway, any suggestions? I appreciate the help; I used to work as a tech and stuff while I was in school, but I've moved on to software these days, haven't dabbled much with the new hardware that's out. Thanks in advance, I know you guys will give me something good...  |
04-07-2008, 10:27 AM
|  | Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The arctic North Coast
Posts: 23,213
| | | Modern MOBOs are pretty much standard with a decent 7.1 surround sound solution, so if it were me, I'd channel that money into a decent video card and maybe add a better sound card later on... IF you need it. You might not.
__________________  CS:S admin. PM DennyCrane for assistance.  Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word |
04-07-2008, 10:31 AM
|  | sR -> Hannibal | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ohio State University
Posts: 100
| | | 9600GT is the best bang for the buck right now. You can find them for $150 pretty easily and some of them even come with rebates. Sound card wise its really up to you. There are lots out there to suit every need from professional level to just an onboard replacement.
__________________ 19" Dell Ultrasharp 1907FP l Rosewill RT550-135-SL 550w | Abit AN8 32x l AMD 64 X2 3800+ @2.6Ghz | Rosewill RCX-Z3 cpu cooler PNY 8800GTS 320MB @580/1800 | Maxtor 40GB, Seagate 160GB l 2GB PC3200 OCZ Platinum XTC   |
04-07-2008, 11:48 AM
|  | FIGHT! | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 521
 : 64 th | | | 9600 or 3870... id roll 3870 imo.. you can get anice sapphire one for 170 on neweggles
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04-07-2008, 01:22 PM
|  | is the PHILLIE PHANATIC | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Killadelphia
Posts: 1,057
| | | try the ATi, gotta help out amd/ati anyway we can plus its an excellent card
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teh r!g E6600 w/ Zalman 9700NT @ 3.6 | EVGA 8800 GTX @ 628/1000 | EVGA 680i A1 | 2x1gigs Mushkin XtremePerformance DDR2 800 | 250gig SATAII Barracuda | X-Fi ExtremeGamer Pro Fatal1ty Edition | 750w Toughpower | Aurora 570 Case | 3dMark06 - 13,110
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04-07-2008, 01:29 PM
| | Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The arctic North Coast
Posts: 23,213
| | | ATI for a performance loss. nVidia is on top now. Why suffer to promote a cause?
__________________ CS:S admin. PM DennyCrane for assistance. Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word |
04-07-2008, 01:48 PM
| | is the PHILLIE PHANATIC | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Killadelphia
Posts: 1,057
| | | The ATi card isn't bad, it performs better in some games as the nvidia performs better in others.
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teh r!g E6600 w/ Zalman 9700NT @ 3.6 | EVGA 8800 GTX @ 628/1000 | EVGA 680i A1 | 2x1gigs Mushkin XtremePerformance DDR2 800 | 250gig SATAII Barracuda | X-Fi ExtremeGamer Pro Fatal1ty Edition | 750w Toughpower | Aurora 570 Case | 3dMark06 - 13,110
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04-07-2008, 02:45 PM
|  | m00tini! | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Some Hotel Somewhere
Posts: 16,860
: 78 th | | | 1200 is a great budget. You can get a helluva system with that bankroll. |
04-07-2008, 03:08 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 96
| | | look into razer's sound card + headphones, their sound card has been going for under $70. I'm not sure how good it is, but it looks badass, and they are always top notch on quality.
Also, GPU i would suggest 8800GT or 8800GTS, if not, then go cheap for a 9600GT
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04-07-2008, 03:10 PM
| | Balling...Straightly | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Warren, RI
Posts: 35
| | yeah, I need it for some semi-hardcore development work, so I need it to be decent; unfortunately I have to squeeze a monitor into the budget as well..damn. thank god for government rebate checks!
hmm, nvidia or ATI?? I have an ATI now, not particularly impressed, but it's a p.o.s. laptop gfx card, so I don't feel it's a good baseline. any other unbiased opinions, to break the tie?!  |  | |
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