Yikes! Really need some help on BEST (Ati or Nvid) GPU for sub 150$ pretty plz!

[Drench]

OK, I just typed out a ton of info etc etc...hit the back button on the mouse by mistake and lost it all LOL. So you GUYS/GALS are soooo lucky!!! :P

What I need!! : The BEST dang GPU(vid card) for 150 or less to tide me over untill the two new super cards are mainstream from ATI(HD3870x2) and Nvidia(9800 GX2??) Hopefully in the next 2-4 months with ATI's coming out on Jan 23rd. I do NOT care if it's Nvidia or ATI. As long as it's PCI-E, can OC half decent, will run MY games(see list below) half decent and is sub 150.00$

My rig is as follows: (Relevant items only)
Asus Maximus Formula X38
Intel Quad 6600
4 GB 2X2 OCZ ReaperX HPC Ed. DDR2 6400
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro

Games I will play mostly: The Witcher, Oblivion, Lord of the Rings online. DO NOT CARE about crysis...so it's all good. I get enough FPS action for now on my PS360.

Places I can buy from:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/Computers(ME)/ComputerComponents(ME)/VideoCards(ME)/PCI-ExpressVideoCards(ME)/Default.aspx
and
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?minorcatid=108&subminorcatid=35

Have not looked at Ebay yet...might but shipping is usually a killer.
My thoughts so far are this card: eVGA 8600GT 512 DDR3(there is a DDR2 as well but I can OC the DDR3 better)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX18651(ME).aspx

I can get this from here or another intown store for 134$ flat no mail in. Anything better?? Anyhow, Thanks all!

Drench

[GuitarrassDeAmor]

8600 is decent. You could also get a Radeon x1950.

[Drench]

x1950...yep. But cheapest I've seen is WELL above 150 total in. I can get that DDR3 512 8600GT for 134$. GAH! The cheapest I could find was about 170+ shipping. At that price range(179+tax) I can walk down the street and get an ATI 3850 256 meg which would blow them all out of the water and that's just a little more $$ than I wanted to just throw away :( hrm, still looking :P

Drench

[Vulgotha]

..Uh maybe the Nvidia 8500GT? That's a fairly decent GPU and its cost effective.

[charmingcharlie]

I am afraid there isn't much else there at your level of budget. The only two options open to you are obviously the 8600gts and the HD2600 pro. Now from what I have seen the 8600gts is slightly faster than the HD2600pro. But I got to be honest with you the performance of the 8600gts is not that great, I mean if we take Oblivion the 8600 can only manage 13fps at 1280 x 1024 with maximum quality and HDR, the HD2600 is even worse it can only manage 9fps at the same settings.

source :- http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=855&model2=1066&chart=296

So if you can't stump up more cash the 8600gt is the best card at that budget range, it will do you well (I have one in a core2duo) just don't expect miracles from it.

[Drench]

Well, I can "stump" up plenty more cash :P it's just that I can't quite stump up enough for the HD3870x2 launch next week at around 500$ and taxes. I am only buying this card as something to use for 2-3 months as a filler. I spend 200-300+ though and then I'm just wastefully dropping cash on a card I Want to upgrade in a few months only.

Thanks for that Tom's Hardware list...looks cool. I am Very suspect of those numbers though. A friend of mine who I just asked has a low end AMD CPU 2 gigs ram and a 7600GT 256 meg played Oblivion on decent settings high res and more than double those FPS. He did NOT have it all turned on...but enough to look nice and definitely not med settings. I know the 8600GT is not great at all but for 130$ *shrugs* Wish I could just have them hold me the card for 5 days lol :)

[GuitarrassDeAmor]

Get one 3870 right now and get the other later???

Just wait if you can for now.

[charmingcharlie]

I dunno if this is of any use to you, but a card manufacturer called EVGA do upgrade programs. So lets say you buy a 8800gt and feel you would be happier with a 8800gtx, you can trade your old card in and just pay the difference between the gt and the gtx (as long as it is within 90 days of purchase). It isn't something I have ever used myself personally and I get the feeling it might not be what you are after, but it is worth a look :-

http://www.evga.com/stepup/default.asp?switch=2

I guess technically you could get an 8800gt now and if the 9800gx2 comes out in the next 2-3 months you could upgrade to it and just pay the difference. However don't quote me on this, it all seems to be a bit too good to be true and I imagine it is fairly restrictive. but like I said have a look and see if it suits you.