What's the best PCIe videocard for approx. $200?

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Glocksman
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What's the best PCIe videocard for approx. $200?

Post by Glocksman »

I've been out of computer gaming for a while, but I'd like to get back into it.
I have a budget of around $200 or so for a card to go into my C2D system.

System specs:

Core 2 Duo E6400 @ 2.13Ghz
MSI 945P Neo3F motherboard
Corsair HX520 520w PSU
2 GB DDR2-667
SATA hard drives, etc.

OS: Win XP for now, Vista once drivers become more mature.

I'm half thinking of blowing my budget and getting an 8800GTS card, but I really don't have a clue if there's an ATi equivalent that's cheaper.
I figure Ace or some other gaming hardware guru can steer me right. :lol:
"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."- General Sir Charles Napier

Oderint dum metuant
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InnocentBystander
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Post by InnocentBystander »

Buy.com had a 88gts@320 last month for $225 after rebate, but its zoomed back up to 300. I know its about $100 over your budget, but I do see an 88gts@640 for $325, which is a pretty decent price. Newegg has a similar deal. Unfortunately ATI didn't come out with a killer graphics card last week, so the prices on the 88s haven't moved much recently.

I'm trying to hold off for a little while longer, if ATI can spruce up its showing with some fantastic drivers it might get Nvidia to lower prices a bit, but I'm not hopeful. It looks like I'm going to be holding out until I know what kind of GPU I have to buy in order to run Crysis.
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