Getting back into PC gaming advice

[pinkaardvark]

Been away from PC games for a while and been contented with xbox 360, but i'm sure i've missed a lot. Last game I played on PC was Farcry I think so probably not had anything for well over a year or more.

I currently have a A64 4400 x2 and 2Gb with a 6600Gt card I think.

I was wondering if an 7600GT card would cut the mustard with my rig and allow me to play newer stuff. I only have twin 17" monitors so 1280*1024 res max.

I really fancy the Asus 7600GT Slient as noise annoys me.

Any opinions on this card and whether it will be a good mid level purchase that will give my system the legs to play newer stuff?

 

[dale1uk]

Depends how much noise annoys you. The 7600gt silent will cost you around £140, whereas the x1800xt is on offer here for £160 and is a much better card but of course will be a fair bit louder than the 7600.

 

[Semiskimmed]

and there are 7900gt's available for £140 im sure if you dig deep enough on the net. so buying that 7600 for the same price is just silly imo

 

[neo-omega]

i have hear that the 7900 series can be a risky move considering the ammount that have failed, an x1800 is a solid buy i'd say

 

[pinkaardvark]

Well I looked at the 7900's but felt there was a huge jump in prices between them and the 7600's. To be honest I feel more comfortable with nvidia cards. When I last played stuff on the PC it was on my 6800nu which seemed to cope with doom3, HL2 and farcry without much worry. How does a 7600GT compare to an old agp 6800nu? and how much faster would a 7900 or x1900 be?

Also is duelling the 6600gt i have any use as I have an sli board.. or even duelling two 7600's?

 

[fenderbass86]

A 7600GT is better than the 6800 Ultra and X850XT. The 7900 and X1900 is leaps and bounds ahead in performance, it's mind blowing!

 

[spb251272]

If you can get the X1800XT for £160, then I'd go for that, but if you could stretch to a 7900GT with a Zalman VF900CU (about £200), then you've got one quiet card with great performance (and overclockability)

 

[dale1uk]

If you can get the X1800XT for £160, then I'd go for that, but if you could stretch to a 7900GT with a Zalman VF900CU (about £200), then you've got one quiet card with great performance (and overclockability)

Thats provideing the 7900 isnt borked like a lot of them are

Quick question on oc'ing the 7900's do you need to volt mod them to get a decent clock???

 

[spb251272]

No, you don't need to voltmod them - mine are running at 530/1650, and can go to 560/1700 at a push. A voltmod would enable them to go as high as 650, but I'm a scaredy cat, so I haven't done it (yet)

 

[pinkaardvark]

ok so there are a lot of duff 7900's then? But I'd be buying it from a good etailer so the warranty will cover any DOA's. Have seen them for around £170.. how much is the zalman?