[capitate]

I'm looking at getting the NVidia GeForce 7600GT, but I'm noticing that there are several different "brands" of this same card. (If that makes sense). I'm wondering if it matters which brand I get. Been looking at these 2 Canadian dealers:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2714981&Sku=E145-7922
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pr...665000FS10074763&catid=10524&logon=&langid=EN

Also, I have a HP Media Center X2 5000+. I believe the graphic card is integrated. Does having a Media center PC complicate adding a new card at all? Or will I just be able to slide 7600GT into PCI-E slot with no issues?

thanks,
Dave

 

[TheSeventhArtist]

For a video card, I think I would recommend Asus or Gigabyte...

 

[brite750]

I'm looking at getting the NVidia GeForce 7600GT, but I'm noticing that there are several different "brands" of this same card. (If that makes sense). I'm wondering if it matters which brand I get. Been looking at these 2 Canadian dealers:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2714981&Sku=E145-7922
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pr...665000FS10074763&catid=10524&logon=&langid=EN

Also, I have a HP Media Center X2 5000+. I believe the graphic card is integrated. Does having a Media center PC complicate adding a new card at all? Or will I just be able to slide 7600GT into PCI-E slot with no issues?

thanks,
Dave

there is obviously brand loyalty, not a ton of difference between cards of similar specs. BFG i beleive comes slightly OC'ed hence they usually come at a premium, EVGA is fine also for stock card, I like chaintech, PNY, no reason just have done well with them.
Does your pc come with a pci-e16x slot if so, you should just be able to plug it in, boot up, load drivers etc., there may be a bios thing to change, but I havent seen this that much with gfx, mostly sound cards

 

[griffinspc]

As brite says we all have a loyalty and mine happens to be BFG for Nvidia. Their tech support the one time I needed it was terrific. I got an email response the same day I posted a request for an obscure dual monitor problem and it was the exact right answer first time.

 

[Skivvywaver]

I agree. I like BFG and as a second I would take an EVGA for nvidia cards. I am still kicking myself for building this system around crossfire.

 

[Zeus.:God]

Yes, definately go with BFG. They come with a free life-time warrenty, so if anything goes wrong, it gets fixed for free. Also, BFG's cards are usually better running and smoother running than eVGA, though eVGA is a great second choice. If you plan to do any relatively hard core gaming, then I would recommend going to a 7800, or down to the 6800, or something that isn't a 7300 or 7600. The reason I say this, is because those cards aren't too good at playing games. It's all about the pipelines.

EDIT: Griffin, it seems we both have the same card, but mines 512.

 

[griffinspc]

Griffin, it seems we both have the same card, but mines 512.

Yeah but if you multiply 256 by 8 you get 2048 and if you divide that by 16 you get 128 and mine beats that!

 

[brite750]

As brite says we all have a loyalty and mine happens to be BFG for Nvidia. Their tech support the one time I needed it was terrific. I got an email response the same day I posted a request for an obscure dual monitor problem and it was the exact right answer first time.

yeah, if i had the bones I like BFG as well, heard nothing bad about them, life time warentee sounds good also. My one son has the BFG7600GT it plays pretty well for $150 card, we ins is poor folk, anything over $200 and you ins aint eatin for month.

 

[griffinspc]

I know what you mean. $$$. I always buy a generation or two behind. Still good cards and at one time considered the best. Can get them a lot cheaper that way. never bought a id card over $150 yet.

 

[Compiler]

Hey I highly recommend you check this out:

Gigabyte 7600GT... Fanless, cannot fail. Runs cooler than any of the others!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...iption=7600GT+gigabyte&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

And the cool thing, they now have the OEM version (no game) for $120USD vs $152!

BFG still uses stock cooler on many of their cards - and these tend to fail.

Gigabte Pros:
1 - runs cooler
2 - Makes NO noise, PERIOD
3 - Wont fail. Which means it won't overheat and die.