The second half of 2008 promises to bring several new products on the graphics cards market, as both ATI and Nvidia have new cards set for launch, starting with the back to school season. Consequently, for many users, this is a good time to upgrade their computers. Offerings for Nvidia's GTX200 are now wider and also include lower prices, while ATI's HD4000 series, although with a limited choice until a few weeks ago, has managed to take the lead in terms of both price and performance.

 

For those who can’t afford to go for the top-notch cards, the cheaper segment of the market (meaning, sub-$150), can still offer a wide range of cards from Nvidia. The first graphics solution would be the 8800GT, which held great rankings last year, and can now be purchased for as little as $100. That would be the price only for the 256MB model, while for the 512MB card you would have to take about $140 out of your pocket. PNY's 9800GT, which is based on the G92b 55nm core, would require you to spend $150, yet it should be worth every penny.

 

The retail price for reference 9600GT cards ranges from $110 to over $130, while overclocked cards go well beyond the $150 mark. The G92 cards are situated in the same price range, but can offer significantly better performance. $70 is the price a casual gamer would have to pay for the cheapest 9500GT card, yet some may reconsider getting one of those, as an HD3850 would cost only around $15 more.

 

ATI seems to rule the mid-range segment, as its HD3000 cards are able to offer the best price / performance ratio. Getting your hands on an HD3850 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory at $85 is probably the best deal in this market area. Users can purchase an HD3870 with DDR3 memory for only $115, which, again, could be seen as a good bargain. Still, the same card costs $140 for the DDR4 model, and some consider the 8800/9800GT a better deal for the same price.

 

However, some might consider getting an even cheaper card than those mentioned here. We should note that most of the cards that cost under $150 are older models, which have already proved their performance capabilities. They still seem a good bargain for users on budget, and come in a wide range of models, but the downside is that they will become outdated in just a while. Saving $15 or $25 does not make that much of a difference in terms of budget, especially since the performance level can drop dramatically because of it. A G92/G94 or RV670 card would run current games, but no one should go lower than that. Any cheap HD2400Pro/HD3450, or an 8400GS/9400GT does not offer noticeable performance, so higher cards are recommended.