Graphic card help ? Options

[NaderG]

i know it is a car website but maybe someone here can help me out !

I want to buy a card and i came down to chose between two :
GeForce 7950GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 : this card has 256 bit memory interface , DDR 3 memory and 512 memory , with like 24 pixel shader , the only bad this is that it is a DX9. 160$

GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3: this card is almost the same specs , but it is only 128 bit interface , which means it delivers the same power SLOWER than the other one BUT it is a DX10 card. 130$

both cards basically have same core clock speeds.

p.s:my tech level is ok so i might be wrong and i dont like ATI
if anybody have any suggestion of a better card that cost less than 160$ , that would be great

[jason]

x2 for the vista deal... no need for dx10 unless you are..

[Sinyk]

I have read that vista gives about a 10% reduction in frame rates.

If you consider DX10, the 8600GT will support it, but any game that utilizes DX10 will be too much for the basic 8600GT. The 8600GT is a very very small upgrade over the 7600GT and it definitely not worth it.

Out of your two options, the 7950 would be the better choice.

As for the people saying 8800GTS is the way to go, The 8800GT outperforms the GTS, costs about the same and can be overclocked to match or exceed the 8800GTX, but at the same time, it only has 112 shaders. New G92 cards are going to be arriving with 128 shaders, supposedly next month and should provide another worthwhile improvement.

Also, AGP cards cost more because they are old technology. Look at DDR or SDRAM ram. It costs more because it's older now and probably isn't manufactured much (or the industry is trying to nail those that are reluctant to upgrade). It's kind of a "specialty" item now. Not all computer parts depreciate in value over time.