Video Card Superlatives

Fastest Single Card PCI-E Price: Unlimited

With two GT200 cores and 1.75GB of memory, the GeForce GTX 295 is easily the fastest card around.

Previous Title Holders: Radeon HD 4870 X2, GeForce GTX 280, GeForce 9800 GX2, Radeon HD 3870 X2, GeForce 8800 Ultra

Fastest Single Card AGP Price: Unlimited

This is the only card you need to look at if you're looking to upgrade your AGP system.

Previous Title Holders: Radeon X1950 XT AGP, GeForce 7950 GT AGP, Radeon X1950 Pro AGP, Radeon X850 XT PE AGP, Radeon X800 XT PE AGP

Upper Midrange PCI-E Price: < $350

GeForce GTX 285

The newly released GeForce GTX 285 is little more than a slightly overclocked GTX 280. But it's price has come all the way down to $350. However, the Radeon HD 4870 is only 15-20% slower and is half the price.

Previous Title Holders: Radeon HD 4870, GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB, GeForce 8800 GT, GeForce 8800 GTS, Radeon X1950 XT PCI-E

Upper Midrange AGP Price: < $350

Radeon HD 3850 AGP

This is the only card you need to look at if you're looking to upgrade your AGP system.

Previous Title Holders: GeForce 7950 GT AGP, Radeon X1950 Pro AGP, GeForce 7800 GS AGP, Radeon X850 XT PE AGP, GeForce 6800 AGP

Midrange PCI-E Price: < $250

Radeon HD 4870

The Radeon HD 4870 is the best bang for the buck card around right now, and for a lot less than $250.

Previous Title Holders: GeForce 9800 GTX+, GeForce 8800 GT, Radeon HD 3870, Radeon X1950 XT PCI-E, Radeon X1950 Pro PCI-E

Midrange AGP Price: < $250

Radeon HD 3850 AGP

This is the only card you need to look at if you're looking to upgrade your AGP system.

Previous Title Holders: Radeon X1950 Pro AGP, GeForce 7800 GS AGP, GeForce 6800 GS AGP, Radeon X800 GTO AGP, GeForce 6800 AGP

Lower Midrange PCI-E Price: < $150

GeForce 9800 GTX+

The 9800 GTX has dropped in price quite a bit and is now available for right around $150. For not too much more you can get a Radeon HD 4870 which is around 15% faster.

Previous Title Holders: GeForce 8800 GT, Radeon HD 3850 PCI-E, Radeon X1950 Pro PCI-E, GeForce 7600 GT PCI-E, Radeon X800 GTO PCI-E

Lower Midrange AGP Price: < $150

Radeon HD 3850 AGP

This is the only card you need to look at if you're looking to upgrade your AGP system.

Previous Title Holders: GeForce 7600 GT AGP, GeForce 7600 GS AGP, GeForce 6600 GT AGP

Low End PCI-E Price: < $100

GeForce 9600 GT

The 9600 GT is now available for less than $100 and it's one of the best performing cards at this price point. Toss in great video decoding performance, and you have a winner. It's also been one of the most popular cards on the site for quite some time. Also, for a bit over $100, check out the 9800 GT or the Radeon HD 4850.

Previous Title Holders: GeForce 8600 GT, GeForce 7600 GT PCI-E, GeForce 7600 GS PCI-E, , Radeon X700 PCI-E

Low End AGP Price: < $100

Radeon HD 3650 AGP

..except under $100, then the HD 3650 is the way to go.

Previous Title Holders: GeForce 7600 GS AGP, Radeon X1600 Pro AGP, KYRO, GeForce 6600 AGP