Help me decide on a budget video card

[vfrex]

The plan is that it last me until DX10 cards are out and established. I was planning on going with either the MSI or eVGA 7600GS (passive). However, I am seeing rebates now for 6800XT's from XFX and eVGA, and price differences are becoming negligible.

XFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150130
eVGA 6800XT: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=322750

vs.

eVGA 7600GS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130029

Further, legionhardware's review of the Gigabyte 7300GT is confusing me: http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=562

If it becomes available before I order parts for my new build and the price is right, I might go for it. I am sort of a sporadic gamer. I'll stick to a MUD for 6 months, and then jump back into something like Oblivion. I don't need to max out eye candy on newer games, but I would like to enjoy some advances.

Another key word for this thing is QUIET(SILENT). I wouldn't mind some fan noise while gaming, but not when I am writing/reading/sleeping/anything else. Some of the reviews for the XFX 6800XT on newegg claim that the fan is very quiet, inaudible over case fans. Others say it is very loud and that they can't hear their case fans over it. Some claim that it cools effectively, and others claim that it overheats. I guess there is some per unit quality that can effect those kinds of things, but what are your thoughts?

6800XT vs 7300GT vs 7600GS

 

[ep1taph]

I would definitely go for the 7600GS myself, or possibly that 7300GT TurboForce if it becomes available. If your case has good airflow and you want silence, don't gamble on cards with active cooling. The passively cooled 7600/7300's run remarkably cool for the most part. Most complaints come with people that have poor general airflow in their system.