Our definition of mainstream video cards encompasses the $100-$199 price range, and is really where you'll get the most bang for your buck. This is where you will find the latest mainstream video cards, like the Radeon X1600 Pro/XT, Radeon X800 GTO, and GeForce 6600GT & 6800XT, along with a few higher-end products that have been replaced at the top of the food chain (like the Radeon X800), and have then dropped in price.
The mainstream video card list is usually where we see a few noticeable price drops mixed in with some high-end cards dropping below the $200 mark and entering the mainstream market. This month followed right along with the trend, and the powerful ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB PCI Express fell $30 to $174, while the PNY GeForce 6800 GS 256MB PCIe received a $32 price cut and now sits at $197. The mainstream section is the best place to get top video card values, and the GeForce 6600GT 128MB is an incredible buy at the lower-end, while the GeForce 7600 GT 256MB, GeForce 6800 GS 256MB, and the very surprising ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB PCIe, offer the best NVIDIA and ATI performance options.