4890x2 or 5850?

A

Alanstein

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
378
So I'm looking to upgrade from my placeholder gts 250 in a few weeks, and was wondering how I should go about upgrading my computer. I currently chug borderlands on my native resolution (widescreen version of 1900x1200, 2200x1100 or so), and simply want better frame rates.

I wish to play games similar to borderlands across many genres on maximum settings. Far cry 2, and modded versions of dragon age, FO3 modded, oblivion, etc. I'll also want this card to last a while.

My budget is around 300$. I could pull for a 5870, but i don't really want to spend that much money. The choices really are between two 4890s i could pick up from best buy with an employee discount, or wherever i can find a 5850. DX11 looks cool, but the 4890x2 setup has the firepower of a 5870 and then some.

My power supply is a 750W, and power consumption isn't an issue. Noise isn't either, I've had many a loud fan.

Any help would be appreciated :)
 
just because you have a 750 watt PSU doesnt mean its good. No Offense. what kind of PSU do you have.
 
1920x1200 is the widescreen version of 1920x1200....

The 5870 is really the only thing that's going to do what you want from what I've seen. The 4890 x2 setup will be generally faster, but if you want to stick with the same card / cards for a while DX11 really is going to be too tempting in a year or so, if DX10 is any indication.

About what is a 4890 going to run you? There are a pair of 4870 VaporX up on here for $200 + shipping (for both), so you have some options. If going last gen I'd definitely buy used.

Really, you'd be better off sticking with the GTS 250 for a little longer, since ATI is supposed to be coming out with a refresh of the 5800s in Q1 of 2010 and Nvidia should get Fermi out... well, at some point. Prices should come down a good bit, or at very least you should have more options. Wouldn't say now is the best time to buy.
 
also just in the last couple days there has been price drops the 5770 went from 179 to 154 -159 and the ati 5850 went from 309 - 299. Prices are dropping and hopefuly should keep dropping.

In my opinion if your going to spend money dont bother with old tech. Grab a dx11 card now and then you wont have to upgrade later.
 
4LC4PON3 said:
just because you have a 750 watt PSU doesnt mean its good. No Offense. what kind of PSU do you have.
Click to expand...

No offense taken. It's an antec truepower new 750. It's an entire revamp on the truepower line, and i'm confidant that it could support two 4890s.

silent-circuit said:
1920x1200 is the widescreen version of 1920x1200....

The 5870 is really the only thing that's going to do what you want from what I've seen. The 4890 x2 setup will be generally faster, but if you want to stick with the same card / cards for a while DX11 really is going to be too tempting in a year or so, if DX10 is any indication.

About what is a 4890 going to run you? There are a pair of 4870 VaporX up on here for $200 + shipping (for both), so you have some options. If going last gen I'd definitely buy used.

Really, you'd be better off sticking with the GTS 250 for a little longer, since ATI is supposed to be coming out with a refresh of the 5800s in Q1 of 2010 and Nvidia should get Fermi out... well, at some point. Prices should come down a good bit, or at very least you should have more options. Wouldn't say now is the best time to buy.
Click to expand...

Right right right. I couldn't be bothered to look up the res i was running out, i was just stating that it's the same amount of pixels as the 1900x1200 so it should be that taxing. Should have clarified.

The 4890s are going to be 150$ each, meaning 300$. The used option sounds tempting, thanks for bringing it up.

I wasn't aware of the 5800 refresh. If you have any links on hand, it would be cool to look at them. I was going to wait for frermi, but with nvidia pushing the launch back to march, it really makes me antsy not to buy now.

So i guess the question is: 4890x2, 5850, or wait a month :D
 
Wait 3 months. ;)

it won't be as bad as you're thinking now. Drop res a little and hang in there with the GTS 250. It's not a bad card, and is still capable.
 
id go with a 5850. but thats just me and DX11 is going to be seen used faster then we think. Right now im running a single 5850 and love it going for crossfire 5850 here in 2 weeks.

like i said no point of going old tech when dx11 cards are out.
 
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