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5770 worth it?

E

{EB}NuTSymPToM{EB}

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Aug 1, 2003
Messages
1,037
Hi All,

Rig is in the sig. Power supply is a 650-700W Rocketfish that my brothers friend bought me with his Best Buy employee discount when my power supply blew. I believe Rocketfish is made by Foxconn but I can't give major specs outside that. I also have an unused 700W Thermaltake PSU that I could swap in if necessary but I'll avoid it if I can.

I got a 1900x1200 28" monitor for Xmas and my 8800gt hasn't cut it since then. I scrape by on the latest games (AvP, BF:BC2, etc) and I've been waiting for a 5850 to hit $200 since I saw the MSRP of $250. As we are all aware in this community, that ain't happening any time soon. I also know that in some games, I will be restricted by my CPU and I do not have the option of going quadcore with my motherboard.

Lately, I've been considering grabbing a 5770 to save myself the cash and hopefully ride myself out of this console generation. However, I've read alot of posts to the effect of "anything less than a 5850 isn't worth it at this point". I know the 5770 would probably double my performance at my resolution in newer games, but I still can't help but wonder if the 5850 would make me happier.

I'm leaning towards the 5770 pretty strongly now. To the best I can tell, performance is between the 4870 and 4890 (or GTX260 and GTX275) but I will also get DX11 support out of the deal. I figure a 5770 should be able to hold me over for a year or two until I'm satisfied with my current rig enough to turn it into an HTPC and build a new gaming monster.

Thoughts?
 
I would rather grab a used GTX 275, GTX 285, 5830, or wait until the 1GB GTX 460 is released within the next week or so if it was me.

A 5770 is going to become rather bandwidth starved at 1920x1200 if you turn up the bells and whistles.
 
im running on a 5770 at 1920x1200. i wouldnt go with anything lower for this res, but the card does pull its weight at this res.

bfbc2 for example, dx11, everything high, HBAO off, 1920x1200 no aa, 16xaf.hangs around 40-50, during a couple of hte final scenes itll dip into the mid-upper 20s
 
From my old newegg invoice, this is the Thermaltake PSU in the closet. I've been planning on using it for my next build. While I'm sure the Rocketfish is of inferior quality, I frequently take a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' stance on things. This rig has been gaming heavily with essentially 0 maintenance since February of 2008 and has survived 2 moves as well. The only issue to date is memory channel A on my motherboard stopping working, but channel B works just fine.

Anyway, regarding nVidia cards, from what I've read, this current generation is all in ATI's court. I'm nervous to go with a card that eats as much power as the Fermi cards and puts out as much heat since my machine is on the older side. Is there anything special about the 460 that gives it the price/performance edge over the 5770/5850? I'd still consider it for the right reasons. TBH, I haven't looked too closely at Fermi since all the delays and disappointing release sold me on ATI.

Regarding getting a used GTX275, I've looked into that but a decent deal on a used one is the same as a 5770 new. Would the performance be that much better over a 5770 to justify getting it used and losing DX11?

Right now I run BC2 at 19x12, no AA, no AF on medium and high settings. The game still looks pretty good and runs fine. That's why I've been thinking that a 5770 may be plenty to enjoy it. I don't need to run at absolute max settings to enjoy a game so I'm finding it hard to justify continuing to wait for prices to drop when I'd probably enjoy the 5770 well enough.

I've seriously been looking at upgrading my card since the 260 was popular. Needless to say, I'm quite patient, but it's getting to a point where I'm putting games to the side that I can't run with acceptable settings so I have something sweet to try when I finally upgrade. Still haven't opened STALKER:CS and I've had it for a year :(
 
{EB}NuTSymPToM{EB} said:
From my old newegg invoice, this is the Thermaltake PSU in the closet. I've been planning on using it for my next build. While I'm sure the Rocketfish is of inferior quality, I frequently take a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' stance on things. This rig has been gaming heavily with essentially 0 maintenance since February of 2008 and has survived 2 moves as well. The only issue to date is memory channel A on my motherboard stopping working, but channel B works just fine.
Click to expand...

Well time to change that stance for the PSU because it's just foolhardy to keep using a shitty PSU when you have a good quality PSU on hand. It's simply not a smart idea whatsoever to use a new GPU with that shitty PSU. Just because it's working doesn't mean that long term damage hasn't been done already.
 
I've got an Asus 5770 in my secondary desktop and it's not half bad, it's cool and quiet but not something I'd game on much for most modern games at 1920 x 1200. Thinking about going to a 5870 but will probably wait for a GPU refresh.
 
5770 will kick butt and I do not think you will be too CPU restricted I say go for it.
 
I am not a fan of either camp and I do agree that I would seriously advice to wait for the gtx 460 in another week. The 1gb version for 229 is going to be an excellent card for the price point honestly. I am sure since these are going to be available in large quantities, you will be able to find one for around 200 on sale with in another 2-3 weeks from launch.
 
A 5770 would be fine, but seriously look at the MSI 5770 Hawk. Gigabyte has a new 5770 OC'd monster out but I've haven't seen any reviews on it to comment.
 
{EB}NuTSymPToM{EB} said:
From my old newegg invoice, this is the Thermaltake PSU in the closet. I've been planning on using it for my next build. While I'm sure the Rocketfish is of inferior quality, I frequently take a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' stance on things. This rig has been gaming heavily with essentially 0 maintenance since February of 2008 and has survived 2 moves as well. The only issue to date is memory channel A on my motherboard stopping working, but channel B works just fine.

Anyway, regarding nVidia cards, from what I've read, this current generation is all in ATI's court. I'm nervous to go with a card that eats as much power as the Fermi cards and puts out as much heat since my machine is on the older side. Is there anything special about the 460 that gives it the price/performance edge over the 5770/5850? I'd still consider it for the right reasons. TBH, I haven't looked too closely at Fermi since all the delays and disappointing release sold me on ATI.

Regarding getting a used GTX275, I've looked into that but a decent deal on a used one is the same as a 5770 new. Would the performance be that much better over a 5770 to justify getting it used and losing DX11?

Right now I run BC2 at 19x12, no AA, no AF on medium and high settings. The game still looks pretty good and runs fine. That's why I've been thinking that a 5770 may be plenty to enjoy it. I don't need to run at absolute max settings to enjoy a game so I'm finding it hard to justify continuing to wait for prices to drop when I'd probably enjoy the 5770 well enough.

I've seriously been looking at upgrading my card since the 260 was popular. Needless to say, I'm quite patient, but it's getting to a point where I'm putting games to the side that I can't run with acceptable settings so I have something sweet to try when I finally upgrade. Still haven't opened STALKER:CS and I've had it for a year :(
Click to expand...

Speaking as a 5770 owner 19x12 is the limit for this card and as others have noted if you use too much AA and AF its slideshow city for some of the newer titles. Given that you play without AA and AF in BFBC2 you might find the 5770 decent enough. Im only at 16x10 so its decent enough for me even with the AA and AF.
The 5850 would be better and if you can sell your 88GT there are deals from time to time on the 5850 where it comes down to around $260-270; that would almost net your cost at the $200 pricepoint you mentioned
 
Thanks for the advice all.

I'm going to wait for the 460 to hit and see how it benches and what effect it has on the prices of other cards.

@Danny, I promise when I put the new card in I'll hook up the TT PSU :D
 
Yeaaaaaaaaah...nevermind.

Apparently my girlfriend ordered me a 5850 after she read this thread when I left my laptop open. Hurray for me!
 
{EB}NuTSymPToM{EB} said:
Yeaaaaaaaaah...nevermind.

Apparently my girlfriend ordered me a 5850 after she read this thread when I left my laptop open. Hurray for me!
Click to expand...

...


I'm going to leave this thread open on my computer now


HEY GIRLFRIEND BUY ME A DAMN 5850 THANKS


:p
 
Haha your girlfriend sounds awesome...


...except that she is clearly SPYING ON YOU :p
 
Danny Bui said:
More than likely that Rocketfish PSU is a piece of shit:
http://hardocp.com/article/2008/05/13/getting_best_buy_on_power_supply/5
Click to expand...

I have to agree with this. That Rocketfish PSU (which by the way is made by Huntkey, the same OEM behind some of the Foxconn-branded PSUs) can barely handle 550W under realistic conditions. That is unacceptable for a PSU that's labeled "700W".

In other words, the OP (or whomever bought it for him) got ripped off if he had to pay more than one-third of what it originally cost at Best Buy for that piece of junk. Even with that employee discount, that Rocketfish PSU still cost him more money than what it was worth. What a pity, especially since the very same Best Buy stores charge only slightly higher than a reputable mail-order source for their stock of Corsair-branded PSUs.

As for that Thermaltake ToughPower 700W, it is based on the slightly older CWT PSH platform. As such, it's serviceable, but a PSU based on the newer CWT DSG platform is better still.
 
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The bright spot in this is even a 550W PSU can power a 5850 just fine. This aint GF100.
 
{EB}NuTSymPToM{EB} said:
From my old newegg invoice, this is the Thermaltake PSU in the closet. I've been planning on using it for my next build. While I'm sure the Rocketfish is of inferior quality, I frequently take a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' stance on things. This rig has been gaming heavily with essentially 0 maintenance since February of 2008 and has survived 2 moves as well. The only issue to date is memory channel A on my motherboard stopping working, but channel B works just fine.

Anyway, regarding nVidia cards, from what I've read, this current generation is all in ATI's court. I'm nervous to go with a card that eats as much power as the Fermi cards and puts out as much heat since my machine is on the older side. Is there anything special about the 460 that gives it the price/performance edge over the 5770/5850? I'd still consider it for the right reasons. TBH, I haven't looked too closely at Fermi since all the delays and disappointing release sold me on ATI.

Regarding getting a used GTX275, I've looked into that but a decent deal on a used one is the same as a 5770 new. Would the performance be that much better over a 5770 to justify getting it used and losing DX11?

Right now I run BC2 at 19x12, no AA, no AF on medium and high settings. The game still looks pretty good and runs fine. That's why I've been thinking that a 5770 may be plenty to enjoy it. I don't need to run at absolute max settings to enjoy a game so I'm finding it hard to justify continuing to wait for prices to drop when I'd probably enjoy the 5770 well enough.

I've seriously been looking at upgrading my card since the 260 was popular. Needless to say, I'm quite patient, but it's getting to a point where I'm putting games to the side that I can't run with acceptable settings so I have something sweet to try when I finally upgrade. Still haven't opened STALKER:CS and I've had it for a year :(
Click to expand...

GTX 275 is 20-30% faster than 5770 although it sucks power.

Also BCB2 loves fast processors. It also loves 4 cores. Your E6750 doesn't quite cut it unless you clocked it to 4ghz.

I currently have 5770 @ 1000 core 1400 mem. It does fine in BCB2 @ 1080P although I have an i3 clocked to 4.2 ghz with everything maxed no AA and about 40+ fps. If downclocked my i3 I would get somewhere in the 30's...
 
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Random fact for people whos interested, crazy power usages aside, you can get a used 4870X2 for ~$200.

Which is blazing performance for the price.
 
Timonthy said:
Random fact for people whos interested, crazy power usages aside, you can get a used 4870X2 for ~$200.

Which is blazing performance for the price.
Click to expand...

along this line, my old 4850x2 was also a screaming card for the price. i got it for $150 almost a year ago, and theyre like barely over $100 now. AND you can run 4 monitors on it. drivers werent the best though and i love my 5850. OP: i had 2 5770s in CF and i was pretty disappointed with the performance in borderlands with all settings maxed. i think that was mostly the stutter though. youll be very happy with the 5850, and you better buy your gf something nice. :D
 
Glad to hear she ordered you the 5850. I upgraded to the 5850 from a 5770 and I haven't regretted it.
 
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