Forthcoming generations - DX10

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Wally

2[H]4U
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Apr 5, 2005
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I had an X800XL running alongside a Venice-cored A64 3500+ . I upgraded to a HIS X1900Pro running at XT speeds, and now get worse performance at the same settings at 1440x900. Lord knows why, but I no longer trust myself to upgrade before asking.

Question is this: with the forthcoming generation, from nVidia at least, around November time, would I be wiser continuing the the non-GPU upgrade of my system and assume that a new Core2Duo would help performance, or should I get something along the lines of an 8800GTS and flog it later, as a sort of placeholder upgrade? I'm hoping to go DX10, but it seems the 8800s aren't up to the task, hence the intended G90/2 upgrade (or ATi equivalent).

Ta.
 
At this point in time, I'd just wait it out for about four months unless you need something now or in the near future. We'll have new CPUs/GPUs from the whole gang by then (Intel,nVidia and AMD/ATI).

It's always best to play the waiting game when it comes to PC hardware unless you of course have a pressing need or want.
 
Its one of those thins where you may never be satisfied.

My wife has a running joke of "Hmm, 4 video cards, 3 processors, and two mother boards in a single year.... and you say IM expensive!" - Im never satisfied. I just got an 8600GTS and will be upgrading to the 8800GTS via the step up program.

Once the 8900/9000 comes out it will be challanged by some new software, etc... then new card to combat the software, then new card, etc.... it will never end.

If you want to stay up on technology, I hope you have some VERY deep pockets. I know that a majority of the masses do not have the wallet to do it.
 
Im actually going to go with the 320mb model. It will do what I need it to do. I am not an extreme gamer, so I do not need the extra power, but I do want a little more than the 8600GTS can give me.... I overpaid for the 8600 as it is ($214) and the 320 is $299 on the site, so for $85, I can upgrade... this is easier than trying to sell my card, take a MAJOR loss... where I can just send it in and get the full $214 credit towards the new card.
 
Yeah the EVGA 320 goes for like 259.99 after MIR on newegg so unless you're getting the 8600GTS sold for $160+, you're better off stepping up
 
Yeah, and when Newegg sells the model I have for $164, I cant justify asking $160 for it.
 
I'm stuck in the same boat.

I'm ready to build now-

Do I go with the best quad and SLI I can afford and call it good... or get an interim step...or wait for the Penryn and spend the extra $$$.

Kinda depends on release dates of Crysis and UT3 for me. And I personally prefer to buy high end once every three years or so, so the interim step doesn't excite me much.

I'll be looking this week at the Intel price drops and that may nudge me. Hell- if everything comes down enough, I'll just get the best quad, a pair of GTX's watercooled and um... maybe that Dell 27"... :eek: ;)
 
Depending on your OS, you may be just spinning your wheels when it comes to SLI.... many people on here have reported very minimal performance gains in SLI when on Vista, and have gained a whole slew of compatibility issues.

Id personally get a single Ultra card, and if you are hell bent on watercooling it, get a Black Pearl edition. Comes with the waterblock, meaning you dont instantly void your warranty by watercooling a standard Ultra version. Plus you will save around $300 compared to SLI GTXs...making that 27" all that much cheaper.
 
You cannot go wrong with the 8800 GTX. I bought one, then got another 2 months later. My performance went up by an avg of a 1/3 on most games (BF2143, BF2, Lost Planet), 1/2 on some games (BF1942, Quake 4, Doom III). And no difference on older titles (UT2004 in particular)

It will just get better as time goes on and drivers mature on Vista, esp Vista x64.

Good luck with your decision. You will not regret it.

Anthony
 
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