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GPU Recommendation - FSX

S

scholztec

n00b
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
28
Hi everybody,

I'm a long-time [H] reader, and this is my first time posting, so go easy on me!

I'm looking for a GPU recommendation. While I have no problems expanding my horizon of games, my primary game is MS Flight Sim X (I know - it's not as cool as Borderlands, NFS, RE, etc...). My current system is not so hot:

Intel DG965OT w/ Q6600
6GB DDR2
550watt PS
nVidia 7900GT
WD VelociRaptor 300
Seagate 1.5TB

It's not the latest and greatest, but it gets the job done. I'm looking to get a new GPU. Other system upgrades are out of the question cost-wise at the moment - just a GPU for now. I've been looking at a radeon 57xx or 58xx, but I would not be opposed to an nVidia card. I'm not sure what's best for FSX, and my wallet. Is the 58xx series really worth the extra ~$150-200? I'm all for long-term use (I'm too poor to constantly play catch-up), but I need to get the best bang for the buck, and not kill my power supply (550w is the biggest I can get with my case).

I would appreciate any suggestions you guys might have. I know the [H] to be the source of the most knowledgeable hardware people.
 
I knew I missed something. I run 2 monitors - 22" widescreen 1600x1050 (primary) and 19" 1280x1024.
 
I'm on a 1680x1050 monitor with a 5770 and am planning on installing FSX within the next couple of days. I'll post an update on how it runs at that resolution.

Also, is your cpu overclocked? If not, you may want to consider it as FSX is typically cpu limited.
 
i personaly wont buy a 5770. I feel that card will hurt you in the long run. From what ive been reading so i cant tell you from experience is that it is underpowered and doesnt even come close to a 5870. from what ive read is that its about 50% less in performance compared to the 5870
 
Yet the 5770 is half the price of the 5870. To complete different pricing segments. On top of the 5770 is a great upgrade from a 7900...
 
i agree going from a 7900 to a 5770 is going to be a huge jump. if i was on a budget i would def get a 5770 but if budget isnt an option i would take a 5850 or 5870 over a 5770
 
4LC4PON3 said:
i agree going from a 7900 to a 5770 is going to be a huge jump. if i was on a budget i would def get a 5770 but if budget isnt an option i would take a 5850 or 5870 over a 5770
Click to expand...

Budget is tight, but I'm also planning on keeping it for a while, so I'm OK making the stretch. Based on specs alone, I kinda figured I'd be going for a 5800 rather than 5700.

Any input from the green team on this one? I'm no fanboi, but I'm interested in the best performing card for the game. Obviously, performance per watt is all ATI right now, but I'd still consider nVidia.
 
well for one nvidia doesnt have any dx11 cards at the moment and the 5850 is a great card. im actualy about to crossfire 5850's myself. ive seen a 5850 in action single and crossfire and Its a great card.

the oonly reason i dont have a 5850 right now is because i refuse to pay 60 bucks over MSRP wich the cars are MSRP 260 bucks and with the jacked up prices the card is 310. Im going to wait for a price drop

one other thing to remember is the 5870 and 5970 both require a full tower PC case where as the 5850 fits in a mid tower
 
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If you are looking to play FSX then ATi is the way to go...nets overall better performance. The 5870 would be an awesome card from a 7900GT...like the 5870 is so much higher that it wouldn't even be able to look down on the 7900GT because its so far down the 5870 can't see it.
 
AndroidVageta said:
If you are looking to play FSX then ATi is the way to go...nets overall better performance. The 5870 would be an awesome card from a 7900GT...like the 5870 is so much higher that it wouldn't even be able to look down on the 7900GT because its so far down the 5870 can't see it.
Click to expand...

Yeah... I know it's tons better. Someday, when I'm rich and famous, I'll be able to afford to get the new hotness all the time. I went from a Matrox Millennium (remember those?!) to a GF2 GTS, to the 7900GT. Kinda big steps in between. :D
 
this is something id ask in the case Section as i do not know about these small form factor cases.
 
So, after investigating my case, I've found that the 5870 will fit - barely. Since there's a 5.25" bay above, I would need to dremel out a spot for the PCIe power cables. Are all the 58xx series power plugs on the top, rather than at the end as in the 57xx series? :confused:

Also, there's price. 5870 for $400, 5850 for $300, 5770 for $180. I know there is a difference between these cards. I'm just wondering if it's worth a $220 upgrade from a 5770 to a 5870. Is the difference that big?

Thanks for all the suggestions and input. I consider myself a pretty advanced user, but it's nice to have a second (or third, or fourth) opinion before sinking a big chunk of change on new parts.
 
The 58xx series have their plugs up-top.

Also, the 5770 has 800SP, while the 5870 has 1600SP... and double the memory bus (at least 128bit --> 256bit).
 
jeremyshaw said:
The 58xx series have their plugs up-top.

Also, the 5770 has 800SP, while the 5870 has 1600SP... and double the memory bus (at least 128bit --> 256bit).
Click to expand...

The 5850 has power plugs on the end like the 5770, while the 5870 has them on the side.
 
kniah said:
Actually, the 5850 has power plugs on the end like the 5770.
Click to expand...

Well I'll be a sonofabitch. You're right. Based on space constraints, 5850 may be the best bet for me. Two questions left:

  1. Are there any 5870s with plugs on the end?
  2. Is the 5850 worth the extra $120 from the 5770?
 
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