help choosing a card (noob)

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shawn04

n00b
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Nov 10, 2008
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3
Hello.

First, let me start off by saying I have very limited knowledge about video cards. I built my pc this summer (Intel C2D E7200, 4 Gb Ram, onboard graphics) and intentionally left out a graphics card as I had no idea what was "good" and "bad". I needed more research, and I figured I was in no rush since most stores tend to drop there prices around the holiday season. I began shopping this afternoon, but I need your guys' help. Basically, I'm your average computer user, and I do a bit of photoshopping (just for fun, works great with onboard video, surprisingly enough), and I occasionally play video games, not high end ones though. Recently, there have been a few games which I am very interested in, but in order to play them, I need to purchase a video card. The rest of my specs are more than enough, compared to the recommended system requirements from the developers. Here are the 4 games I am interested in:

NBA 2K9

ATI x1300 or greater | NVIDIA 6600 or greater | DirectX 9.0c compatible card with Shader Model 3.0 support.


Fallout 3

[recommended vid. card settings]

DirectX 9.0c compliant card with 512 MB RAM (NVIDIA 8800 series, ATI 3800 series)


GTA 4

[recommended vid. card settings]

512 MB NVIDIA 8600 / 512 MB ATI 3870


Far Cry 2

[recommended vid. card settings]

NVidia 8600 GTS or better, ATI X1900 or better


The only difference I know between NVidia and ATI is that NVidia had the upper hand back in 2002/3, but I haven't paid any attention in recent years so I am not sure which is better bang for the buck, etc. I am hoping someone can explain to me what exactly I need in a video card to play those games, and please note that those are the "recommended" settings, but I'd like to be able to play the game on "Max" settings, which may require a higher type of card than mentioned. I am not sure if their "recommended" settings are those that are required to play on Max, or just Normal.

I am aware that higher end cards cost more, but if that's what it takes to fulfil my request, then i'm willing to spend up to $300.

Also forgot to mention, I am purchasing a 22 or 24" LCD this holiday season as well, so it would be nice if the video card could handle such a large display with quality output.

Thank you for your time!
 
FC2 is the most demanding game you listed there. $300 budget and for either a 1680x1050 22" or a 1920x1200 24" there seems to be two choices for you, the GTX260 and the 4870. The cpu you got is enough for those games as well [I should know I got the same one]. It might help to know for certain if you are only getting a 22" and just 1680x1050 res is needed or if you are more likely to get the 24" and 1920x1200 is required. Its not a huge deal but if you wanted to save some $$ and you knew you were only getting the 22" you could opt down on your video card and still have enough. In the end if you can afford the GTX260 or the 4870 1gb model pick between those
 
Well, I narrowed my options down and its likely this will be my final choice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001268

The prices for 24" are still the same as they were in the summer, a bit too expensive for me.


Also, I was jw how you determined FC2 to be the most demanding. It did not list whether the card should be 256 mb or 512, and GTA 4 didn't list whether it should be GT, GTS, or GTX.. do we just assume or is there something I am missing?
 
lol i don't think there will be any leftover cash.. the card on newegg was 300$ on the dot.
 
I would buy this GTX 260 Core 192: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370 for $240 AR with free shipping, Far Cry 2 and eVGA is a great company. Don't pay $300 for one. MSI has one for a bit cheaper, but it doesn't have free shipping, no Far Cry 2, and they won't honor your warranty the way that eVGA will. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127361)

I would seriously buy the eVGA one. For the extra $28 or so, there is no question that it is worth the extra cash, IMHO. A lot of people don't like Far Cry 2, however.
 
^^ i'm inclined to agree with the above, so long as you can use the saved money for the 24" monitor.
 
Go with the MSI, of course, if you really need to save cash. :) Although, I guess you want to try out FC2.
 
GTX260 for 1680x1050, GTX280 for 1920x1200. Decide on your resolution first, then get a GPU. Seems games are really starting to take advantage of more then 512mb of VRAM, so i would personally forget about the 512mb 48x0 series. The 1GB 4870 would suffice, but at that point id get a GTX260 Core 216.

Since it seems youve decided on 1680x1050, id go with the GTX260 (original 192 version).

I run at 1680x1050 on a 9800GTX...for FC2 i can run everything up with no AA, Fallout3 with everything up and 2xAA. A 9800GTX is about the same as a 4850. The 9800GTX is fine right now, but i can feel it reaching its limits for the FPS range/eye candy i like at 1680x1050, plus im considering a 1920x1200 24in screen.
 
Good time to be buying video cards, as a $200 card is quite the bang for the buck these days. I'd recommend going with a GTX260 once you find it for $200 or less. I'd also stick with a 22" monitor because games will be much smoother at 1680x1050. You should be able to turn most of the eye candy on at 1680x1050 as well. I say this because games these days take a huge performance hit when you run them at 1920x1200. I will say that the GTX260 does run hot in Crysis Warhead. The temps on my card go to 75c on auto fan mode. The fan will kick in though after it reaches 75c...so it will stay at 75c on my card. Tigerdirect does have the GTX280 for 349.99 after rebate. I know that's extending the budget a bit...but just throwing it out there.

2nd choice would be the 4870 1GB version. But again, in the latest shooting titles like Crysis, Far Cry, Fallout 3, and Crysis Warhead...Nvidia as far as drivers are concerned have a definitive edge over ATI. I know ATI has a big edge in Grid, and possibly in overrall Image Quality. Most people report games being a bit more vibrant in color. Not sure though if this is a myth or just fan boy mentality.
 
shawn04 said:
lol i don't think there will be any leftover cash.. the card on newegg was 300$ on the dot.
Click to expand...

The advice above is solid. There are currently $200 GTX260's out there. Sure you gotta play the rebate game. A few weeks ago there was a BFG GTX260 for $219 and a $20MIR. Keep searching
 
I'd go for the MSI for $199 after MIR. 64 user reviews and an average of five "eggs" sounds pretty solid.
 
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