Need upgrade from 4850. ($150)

[teatime0315]

Hey guys. 4850 is getting slow in the tooth. What do you guys recommend as an upgrade for this aging card.

Specs as of now:
Q9550 (stock)
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R (no sli/xfire unless I can use the pci-e 1x slot)
8GB of RAM
HDD (Samsung F3 1tb) - Thinking of getting a C300 128gb SSD
1920x1200 24inch LCD

I'm thinking either the HD5850 ($135) or 460GTX ($119).
Wut do guys?

 

[potatorage]

I recommend either a 6850 ($140) or the GTX 460, either 768MB or 1GB (115~130)

 

[Fenix793]

5850 and 460GTX are both really good choices. 5850 will perform a bit better and is probably worth the $15.

 

[teatime0315]

Also... dunno if this is BS or not, but I keep hearing that I need to have an i5 or better to utilize these cards. True or not?

 

[Dangman]

Also... dunno if this is BS or not, but I keep hearing that I need to have an i5 or better to utilize these cards. True or not?

Not true

 

[SonDa5]

Used GTX470.

 

[teatime0315]

Did anyone do an upgrade similar to this? If so, what are your thoughts? Just want to see the scope of this upgrade since I don't really upgrade that often, I want it to make it last as long as possible.

 

[SonDa5]

I've had HD4850 and GTX470. GTX470 is way better. I have had HD6850 as well, GTX470 is better.

I think you could find a hot deal on a used GTX470 for $150 or less.

 

[Raptor2]

The 5850 would be a bit better then the GTX 460. And the GTX 470 would be better then a 5850.

In some games a GTX 470 and a 5850 would perform very similar. In for example Far Cry 2 and COD5, the GTX 470 would get a bigger lead. So overall the GTX 470 would be better.

Based on the small difference in price, I would choose a GTX 470 if I could get a used one for about $150. And I would get a 5850 over a GTX 460.