Out of the loop with video cards a little...Budget Upgrade

M

Mr. Stryker

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
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Usually I stayed up to date with the technology cycle but I haven't been for about.. 7-8 months or so, but anyway, I play a lot of ArmA and Supreme Commander. Sometimes Crysis once in a while, and recently I've been playing a lot of GTA4 too. That kills my video card. My system runs beautiful, however, I would like a bit more oomph for no more than 200 dollars. I have the 1GB version of the ATI 2900XT which is awesome but I play at 1680x1050 so I'm not sure if I'm seeing the benefit. Just that sometimes I wish I could get a bit more FPS.

I was eyeing this card, it looks like a good upgrade: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339 [but I noticed this is a 9800GTX in 8800GTS512 clothing with relocated power connector and a black PCB, so does it overclock as good as the 9800GTX+?]

I'm not too biased on either side of the camp (ATI and NVIDIA), but I have had little yearning to go Nvidia again. I always run games at 1680x1050, perhaps 1920x1200 in about 4 months from now, but I don't need to max out the settings. What do you think?

EDIT: My system specs are
Q6700 at 3.2GHz
4GB Corsair XMS DDR2-800
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
Sapphire ATI 2900 XT 1GB GDDR4
Thermaltake Toughpower 700w

EDIT2: I would also like to note that I buy used parts off forums here too.
 
I'm in the same boat. I've had my 8800GTS SC for a couple years now and I'm looking to upgrade as well. The 260 and 4850 have been at the top of my list but I've been seriously considering just shelling out the extra $$ and getting a 285. :D

Maybe by the time I actually make up my mind, the 285 will cost what the 260 does right now.
 
Since right now you are still stuck at 1680x1050 I would get this card. Great bang for the buck, a lot faster then a 9800GTX+ (somewhere around 70% ~ 80% faster) and will max games at 1680x1050 no problem, save for crysis :D.
 
9800gtx would be a crappy upgrade imo...

go for the gtx 260 core 216. i just upgraded to the evga version a few weeks ago, moving from an 8800gtx. it was a huuuge upgrade. i can run almost all the games i play in 2304x1440 at 50+ fps.
 
FYI, Just bought the XFX 285, and wow, what a nice card.

Does 2048 * 1536 very very very nicely.
 
Best budget video card is the HD4830 imo @ $80-100.

The HD4870 and 260GTX make good upper midrange video card @ $150-250.

The HD4850 @ $110-150 is a good middle ground.
 
hossdaddy said:
here are a few to consider,
XFX PVT98WYDBF GeForce 9800 GTX+ Black Edition 512MB + farcry2 + coall of duty 5 $189.99 - $30 mir!!!
EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 $219.99 - $30 mir + free shipping
ASUS EAH4870 DK TOP/HTDI/512MD5 Radeon HD 4870 512MB $174.99 - $30 mir
Click to expand...

Quite expensive for that card (9800GTX), the one I posted is $146. And the GTX 260 does look good if I have an extra $30-40 to shell out.

vanilla_guerilla said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150351
Click to expand...

That card is looking really nice, I don't mind this. But I heard those cards can't overclock?

Mega666 said:
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370
Click to expand...

Leaning against that card most likely.

sdkoskey said:
I'm in the same boat. I've had my 8800GTS SC for a couple years now and I'm looking to upgrade as well. The 260 and 4850 have been at the top of my list but I've been seriously considering just shelling out the extra $$ and getting a 285. :D

Maybe by the time I actually make up my mind, the 285 will cost what the 260 does right now.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but I don't think that'll happen anytime soon. Not until Fall at least. (price dropping on 285 that is)

lundrog said:
gtx 260
Click to expand...

Yeah... :)

DeadSkull said:
Since right now you are still stuck at 1680x1050 I would get this card. Great bang for the buck, a lot faster then a 9800GTX+ (somewhere around 70% ~ 80% faster) and will max games at 1680x1050 no problem, save for crysis :D.
Click to expand...

This may be my next card I guess.

Haste266 said:
9800gtx would be a crappy upgrade imo...

go for the gtx 260 core 216. i just upgraded to the evga version a few weeks ago, moving from an 8800gtx. it was a huuuge upgrade. i can run almost all the games i play in 2304x1440 at 50+ fps.
Click to expand...

Yeah, everyone's saying GTX 260 Core 216.. I guess I'll shell out a bit more for that card.
 
wrxdrunkie said:
Does the gtx 260 handle crysis pretty well at this resolution?
ecstatic.gif
Click to expand...

You forgot the resolution mate :)
 
wrxdrunkie said:
Does the gtx 260 handle crysis pretty well at this resolution?
Click to expand...

I have an EVGA 260 SC(216) along with an overclocked e5200 and 4 gigs of ram. Im running Crysis at 1920 x 1080 with everything on High (not very high) with no AA. I haven't done any tweaks to the game for high res yet and the FPS are about 30-60 with an occasional slowdown to 25. I find that completely playable on Crysis.
 
Err, after paying the bills it looks like my budget has been tightened to $150-160. Looks like I'll have to bite on the EVGA 9800GTX that I first posted, so that I can step-up to a GTX260 or 285 in two months. :( Thanks for your help, everyone.
 
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