Replacing a 3850

[tcraig_4096]

Hey all and thanks for taking the time to read.

My Sapphire 3850 is old, overheating and just plain not working for me anymore. I need a new card and my budget is under 200$

I don't need the fastest card. I would like something that runs cool and quietly, is reliable, and will last as long as my 3850 has (4 years).

My thoughts are a 460, 6850, 6870 so far, but I would love more suggestions, especially on specific brands if you have had good or bad experiences with them.

- I have a 19 inch Samsung CRT and run most games at 1280x10xx. I do plug it into the TV now and then so HDMI is a plus. I don't plan to upgrade my monitor soon.
- Running an ASUS P5K-E and an overclocked Conroe 6750 (don't plan to upgrade these yet either, they have been working great and taken a lot of abuse over the years).
- I will be buying a Corsair 550W with the card I choose. I don't trust my old supply anymore and it doesn't even have a 6 pin anyway.

What are your experiences and or suggestions? Thanks [H]'ers.

 

[cannondale06]

with an older dual core cpu and normally fairly low res then I would go 5770 or 6770. they are the same card so which ever you can find cheaper. a 460 or 6850 would be okay too but in most cases you will never be able to actually get the full performance they can deliver with your setup.

also I am guessing you only have 2gb of system ram and maybe running Windows XP?

 

[tcraig_4096]

4 gb and vista

I should stay lower end then?

 

[rcf1987]

with a 6750 cpu dont go above a 5850 its a waste

 

[FlawleZ]

with a 6750 cpu dont go above a 5850 its a waste

Honestly a 6850 would be about as high as I'd go. 5850 being a little faster of course. I would say either GTX 460 or HD 6850.

 

[cannondale06]

at 1280 even the 6850 is a bit too much IMO with an older dual core cpu. if he can use a higher res then yes the 6850 should be fine. if 1280 is it then the 5770/6770 makes more sense.

 

[erf]

I'd go with 2x6990's...you know...future proofing...ftw?

 

[tcraig_4096]

If you sell me a pair for 200$ I'm game.

Seriously though I will prob get a 24 inch widescreen lcd in a year or two, so I want it to be reliable, quiet, and also run that monitor at 1600xwhatever without a problem.

 

[MrC4]

If you sell me a pair for 200$ I'm game.

Seriously though I will prob get a 24 inch widescreen lcd in a year or two, so I want it to be reliable, quiet, and also run that monitor at 1600xwhatever without a problem.

If you are getting a 24" LCD in a year or so, I would get the XFX 6870 for around $150 after rebate. This should last you the 4 years you are hoping for, plus it can handle the 1920x1080 res that most 24" LCDs are running these days.