Should I wait for a new card?

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Wrecklusive

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
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I got a gift card for Newegg for Christmas. I'm currently running an 8800GT, and it has served me well enough, and it still runs most things near max just fine (my monitor is 1680x1050). It runs hot though, and it's just a matter of time at this point before it croaks.

So I'm trying to decide the best bang for my buck regarding a new video card, Nvidia or ATI. No multiple monitors, no 3D. Price range is 150-250. The Nvidia 460 GTX seems to be suggested a lot, so I was considering that or the Radeon equivalent. Is it worth it to go more powerful than that at my resolution? Maybe for PhysX stuff?

Also, are there new cards coming out in the next few months that will be better, or that will shake up prices enough that it's worth the wait? Like I said, my 8800 GT is still quite serviceable, so if waiting a few months for a new round of cards is worth it, I'm willing to wait.

I tried searching for info regarding new cards coming out in 2011 but I couldn't really find anything that helpful.

Thanks for any responses!

EDIT: I'm running an e6750 CPU, not OCed, but I could OC it if needed to get more mileage out of a new vid card.
 
1 -- Find several review sites and research which cards perform best at the resolution you play at.

2 -- Determine if two lower end cards in SLI/Xfire would be better than 1 medium/high end card

3 -- Pick a mfgr after 1 & 2. Both make fine cards.

If you need some explanation for #2, let me explain it like this:

Cards used here are ONLY used for Example purposes: Let's say may find you can get either one nVidia 8800GTS or two 8600GS passively cooled cards in SLI. -If- the two lower end cards in SLI provide better performance at your resolution than the 8800GTS, and they are silent, then they may be a better choice for your particular needs.

Me personally, since your resolution is pretty low, I'd look for two lower end cards that are silent, or nearly silent, and use them in SLI/Xfire rather than buy a single Medium/High end card that offers only similar performance, but is far louder.

I've actually run (2) Asus 8600GS Silent Cards in SLI in my "Mini-Me" project and they worked great! Silence and Performance
 
Thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention my MB doesn't support SLI/Crossfire, so it'll have to be one card for now. And my current card sounds like a jet engine, I think any newer card would have to be quieter, so sound isn't a huge issue for me.

Just found a site with some nice charts, looking through them now.

But anyone know any info about upcoming cards?
 
$150 to $250 range, GTX 560 in January I would think.
Other than that, 6990 and GTX "595" which would be way out of your price range.

Nothing new until the end of 2011, in my opinion.
 
There are plenty of deals on the GTX460 and 6850 for under 180 dlls. Unless you are going for a bigger monitor either of those should serve you well.

AFAIK only the GTX560 will be out in Q1 2001, but it will probably be priced in the 250 dlls range.

BTW there's a 470 for under 200 bucks @newegg (take a look at the [H]ot deals forum). Very tempting, though maybe a little bit overkill for your setup.
 
If you are not overly wanting brand new technology, I recommend a good look at this card or one in the same product line :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121370&cm_re=hd_5850-_-14-121-370-_-Product

I bought one of the 5850 cards used here, and man they are very slick.
My daughter's GPU took a powder, she games at 1680 X 1050 and that card will blow through anything I can throw at it.....it is a very impressive performer.

You should be able to find a nice card such as this one on newegg for less than 200 dollars easily.
 
To be honest if everything is running well for you. There is really no reason to upgrade. You upgrade when the games you like to play arn't playing acceptable to you anymore. Hell you can take apart your 8800 GT clean it out all the dust and use isopropyl alchohol to replace the TIM (I am not sure if you need to replace the thermal memory pads though. Some old pads had to be replaced when you dismantled the videocard).

I don't really need to upgrade my HD 5970 for my 24 inch monitor. It plays everything fine with everything on high settings (except for metro). But I am making the jump to 30 inch monitors and I need a HD 6990 for that monitor if I want to play at high settings.

Aside from the HD 6990 (dual GPU in one card) and the Nvidia "595" (dual GPU in one card) There is really nothing happening in early 2011. Late 2011 there should be the new video cards coming out.
 
Anything faster than a gtx570/6950/6970 would be wasted on your cpu. The only new card coming out worth considering is the gtx560. Other than that, just get whatever you can afford now.
 
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