upgrading from 8800gts 640mb

[sploiz]

i've had my 8800gts 640mb card for a few years now. lately its been having some issues and i can't overclock it at all.

i don't game as much as i used to so i'm trying to get away from my normal upgrade path of going for overkill. i have a e8400 @ 3.6ghz, 4gb ram, and a some inch monitor at 1680x1050. right now i mainly play WoW and even that has been having issues with my card.

i've been an nvidia person since the geforce 256 days, but recently i've been looking at going ati. at first i was looking at the 4870 1gb version since you can get them for around $190 now. but i think that might be overkill. i'm not sure if i need 1gb of video memory unless its the same price as the 512 versions. the 4850's are running about $140 for both the 512mb and 1gb versions.

would i actually be able to see a difference in spending the extra $50? will the 4850 still be an upgrade from my 8800?

thanks y'all
-sploiz

 

[paco16]

Either of those ATI cards will be more than sufficient. The ATI cards may actually handle WoW a bit better due to their shader processing being better with AA on. Or so I've read..
If you have a board that can run SLI or x-fire it's an even easier solution. You can always add one more if needed. But at that resolution you should have no issues for a while.
Too bad your 8800gts is crapping out. Good card.

 

[sploiz]

if i got the 4850 would there be a performance increase from the 512mb to the 1gb version for the resolution i'm running at?

i've never bought an ati card before so i'm not sure about the brands. i'm happy spending a little bit more for a good long warranty and exhausting air outside the case.

i've been looking at xfx and there's 2 that look exactly alike but with a $10 difference in price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150337
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150348
is there any differences in them?

 

[paco16]

The XFX HD-485X-YDFC has a double-lifetime. Memory clock is 4mhz difference as well... not sure the whys and the hows behind this but they are pretty much identical.
If you're going to get an "upgrade" the 4870 is the best solution, however even with the 4850 you'd see high "low frames" (instead of 20fps on Crysis, it could be 30-40 depending on your config) and you'd be able to jack up the shader settings in WoW more so than you'd be able to with the current 8800gts.
Take a look at the GTX275 as well if you'd rather go the Nvidia route.

 

[eddie500]

I'm was in the same situation as you, except that I have been gaming more now, playing many hours of left 4 dead. I have a e8400 OC to 3.6, had a 8800gts 640.
I just purchased a GTX 260, and couldn't be happier. Makes my left 4 dead experience that much better.
However I would say go for a cheaper upgrade, because if new generation games come out they will probably require a new generation video card. Your upgrading at a bad time, so go for something cheap like a $150 260, this way in a year you can upgrade to the next generation cards.

I was going to wait to upgrade but just couldn't, but it was worth it because I'm able play left 4 dead better because of higher FPS when all those zombies come hording towards me.

 

[j3ff86]

I'd go for the new 4770, it's cheap ($110) and will be fine for WoW at that resolution.

 

[AltTabbins]

I'd go for the new 4770, it's cheap ($110) and will be fine for WoW at that resolution.

Thats not much of an upgrade. I went from a 320mb and was going to buy an 8800gt but was talked out into a 4870. Im glad that I didnt get the GT. If you are going to upgrade, might as well make it an UPGRADE.

 

[j3ff86]

Thats not much of an upgrade. I went from a 320mb and was going to buy an 8800gt but was talked out into a 4870. Im glad that I didnt get the GT. If you are going to upgrade, might as well make it an UPGRADE.

For WoW, there wouldn't be a difference between a 4770 and 4870 at that resolution, but yeah if he wants to play a new FPS down the road it would be worthwhile to get something faster.