Video Card Upgrade Time

[WasntMe]

I have an BFG 8800gtx beast. I think it might be time to upgrade but I want to make sure that I'd get a good bit of a performance increase out of upgrading.

I am looking at staing in the $200 - $250 range and was hoping some comments/suggestions could be thrown around. I am not partal to ATI or nVidia, whatever does the job. SLI/xFire is open too.

Any suggestions on a new card(s)? Is it possible to get performance better than a 8800gtx with just $200?

 

[ELox]

You can get better performance but there is a real whole in that price range right now if you ask me. For $150 you can get a 5770 which is a good little performer and CF's well.

For $200 you can get a 4890 which will outperform the 5770 but no dx11 or eyefinity as its older tech.

For $240 you can get a 5830 which is somewhat faster than the 5770 but not enough to warrant the price jump if you ask me.

For $300 you can get a 5850 which is a great performer and great bang/buck. Highly recommended. In fact If you want to stay within your $250 budget look for a used 5850 and hit that up.

Nvidia really has nothing I could recommend under $350 and even then you are better off spending $300 on the 5850 or $400 on the 5870 in my opinion rather than a 470 at $350. I know this seems bias but you'd need a better PS to run a 470 whereas I bet you could use the same PS and still run even a 5870 (I'm using a cheap 700W on my 5870 just fine).

Bottom line, for a significant performance increase look for a used 5850 for around $250 or up your budget for a new one and you won't be disappointed.

 

[RevMen]

If you're very diligent and you utilize BCB you can get a new 5850 for not much more than $250. I think that's your best option.

 

[WasntMe]

I know I could do some research but since I'm here... Is a 5850 that big of an improvement over a 5850 or would a second used 8800gtx be better?

 

[ELox]

I know I could do some research but since I'm here... Is a 5850 that big of an improvement over a 5850 or would a second used 8800gtx be better?

5850 is much better performance than two 8800's

 

[RevMen]

And far more power efficient.

 

[GonzoP]

Def 5850. Sell you 8800 and you will net cost around $200. Check for deals from time to time you can find new 5850's for around $250ish. Equally true a used one will be a tad less

 

[FrgMstr]

Agreed 5850.

 

[woody75]

+1 5850 - waiting to find a sale to buy mine as well.

 

[King Icewind]

5850 for now.

Then pick up another for cheap and crossfire it when the 6xxx series comes out. (My plans).

 

[mricks86]

Go with the 5850

 

[Elmy]

5850 with Bing Cash Back is the way to go

 

[bizzmeister]

I will be the 10th or so person to gladly say, get a good 5850 lol.

 

[SpeedyVV]

No pressure, but 5850.

 

[Alanstein]

cucore 5850

 

[Krenum]

5850 for sure.

 

[Ogilvy]

5850?

 

[WasntMe]

Decided to go with a 5870 from XFX. At $389, it's not TOO bad. Hopefully it's a bigger upgrade than the 5850.

 

[guachi]

No, the 5850 was probably the better option for the money.

Depends on what resolution you are running at, though. What monitor do you have for this system?

 

[WasntMe]

No, the 5850 was probably the better option for the money.

Depends on what resolution you are running at, though. What monitor do you have for this system?

Two hours after I posted that I ordered... and I went with the 5850, so GG. I WINZ. YAY!

Can't wait until it gets here.

I am running a 23" Acer.

 

[Mr. K6]

Two hours after I posted that I ordered... and I went with the 5850, so GG. I WINZ. YAY!

Can't wait until it gets here.

I am running a 23" Acer.

Niiiiiccceeeee. You'll be glad you did. Considering the 5850 has almost all the bells and whistles of its big brother, and it overclocks like a champ, there's no reason to spend the extra $100+. This will be a significant upgrade for you, congrats. Just make sure you really scrub out your old drivers or do a reformat/reinstall .