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what video card would you go with

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sweeper

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I'd go with Sapphire.... Just my .02 worth. Good price, excellent reputation, and a very good rating.
 

wolf

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I'd take the GTX285, Just a hair behind an X2, but with no multi gpu quirks, setups, profile or any of that mess at all. just one card that's almost as beefy as 2 - 4870's, and will utterly destroy one.

and one quirk I and many users run into quite often with Multi GPU setups is, you often hit single card performance. and that hurts.

A single 4870 or GTX285 will never have that problem, your pretty much always looking at the best performance the card can give you, which for the GTX285 over a 4870X2 means, generally higher minimum FPS, and thats what counts for the most IMO.

does it matter if the peak is over 100 fps if it still dips below 30?

id prefer a card that peaks at 80 with a minimum of 50. these are complete bogus example numbers, but they suit the purpose of the example.
 
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Yup, just like wolf said, go with the GTX 285 (number 2), best card for the money. Plus its from EVGA, the best nVidia graphics card manufacturer IMO.
 

spearman914

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I would personally go with the EVGA gtx 285. It's 1% performance less than the 4870x2 and $50 cheaper.
 

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sweeper

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ShadowFold

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Well after using a GTX 280 and going to an HD 4830 I'm convinced they aren't powerful at all. Maybe the drivers were killing it but in gaming performance my 4830 performs the same at 1920x1080 and with high amount of AA and ASF.
 

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ALSO, the biggest is research... look at the ratings?????? The Sapphire card has the most reviews and has been tested as a very good card?
 

sweeper

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4870 and 4830 can't be compaired.... the 4870 that's listed is a NICE card and will run games at any resolution. Plus Sapphire is excellent with there cards. Just me though I guess. But if you have the $500.00 to spend then there is no question the two top cards listed are what you want...why post the rest? Best bang for your buck would be the Sapphire. But again, I don't see why the post even is here if you are obviously looking at the top two cards. Honest opinion in single card operation and best buy with the best reviews is the Sapphire.
 
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So you're saying that your 4830 performs the same as the 280? Hmmm.. something was screwed up with your 280 then

Well after using a GTX 280 and going to an HD 4830 I'm convinced they aren't powerful at all. Maybe the drivers were killing it but in gaming performance my 4830 performs the same at 1920x1080 and with high amount of AA and ASF.
 

wolf

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Well after using a GTX 280 and going to an HD 4830 I'm convinced they aren't powerful at all. Maybe the drivers were killing it but in gaming performance my 4830 performs the same at 1920x1080 and with high amount of AA and ASF.

not at all to discredit you mate, i value your opinion, but thats very odd indeed!

among many other cards inbetween, i have owned a 9800GTX, HD4870 and GTX260 c216, all of which i would slate at the same difference between eachother, in that order.

what i mean is 9800GTX < HD4870 < GTX260

with the 9800GTX being about 25% slower than the 4870 and ive found the 4870 to be about 25% slower than the GTX260.

all card were max oc'ed with a bios of my own flashed on...

i just find it odd and hard to believe you had a 4830 seem so "on par" with a GTX280, given the vast differences i have seen with similar cards...
 
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Well after using a GTX 280 and going to an HD 4830 I'm convinced they aren't powerful at all. Maybe the drivers were killing it but in gaming performance my 4830 performs the same at 1920x1080 and with high amount of AA and ASF.

Man, either there was something horribly wrong with that 280 or your processor was bottlenecking the crap out of it.
 

ShadowFold

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Man, either there was something horribly wrong with that 280 or your processor was bottlenecking the crap out of it.

I had a Phenom II 940 @ 3.6ghz at the time.
 

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I can't see a 4830 running @ the same speed as the GTX280. How ever there is no comparing a 4830 to the GTX 285. The 285 will walk the dog on the 4830. However........ the 4870X2 is excellent and on par with the GTX 285 though it's alot of $$$. If you plan on gaming ALOT on your PC and have the cash then grab it. If not and esp. since you are not planning on running 2X anyway then run the single 4870 either ASUS or Sapphire. IMO, the Sapphire.
 
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4870 and 4830 can't be compaired.... the 4870 that's listed is a NICE card and will run games at any resolution. Plus Sapphire is excellent with there cards. Just me though I guess. But if you have the $500.00 to spend then there is no question the two top cards listed are what you want...why post the rest? Best bang for your buck would be the Sapphire. But again, I don't see why the post even is here if you are obviously looking at the top two cards. Honest opinion in single card operation and best buy with the best reviews is the Sapphire.

Actually that 260gtx is alot faster than the sapphire when both are maxed overclocked and at that price is the better deal. However, I like the sapphire aswell. I asked because I wanted to see what you thought and I don't have spend 500.00 if it's a waste of money. Also a 285 is really a 280gtx thats has a smaller die, less power requirements and throws less heat. If you overclock a 280 gtx it will match a 285 but be hotter etc.. and won't overclock as high (close but not as high). Also no 4830 can match a 280 gtx , no way , no how, impossible, maybe two 4830's crossfired and oced to hell and back. Something is wrong with your drivers. Also I like the asus because of the after market cooler ( also like AMD and like to support them), but there is no need to buy it if you think it's a waste. I have a 280 gtx now , but sold it so the 285 would be a greener , more efficient , and less power requirement (I have a 600 watt psu powering it now without trouble),


Well after using a GTX 280 and going to an HD 4830 I'm convinced they aren't powerful at all. Maybe the drivers were killing it but in gaming performance my 4830 performs the same at 1920x1080 and with high amount of AA and ASF.

leaning towards this card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.159040 because of the double lifetime warranty, adds big time to the resale.

however ya gotta love this cards coolness factor and it will only cost me 184.00 after I add the proceeds from my 280 gtx. However drivers are a pain.
1.http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.160424


also might buy a 295gtx if the price was right and I could find the right brand.
 
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get the xfx gtx 285, i always used xfx, all my friends have xfx, and no one ever had any trouble with them
 
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That XFX 285 looks amazing!! My suggestion.
 
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Have you thought about the HD4850x2 1GB? it costs the same as the HD4870 1GB
 

DrPepper

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The 285 nearly beats the 4870X2. I'd totally go with that because it doesn't have the issues the high end dual gpu cards do. Oh and go EVGA they're the shit.
 

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wolf

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The 285 nearly beats the 4870X2. I'd totally go with that because it doesn't have the issues the high end dual gpu cards do. Oh and go EVGA they're the shit.

that or a cheap 280 clocked @ 285 speeds with a boosted fan, seems most 280's will hit 285 speed or higher :toast:
 
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Very nice card, this is the one i have.. wanted a 285 because i dont have the 8 pin connector on my psu.. and the XFX was the cheapest one on the egg.

That XFX 285 looks amazing!! My suggestion.
 

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My thoughts Trt. Try and find the 295. Throw Fits a thing on his hot deals. HE all ways seems to know something else we don't know..

But, I do think grabbing the Xfx 285 would be good for ya if you can't get a 295.. For the fact, you change your video cards as bad as underwear... :laugh:

As for the 280 sweeper. That baby is now mine!!! Woot!
 
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