Video card upgrade advice.

[Mussels]

Short version:

Main gaming PC (see specs on left), the OC is failing on my 8800GT, so i intend to move it (stock clocks) to my lan PC, and sell my 8800GTX.

Now i'm gunna need a card to replace the 8800GT, in my main gaming system. I was thinking GTX260 but they're a bit expensive.

The board i'm on does 16x/4x (PCI-E 1.1) crossfire, so i'm thinking 4850 512MB with an option of a second one later - comments and opinions please!

Did some research to help out.
In order of cheapest to most expensive

Radeon 4830 $175
radeon 4850 $200
9800GTX $250
Radeon 4870 $340
GTX260 $375

 

[SpeedEuphoria]

Wow those are crazy prices!!

seems like the 4850 is the best deal

What resolution do you game at? if its higher than 1650x1080 something with more than 512mb will help.

 

[Mussels]

Wow those are crazy prices!!

seems like the 4850 is the best deal

What resolution do you game at? if its higher than 1650x1080 something with more than 512mb will help.

1360x768, its in my specs. The prices are in Au, of course.


The main concern is getting my smaller, quieter card in my mATX LAN machine, while getting a bit more video power into my gaming machine.

http://staticice.com.au/

^ thats where i tend to find prices, its an Au wide e-store search... thing.

 

[Kursah]

Really at that resolution what is bogging down your 8800GT at stock settings? I would assume that maybe that's at the threshold of CPU/GPU duties, but seeing your OC's, performance should be really good from the GT and GTX, I'd say save your money, swap cards between your Lan and Gamer rig and call it a day tbh.

 

[Mussels]

Really at that resolution what is bogging down your 8800GT at stock settings? I would assume that maybe that's at the threshold of CPU/GPU duties, but seeing your OC's, performance should be really good from the GT and GTX, I'd say save your money, swap cards between your Lan and Gamer rig and call it a day tbh.

The 8800GT is faster than the GTX, thanks to the OC. i actually swapped these around because i found the 8800GT to be the better card.

Whats holding it back is two things:
1. the overclock is failing and needs to be reduced more and more each month, and
2. i have a buyer for the GTX, and not the GT.

 

[Kursah]

The 8800GT is faster than the GTX, thanks to the OC.
Whats holding it back is two things:
1. the overclock is failing and needs to be reduced more and more each month, and
2. i have a buyer for the GTX, and not the GT.

1. Continue with your original plan of downclocking the GT, and either continue to use it and see if it get's worse or swap as you originally stated.

2. Worst thing to do, but you could always back out if it. Not saying it's a good way to go, but really tbh, even a stock 8800GT should be fine at that resolution and then some. Hell my G/F's rig (see sys specs) with a 9600GT plays games fine at 1440x900 all day long, she mostly plays Fallout 3, Burnout Paradise, and some indie games, but when i had it, I played many heavy duty games w/o issue that the same res she plays at now. Then I vmodded it and OC'd it, stuck aftermarket cooling on it, and it's been a champ...really not much out there bogs her card or rig down, game-wise at 1440x900 @ 4X-8X AA w/o issues, hiccups, stuttering frames, etc. That 9600GT impressed me greatly, and still does with what it's capable of...that's why I find trouble in recommending any of those cards on your list when you game at a resolution that low (no offense). If you were at 1920x1080 or 1680x1050, 1600x1200, etc...sure a 4850, 4830 is pretty good (talk to Shadowfold, he had a great experience w/em).

If you can't back out of your sale, then I'd say the 4830 would be more than enough for your needs. It's a sweet little card that packs a powerful punch.

 

[niko084]

The 8800GT is faster than the GTX, thanks to the OC. i actually swapped these around because i found the 8800GT to be the better card.

Whats holding it back is two things:
1. the overclock is failing and needs to be reduced more and more each month, and
2. i have a buyer for the GTX, and not the GT.

I would cut it back a little bit until it's driving you nuts and see what prices are like, looking at that list I would grab a 4850 for sure!

That price on that GTX 260 is insanely high, the 9800GTX+ is on par with the 4850 and costs a bunch more and uses more power.

Also curious, you pull the heatsink off and make sure all the pads on the ram are good etc?

 

[Kursah]

Another couple ideas, see if you can find another 8800GT cheaper than any option above, OC it...that is if you can find one cheap enough to deem that a good idea. I understand you would want something new, and there are options...maybe see what you can find used for a decent deal, maybe snag a 3870X2, 4850, 9800, etc. If you choose to go used, you could get more bang for your buck, which might be the way to go. Just a couple more options!

 

[r9]

There is no big difference between 4870 and GTX260 if you are ready for 350+ go for GTX 260 if you are considering lower part than from 4830 4850 and 9800GTX, 4850 is the choice. 4830 is great choice but for the prices you have given us 4850 definitely.

 

[RevengE]

I say look at a 4850 Great Performance and Great Price. The Gtx-260s are coming down more and more as well if your willing to wait.

 

[h3llb3nd4]

I say GTX260, the prices are dropping

 

[SpeedEuphoria]

Just a note, on lower resolutions the Nvidia cards tend to do better. On higher res with AA the ATI do better for the most part.

 

[Mussels]

well i intend for low res with 4x AA, and i DO get lag in both my GT and GTX at this res in some games.

I'm talking crysis on uber, supreme commander with max graphics - sure its a few games of many that run fine, but since i have a buyer for a hot, bulky card - i'd like to make the most of it.

I think the 4850 fits best so far.

Also, i may have just snagged some GTX 285's at an insane price. $9
http://www.minidigital.com.au/catalogue/details.jsp?productID=212549

i'm quite sure its immoral of me to buy at that price, but nah nah, buggy webpages ftw

 

[crazy pyro]

ROFL at those GTX 285s Mussels, my experience with the HD 4850 has been very positive and I've maxed out the clocks in CCC running the fan at 100% with temps never going over 50 degrees even in approaching warm weather. If you go for an HD48XX card and just intend to keep the stock cooler on I'd advise the palit version since the stock cooler's pants. Only problem with the palit card is it's a dual slot cooler, should also be the cheapest version of the HD 4850.

 

[niko084]

I don't know if I would kick it to 100%, they get a little loud above 70% or so depending on your case.

But for instance, I ran mine at 745/1050 @ 65% fan speed rock solid and it wouldn't get past about 65-70c in a 27c room.

****
For the guys going on about GTX260, at those prices, you can get 2x 4830's and SMOKE a GTX260 flat out, heck I think with a half rate clock they will even beat a GTX280.

 

[hat]

I would pick up a 4850 and then sit on it until you get a new motherboard/system. Running 4x in pci-e 1.1 is pretty much suicide for cards this powerful.

 

[JrRacinFan]

If you dont mind the drivers Mussels, the 4830 with option for 2nd.

 

[niko084]

I would pick up a 4850 and then sit on it until you get a new motherboard/system. Running 4x in pci-e 1.1 is pretty much suicide for cards this powerful.

Aw, didn't notice the board other than it was crossfire... Well yes the 4x would hurt, but it will still land you far ahead a GTX260, especially if your clock your pci-e port *higher clock = more throughput*

 

[btarunr]

That GTX 260, assuming it's the 216 SP one.

 

[Kursah]

That GTX 260, assuming it's the 216 SP one.

Bah, either way works fine, 192, 216...I've had both, didn't notice much of a difference aside from lower OC peaks on the 216. If a 192Sp could be found cheap, it could be very much worth it.

Mussells, as far as getting lag in some games, is this mostly Crysis? I've tried many, many, many games at 1440x900 with all goodies cranked up, AA abound, and not many come to mind on causing the little 9600GT grief suprisingly, Crysis is a for sure one (not that it matters), but I'm really trying to think of what else might do it that she hasn't played. I just find it hard to believe that an 8800GTX or 8800GT would hitch at that resolution, even on Crysis tbh. How much do you notice your CPU/System/RAM Oc's in gaming performance?

But none-the-less, 4830-4850 should treat you well, maybe consider a card with aftermarket cooling on the 4850, iirc they run a little toasty, nothing crazy though. I wish I could send you one of the deals I recently found on a new GTX260, it was like 175 shipped or something insane! Almost half what I paid back in July, this card was still worth getting back then, I plan on keeping it for a while.

 

[btarunr]

Bah, either way works fine, 192, 216...I've had both, didn't notice much of a difference aside from lower OC peaks on the 216. If a 192Sp could be found cheap, it could be very much worth it.

Even in AUD, that looks like a lot of money to pay for a GTX 260-192.

 

[Kursah]

True, the prices are rediculous to say the least imo. 75 bucks more than I paid back in July for my card in the states.

 

[Mussels]

the 260 is a 260+, 216 shader not a 192. i checked that


So atm its 1x 260+ vs 2x 4850 - i'm tempted towards the 260+ as i cant use the HDMI audio on the ATI, while i can use the PhysX/H264 decoding of the Nv card (i use CoreAVC and it only works on Nv atm)

Anyone got bench comparisons between two 4850's and one 260? preferably on a PCI-E 1.1 board if you can.

 

[niko084]

the 260 is a 260+, 216 shader not a 192. i checked that


So atm its 1x 260+ vs 2x 4850 - i'm tempted towards the 260+ as i cant use the HDMI audio on the ATI, while i can use the PhysX/H264 decoding of the Nv card (i use CoreAVC and it only works on Nv atm)

Anyone got bench comparisons between two 4850's and one 260? preferably on a PCI-E 1.1 board if you can.

I can't say I have any but the 4850's are going to leave that 260 in the dust, even with one being in a 4x slot.... The GTX 260 is not that much faster than a well clocked single 4850.

I think I remember people giving numbers of like P12k'ish with 2x 4850's on a pci-e 1.1 board. 16x-4x.

The power draw will be more, heat will be more, but performance will without a doubt be better..

Normally I would say the GTX260 would be the way to go, but the prices you have there just make that card look like a complete waste of money. 2x the price for 10% perf and physx.

At that rate, grab a 4850 and a physx card off ebay.

 

[Mussels]

well it seems two 4850's may be the way to go.

I do admit, i havent used physx in some time. I really would like some benchmarks, every review i find tends to show PCI-E 2.0 boards so i cant be sure how mine will perform.