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I need a great graphics card

beyond_amusia

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It's time for a GPU upgrade for me, and I need some advice - I like to game, but my crappy card discourages me from doing it often. I am looking for a killer card that won't be outdated next week by a new game that costs around $200 (preferably less), can run currnet games on max setting at a realistic resolution (say 1280 x 1024) and will not kill my PSU. I am looking on newegg, but I need a bit of guidance. I have my eye set on a card that's FS on here, but the spending limit has increased from $150, so I have more playing room now. If the card is on TPU, the seller must take PayPal as I am not the one making the purchase. Thanks in advance. Bring on the graphics cards! :rockout:
 

beyond_amusia

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ATI Radeon HD 4870 1gb ;)
depends on what game you play to
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_4870_IceQ4

dude that 2600 XT is horrible old, its SLOW! the 4870 is like 10x faster and has twice the amount ram
how high resolution is your screen? if its 1280x1024 then 4870 is exellent even at 1920x1200 its fast
 
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beyond_amusia

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why the 1gb ver. if he only plays at 1280x1024 ?

I DO intend to get a wide screen LCD eventually, but I imagine it will be a while before someone gives me one, lol.
 

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ATI Radeon HD 4870 1gb ;)
depends on what game you play to
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_4870_IceQ4

dude that 2600 XT is horrible old, its SLOW! the 4870 is like 10x faster and has twice the amount ram
how high resolution is your screen? if its 1280x1024 then 4870 is exellent even at 1920x1200 its fast

Well, I got it last year for $70 - I was just looking for something cheap because someone else was buying it for me, like this card, but this person is more generous... The only thing I dislike about 1 GB is that means more of my RAM is raped away from me =( But, I am sure games will soon require a 512 MB card... :shadedshu
 
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Well, I got it last year for $70 - I was just looking for something cheap because someone else was buying it for me, like this card, but this person is more generous... The only thing I dislike about 1 GB is that means more of my RAM is raped away from me =( But, I am sure games will soon require a 512 MB card... :shadedshu
?, if you run a 64-bit os you wont need to think about missing ram, btw many games nowadays need 1GB at high resolution, here is a point

http://techreport.com/articles.x/15651/

this is exact same card but with 512MB and 1024MB memory at a 30" 2560x1600 µber resolution and uber expensive display :p

btw, a 4870 1GB is a exellent choice for any game

i got a 4870 512MB and a Phenom 9850, both gives me exellent frames in Team Fortress 2, Crysis, Unreal Tournament 3, World in Conflict, etc

and you can also buy one 4870 1GB then buy another 4870 1GB and crossfire them if you have a crossfire enabled motherboard that most high end AM2+ have
 

beyond_amusia

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So, what about 2 4850s in crossfire? would they out do a single 4870? or would that kill my PSU? =P
 
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2 4850s will easily beat a 4870 but as you said it might kill the PSU
 

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It's time for a GPU upgrade for me, and I need some advice - I like to game, but my crappy card discourages me from doing it often. I am looking for a killer card that won't be outdated next week by a new game that costs around $200 (preferably less), can run currnet games on max setting at a realistic resolution (say 1280 x 1024) and will not kill my PSU. I am looking on newegg, but I need a bit of guidance. I have my eye set on a card that's FS on here, but the spending limit has increased from $150, so I have more playing room now. If the card is on TPU, the seller must take PayPal as I am not the one making the purchase. Thanks in advance. Bring on the graphics cards! :rockout:

I think you were unfortunate when picking up the 2600 XT, the best choice would of been to get the 8800 series they have been out for 3 years and the lucky fuckers that bought them early would of pay around $200 for 3 years of very high settings, they even play today’s games with ease on high detail.

To be honest we are at a point in time and technology where even the cheapest of low-mid range video cards are enough to play today’s games at very high settings, drop less than $100 and you can get a ATI 4830 or 4770. Right now any upgrade in the GPU department is huge.

If you're content with spending the entire $200 I'd look at the ATI 4870 1 GB DDR5 version or the GTX 260 216 core version, possibly the GTX275 if you are willing to up your budget!




Edit:

Sparkle GTX260 $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187074

MSI 4870 $174.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127430

Powercolour 4870 $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131140

HIS 4870 $154.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161268

XFX HD489AZDF Radeon HD 4890 1GB £209.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150379


Edit 2:

or the ATI 4890 1GB GDDR5 ;)


The only problem is both the 4890 and GTX 275 are over budget and for 1280 x 1024 gaming i'm worried that performance will be no better off than using a $100 GTS 250 or 4770?
 
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I think you were unfortunate when picking up the 2600 XT, the best choice would of been to get the 8800 series they have bene out for 3 years and the lucky fuckers that bought them early would of pay around $200 for 3 years of very high settings, they even play todays games with ease on high detail.

To be honest we are at a point in time and technology where even the cheapest of low-mid range video cards are enough to play todays games at very high settings, drop less than $100 and you can get a ATI 4830 or 4770. Right now any upgrade in the GPU department is huge.

If you're content with spending the entire $200 I'd look at the ATI 4870 1 GB DDR5 version or the GTX 260 216 core version, possibly the GTX275!
or the ATI 4890 1GB GDDR5 ;)
 

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or the ATI 4890 1GB GDDR5 ;)

Open box is $209 on Newegg (may be 512, but pretty sure it was 1GB) - $9 out of the price range. :ohwell:
 

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The only problem is both the 4890 and GTX 275 are over budget and for 1280 x 1024 gaming i'm worried that performance will be no better off than using a $100 GTS 250 or 4770?

I DO play some pretty graphics intensive games (at least they are intensive for my 2600, lmao) and I hate watching crap render, seeing page tearing and stuttering... I have not fired up a game on here yet (just built it this week) because I was waiting for a new card - I usually get 5-10 new games a year (I tend to spend a lot of time exploring older titles instead of dumping $$$ on new games)... My biggest fear is that a new game will come out the requires the card I get or better within the next 12 months - I had my Pentium D for over 2 years before games required it or better, so it was a good investment at the time I feel - Now I gotta hope my quad lasts that long and that the GPU I select will last well over a year before an upgrade is required.
 

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I had to chuckle as I read through some of the posts. For your res most of what has been mentioned will more than be enough for you but rather than look at the odd single benchmark that has been posted, if you want to compare the GTX260 with the HD4870 just google and look at a few reviews, you will clearly see that across the board the GTX260 is quicker although TBH I wouldnt recommend any of those.

you clearly want to spend as little as possible, and at you res (no point in buying a card today for a display you MIGHT get in a years time IMO) so I would suggest a nice HD4770 which will more than do you, overclocks like crazy and is good value for money, ohhh and it's 45nm also.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131155
 
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The only problem is both the 4890 and GTX 275 are over budget and for 1280 x 1024 gaming i'm worried that performance will be no better off than using a $100 GTS 250 or 4770?
true, but there are many options ;)

I had to chuckle as I read through some of the posts. For your res most of what has been mentioned will more than be enough for you but rather than look at the odd single benchmark that has been posted, if you want to compare the GTX260 with the HD4870 just google and look at a few reviews, you will clearly see that across the board the GTX260 is quicker although TBH I wouldnt recommend any of those.

you clearly want to spend as little as possible, and at you res (no point in buying a card today for a display you MIGHT get in a years time IMO) so I would suggest a nice HD4770 which will more than do you, overclocks like crazy and is good value for money, ohhh and it's 45nm also.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131155
its 40nm sextoy :p
 
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beyond_amusia

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I DO play some pretty graphics intensive games (at least they are intensive for my 2600, lmao) and I hate watching crap render, seeing page tearing and stuttering... I have not fired up a game on here yet (just built it this week) because I was waiting for a new card - I usually get 5-10 new games a year (I tend to spend a lot of time exploring older titles instead of dumping $$$ on new games)... My biggest fear is that a new game will come out the requires the card I get or better within the next 12 months - I had my Pentium D for over 2 years before games required it or better, so it was a good investment at the time I feel - Now I gotta hope my quad lasts that long and that the GPU I select will last well over a year before an upgrade is required.


The 2600 XT is old, about 3 years old? it was never intended as a competitive gaming card performance wise, it was just a stop-gap card for those that wanted DX10 support to run Vista whilst still having the same or similar performance to the older DX 9.0 cards.

As it stands 1280x1028 is low-mid resolution gaming, you do not need a ATI 4870 or better to max out games at that resolution, you'll be wasting the money as those types of cards are suited for resolutions of around 1680x1050 to 1920x1200. Today’s mid-range GPUs e.g. 4830, 4770, 4850, GTS 250 etc are powerful enough to run today’s games with ease, you'd get around 1.5-2 years out of it @ 1024x1280 which is good considering the price.

Take a look at my specification, shitty Athlon X2 3800+ @ 2.8 GHz, at a resolution of 1440x900 with full detail 4x anti-aliasing on my £74 ATI 4830 and obtain 45-90 FPS in Call of Duty:WAW, 45-120 FPS in Tombraider Underworld.

I think you just got burnt with the 2600 XT so you do not trust mid-range GPUs any more!

PS. on a new build why did you go with the Phenom 9950 opposed to the Phenom II series?
 
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beyond_amusia

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...I think you just got burnt with the 2600 XT so you do not trust mid-range GPUs any more!

PS. on a new build why did you go with the Phenom 9950 opposed to the Phenom II series?

The 9950 BE was only $72 here on TPU - That's hard to beat ^_^

And yes, I do feel burned about the 2600 - I 'upgraded' from a X1650 and i saw NO performance gains whatsoever... I will look at the slower cards again and try to convince myself that they are not all crap. :p
 

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i saw a 512MB 4830 on the egg for about $90 after MIR not long ago.


edit: was a 4850

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161259

even comes with clear skies.


edit 2:

newegg comments. gotta love em....

newegg comment said:
Pros: i got this card sent to my neibors house and there horses stomped the hell out of it and when i checked it out no stress crakcs and when i put the card in it worked just fine i am glad that these people who make the graphics card made them tough because that horse was stomping on it when i noticed that it was my box
Cons: none works great and and keeps really cool
Other Thoughts: a horses average weight is around 1000 or more pounds this card took it and is still running great job HIS
 

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The 9950 BE was only $72 here on TPU - That's hard to beat ^_^

And yes, I do feel burned about the 2600 - I 'upgraded' from a X1650 and i saw NO performance gains whatsoever... I will look at the slower cards again and try to convince myself that they are not all crap. :p

Seriously though do not be ignorant about the current midrange as they are very powerful indeed, ok they will not have the longevity of the higher-ends but remember they are less than half the price. If you pick up a $100 GPU and it serves its purpose for only 1.5 years you can easily pick up another $100 to for another 1.5 year duration and it will still be cheaper than splashing out on a ATI 4890 or better. (The second midrange purchase after 1.5 years might even be faster than the 4890)

Do not get me wrong, im not hating on the high-end, if you had a larger monitor say 24' I’d happily point you towards the ATI 4890 or ATI 4870 X2.

Take a look at these TPU official reviews pay special attention to the GTS 250 and 4770!

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Galaxy/GeForce_GTS_250_1_GB

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/HD_4770/

PS. Off the record the GTS250 only slightly slower than the ATI 4870 yet is ALOT cheaper.
 
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100$ budget - 4770
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250$+ 4890

I would personally either just get a 4770(or two :D) or just get a GTX 260 or 4890.

And I'd give you a nice price on my 4850X2 if you have the cash :)
 
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