Might Upgrade the Video Card...Got A New Monitor

[SnoopKatt]

I just got a new monitor (SAMSUNG 2343BWX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001317) and so far I love it. Huuge improvement over my 19" Envision 1440x900. Anyways, I was trying out some games with it, and I've noticed that it obviously lags a lot more when I'm playing games at 2048x1152. I'm still giving it some thought, but would upgrading my video card help a lot or is the rest of my system the real bottleneck? My specs are:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 @ 2.66ghz
4GB DDR2 1066mhz 5-5-5-15 (2x1GB Corsair Dominator, 2x1GB Kingston HyperX)
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L ATX Motherboard
NVIDIA 9600GT 512MB
750W Corsair PSU
Antec SOLO Mid Tower

I was thinking of getting a GTX 260, a GTS 250, or a 5770. My only real problem would be that my case is very small. My 9600GT barely fits, and it's not a large card at all. Anything even half an inch bigger would not work. I do plan on getting a new case very soon, but I haven't had a lot of luck finding someone who wants my old case, so I may be using this case for a while. What do you guys think about the video card choice? My plan is to sell the 9600GT and buy one of those cards (maybe from these forums), so I'd like the price difference between my card and a better one to not be more than $50.
Thanks!

[slyfox2151]

if i were you i would go the 5770 or 5850, and if it was too long i would cut a hole in my case for it

[SnoopKatt]

Hahaha, this case is soo cramped that would hardly make a difference
It does look like the 5770 is actually a little shorter than the 9600GT, so that's definitely an option. 5850 is unfortunately out of the price range :/
Thanks for the quick response!

[crazyeyesreaper]

i second the 5770 its DX11 performs between a 4870-4890 so its well worth the price its basically a dX11 4870 to be blunt

[DirectorC]

4890.

Edit: Just wanna throw it out there since it's pretty cheap and available:

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-RadeonHD-4...1814465&sr=1-1

Kills a 5770.

[crazyeyesreaper]

and its old tech namely DX10.1 if he wants old tech hes better off buying a 4xxx card off the forums and unlike DX10 DX11 isnt a year late its already here and sure a 4890 is faster
in some games yes but in titles like Farcry 2 at 1920x1200 a 4890 is only 3-5fps faster then a 5770 at stock

makes no sense to get old outdated tech when newer tech that rivals it can be had at cheaper prices

since a forum member here happens to have 2 of them for sale at this very moment

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...review-test/15

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5770/6.html

as u can see there the 5770 trades blows with a 4890

not to mention the 5770 is cheaper

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...i+5770&x=0&y=0



TPU member selling the 5770s is located here http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=111288

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by crazyeyesreaper

and its old tech namely DX10.1 if he wants old tech hes better off buying a 4xxx card off the forums and unlike DX10 DX11 isnt a year late its already here and sure a 4890 is faster
in some games yes but in titles like Farcry 2 at 1920x1200 a 4890 is only 3-5fps faster then a 5770 at stock

makes no sense to get old outdated tech when newer tech that rivals it can be had at cheaper prices

since a forum member here happens to have 2 of them for sale at this very moment

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...review-test/15

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5770/6.html

as u can see there the 5770 trades blows with a 4890

not to mention the 5770 is cheaper

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...i+5770&x=0&y=0



TPU member selling the 5770s is located here http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=111288

Not to mention, small cramped cases don't normally have great airflow, and the 4890 puts ouyt a lot more heat, and uses a ton more power in the process.

Unless you already own a 4890, and just want another for Crossfire, buying one at this stage in the game is just silly.

[crazyeyesreaper]

good point i forgot about power consumption and heat the 4890 is very hot like all 4xxx cards there temps can get extreme while the 5xxx cards tend to run extremely cool even when heavily overclocked with voltage bumps.

basically the 5770 is far more balanced more efficient newer tech with new features cooler running and when overclocked exceeds a 4890 and at a cheaper price buying old tech thats more expensive is a waste.

[DirectorC]

Not really, some people just don't care about DX11 (like all the people who are still buying nVidia cards). I would buy a 4890 right now if I only had $200. It's the highest performer in the price bracket.

[crazyeyesreaper]

how is a 1-5fps best performer the 5770 gives 95% of the 4890s performance and it does so cheaper with the above benefits already mentioned literally overclock the core 20mhz and u will generally equal the 4890 and do it at 70-90watts less power needed
4890 eats 190watts to get 50 fps in game A
5770 eats 109 watts to get 45fps in game A

thats a big difference in power needed per frame

[DirectorC]

5FPS can be the difference between playable and not playable. And the 4890 itself is a big overclocker. It will outperform the 5770 no matter what.

[crazyeyesreaper]

both cards at stock are neck and neck and a 5770 will overclock farther then a 4890 will

[DirectorC]

Originally Posted by crazyeyesreaper

both cards at stock are neck and neck and a 5770 will overclock farther then a 4890 will

Lies. Type 5770 review into Google and educate yourself. I've seen the stats. 5770 is a mid level card that runs with GTX260 (sometimes) and 4870 (often). 4890 destroys em all, runs with GTX275.

[crazyeyesreaper]

i posted 2 damn reviews above 1 to are very own TPU and Guru3d

[DirectorC]

What? The 5770 is getting pounded by the 4890 in that review. The 4890 pounds practically everything in that review.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by DirectorC

5FPS can be the difference between playable and not playable. And the 4890 itself is a big overclocker. It will outperform the 5770 no matter what.

And no matter what, will consume twice the power and put out twice the heat, all while being significantly more expensive to buy.

Again, 4890 is a stupid buy unless you plan on adding to one you already own. DX11 doesn't even matter in this discussion at all. That's not what makes 5770 better. Price to performance to power consumption to heat output ratios, the 5770 walks all over the 4890.

[crazyeyesreaper]

Far Cry 2
guru 3d
5770 32fps
4890 35fps

Far Cry 2
TPU
5770 49fps
4890 45fps

Tom clancys hawx
guru 3d
5770 48fps
4890 55fps

Tom clancys hawx
TPU
5770 54fps
4890 65fps

the 4890 takes 2x the power to gain a few frames and it costs $20-40 more

not to mention these are done with old drivers and 5xxx cards first drivers were a joke things are changing rapidly in favor ot the 5xxx series gpus

[DirectorC]

I will just let the thread starter take a look at the numbers and decide for himself.

Anyway, I actually don't think even a 5770 would fit in his case. Might need a somewhat older/less powerful card that is available in small form.

[crazyeyesreaper]

yea and 4890 would be a better fit?

hot gpu in a small hot cramped case recipe for artifacts

[DirectorC]

I move to suggest to SnoopKatt to invest in a case prior to investing in a video card.

SnoopKatt, I think the bottom line is that having to stick to a small card that can't take the heat will make your decision too strained to be beneficial at this point. Start looking for a nice case.

[SnoopKatt]

Heat is a big deal. Even though my case is small, it actually has pretty decent airflow, but the less heat, the better. However, I'm looking at my CPU, and I notice it's not exactly new. Would that hold me back from getting any significant performance upgrades with a new video card?

My 9600GT is 9 inches long. From what I understand online, the 5770 is 8.25 inches long, so it should be fine. Unfortunately, it looks like the 4890 is about 9.5-10.5 inches long, so that won't work.

Thanks for all the discussion guys, it all helps a lot

I am currently investing in a case. However, I need to line up a sale for my current case (which isn't a bad case at all, it's just too small for my needs now), and then I'll buy a bigger case.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by DirectorC

I will just let the thread starter take a look at the numbers and decide for himself.

Anyway, I actually don't think even a 5770 would fit in his case. Might need a somewhat older/less powerful card that is available in small form.

5770 is less then the width of a standard ATX board. If his board fits, the card should fit. The only issue MIGHT be the 6 pin plug, but I doubt even that.

Originally Posted by SnoopKatt

Heat is a big deal. Even though my case is small, it actually has pretty decent airflow, but the less heat, the better. However, I'm looking at my CPU, and I notice it's not exactly new. Would that hold me back from getting any significant performance upgrades with a new video card?

My 9600GT is 9 inches long. From what I understand online, the 5770 is 8.25 inches long, so it should be fine. Unfortunately, it looks like the 4890 is about 9.5-10.5 inches long, so that won't work.

Thanks for all the discussion guys, it all helps a lot

CPU should be fine. If in doubt, OC it.

[crazyeyesreaper]

yea the 5770 is shorter then a 9600gt so his case is fine since the 5770 is a very cool running gpu and your cpu is fine as its an intel cpu it should overclock just fine since the p35 isnt a bad board bump the cpu to an easy 3ghz and your golden it could go further but 3ghz is easy to obtain and can probably be done with no voltage bump or just a slight bmup meaning someone on here can walk you through it easily

[AhokZYashA]

get the 5770..
don't even bother the 4890 because it give a lot i mean a LOT of heat..

and cheaper too..

[DirectorC]

Why the hell is everyone whoring out the 5770 like you're gonna get paid if he buys it?

Jesus christ.