Should I "Step Up" To Another Card?

[ChromeDome]

hello

i have an evga 8800GS i bought some months ago when prices were higher (paid 139.99 retail) and while i am happy with the card....better is better i figure.

so since i paid a higher price then they're going for now i can now "step up" to this for $58, shipped:

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInf...eries%20Family

i'm happy with my card, suits my needs. but i get concerned with the lower memory and 192bit interface when it comes to upcoming games. and even Crysis could use a bit more performance.

so, do you think this is a good "step up" opportunity, or should i save my money and put it toward an even better upgrade come years end?

what will this card do for my gaming at 1440X900 that my little GS doesn't? and for $60 additional dollars

also the HUGE cooler will be blowing close all over my sound card. doesn't sound like a good idea but idk what do you think? i figure so long as they aren't touching....heh.

[ChromeDome]

nope haven't stepped up yet. thinking about it, though. i have 17 days left to decide

[calvary1980]

er sorry, deleted my earlier post misread. since you only have 17 days I would step up to a 8800GTS or 9800GTX and purchase a new display. but you have a 5600 @ 2.8Ghz? and a 300W Power Supply I say you got your work cut out for you before you balance your system out.

- Christine

[Cold Storm]

I'm in the same as Calvary on it. It would be better to step-up with a way better card then just a small upgrade. Even when you do start the process of the Step-up, it takes some time before you can be allowed to Step-up.. So even if you have second thoughts, and decide to keep the card, there isn't anything bad that's going to happen to you. I'm still waiting for mine, and its going to 2 weeks since I started it.

[ChromeDome]

hmm....well those "step ups" would cost $140 and $190, respectively. not to mention the cost of another display. which i have no intention of doing. i like my display

for $58 shipped the GT sounds like a sweet deal. i just don't know how much a difference it would make, real world. if i overclock it it should give me some decent performance over the GS, no?



EDIT: oic Cold Storm. so this isn't a worthy upgrade in your opinions?

[Cold Storm]

The GT is a better card no matter what. You will like the card a lot more then your GS. I just want to let you know, that it would be better in some way to step-up doing that...

[ChromeDome]

hmm...interesting take

i'm a pretty casual gamer. but i want to be able to run Far Cry 2 and Stalker: Clear Sky with little fuss. my card is great...but it struggles a little in some more demanding games where i don't think the 8800GT would. or the GT would at least give me that little more oomph i might want or need

i just don't know if its $60 more oomph. plus that darn dual slot cooler.....

[Cold Storm]

What's the problem with Duel slot coolers? Fact you don't have space in your system for it? If you are wanting to play those games, then for $60 dollars it'll be good. A GT is a good card all around. I loved mine when I had it. RIP..

[Smartbomb]

Stay away from the dual slot GT... They're junk. Either get a regular GT or an Akimbo

[ChromeDome]

Originally Posted by Cold Storm

What's the problem with Duel slot coolers? Fact you don't have space in your system for it? If you are wanting to play those games, then for $60 dollars it'll be good. A GT is a good card all around. I loved mine when I had it. RIP..

well, yeah space is an issue. a quick check (i don't get in there much) shows i do have room, however. i got an extra slot just below my pci e slot...but my sound card will rest awfully close to it. shouldn't be a prob, however. i just want adequate cooling on the card and don't want to make my sound card melt lol

Originally Posted by Smartbomb

Stay away from the dual slot GT... They're junk. Either get a regular GT or an Akimbo

yeah i was reading some reviews at newegg. seems hit and miss with that cooler and i'm not changing anything. on the card. i do have a powerful case fan i can add, though. might help if i set it up right to blow on the card a certain way

the regular GT is priced $40 more....the Akimbo $50 more. i don't want to pay that for some cooling. i mean this is supposed to be teh budget "step up." gotta pay those evga prices

i'll have to take my chances if i decide to go for it

[ChromeDome]

hey what do you guys think about a 9600GSO 768mb for a $25 Step Up? what would that do for me?

if anything

[calvary1980]

you wont notice an increase until you move up to 1600x and above.

- Christine

[ChromeDome]

yeah thats what i figured.....

i think i'm leaning toward throwing in the towel here. i was going to upgrade to a 4000 series ATI card in the new year so i'll take the "step up" money and put it toward a new PS

i saw an interesting "SCC" 9600GT i could get for $35 shipped with my trade in.....if it were available for the program. its not. otherwise the GS is great for my gaming needs. i just hope the 384 / 192 part holds up for upcoming games like Far Cry 2 and Stalker: Clear Sky. a few others, too. if not, now would be the time to make a move

i'll take a look around the evga site in a couple more weeks before my 90 days are up and see if anything interesting pops up. if prices drop it could make stepping up to an 8800GT more interesting.

[calvary1980]

a power supply, monitor and processor in that order you could try a solderless volt mod on your 8800GS, purchase an aftermarket heatsink like the Accelero S1 and breathe new life into it.

- Christine

[ChromeDome]

no way my 5600+ has enough power to rocket me to teh moon lol

i'm gonna build in the new year, too. Nehalem.....but i'm keeping this set up around. at least thats what i say now

plus my 19in is not such an issue. i've gamed on a 22in before and can tell little or no difference from where i sit. i do want one for movies and video and such, 'tho. and yeah...if i can run a game or two on it that would be convenient. even with a dual monitor set up

but the processor stays, k


AMDAMDAMD


EDIT: oh, and thanks for the volt mod suggestion. i just might do that sometime