please help me to decide on a video card to buy

[keakar]

im having computer issues and im thinking i'll need a new card before its all over since i suspect mt 8800gt is crapping out on me.

this is the link to the help thread if you want to try and help me fugure it out: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=110031

im assuming i will need a new video card so im looking for something pretty good thats in my budget of $150 to $100 with at least 256 bit and 1gb ram and i picked a few to compare but i cant see any real differences in them so im hoping you guys can tell me why one or the other of these cards would be the better choice.

its for the computer shown in my specs and while im no serious gamer i do like to play sh4, HL2, FEAR 2, and they do need a decent card to run smoothly so i want something fairly good but still be a good value.

here is the link to the compare list: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16814150439,N82E16814130514&page=2&bop=And

thanks for your help

 

[[Ion]]

Either a GTS 250 or a Radeon HD4850.

EDIT: Apparently you've already decided on a GTS250, in which case the MSI is the best one, the non-reference cooler should keep it cooler and quieter than all of the others

 

[Wile E]

Any particular reason you specified a 256bit bus? If you can find one at $150, a 5770 will outperform all of those choices.

EDIT: 128bit + GDDR5 = 256bit + GDDR3

 

[keakar]

Any particular reason you specified a 256bit bus? If you can find one at $150, a 5770 will outperform all of those choices.

only because i thought its better then 128 isnt it
i really am limited on knowing about video cards these days, i havent shopped for one or paid any attention to them in years.

EDIT: 128bit + GDDR5 = 256bit + GDDR3

ohhh ok, thanks i never knew that

the non-reference cooler

non referenced cooler? i dont understand what that means

 

[Wile E]

only because i thought its better then 128 isnt it
i really am limited on knowing about video cards these days, i havent shopped for one or paid any attention to them in years.

Cross post, read my edit above.

 

[SummerDays]

If you want to spend around $200 a 4890 is a good choice.

You could also get a used one for much less on ebay, etc.

 

[keakar]

If you want to spend around $200 a 4890 is a good choice.

You could also get a used one for much less on ebay, etc.

no, my budget is what it is so thats my limit

as for used, no way, its too easy to get screwed

 

[overclocking101]

If I were to get any one of those cards it would be the XFX GTS250. the 9800GT is an 8800gt you will see no gains at all none. personally I would find a 4860 they can be had for around your budget range and will outperform any of the cards you listed.

heres the link, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102866 1GB GDDR5 256bit

the only difference between 4860 and 4870 it about 50 bucks and a tad lower memory clock. I would jump on it now as the 4860's wont be in stock much longer.

 

[Wile E]

If I were to get any one of those cards it would be the XFX GTS250. the 9800GT is an 8800gt you will see no gains at all none. personally I would find a 4860 they can be had for around your budget range and will outperform any of the cards you listed.

heres the link, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102866 1GB GDDR5 256bit

the only difference between 4860 and 4870 it about 50 bucks and a tad lower memory clock. I would jump on it now as the 4860's wont be in stock much longer.

That's not really an upgrade from an 8800GT. It's closer in performance to a 4830 than it is a 4870. It's only 640spus vs 800 on the 4870/90.

If he goes AMD, he should go 5770 and up, or go home. 4870 performance at much less power consumption. near 4890 performance once OCed.

 

[overclocking101]

well 5770 is over his price range m8. I agree I would buy a 5770 before any other options but his price range and not wanting to buy used really restrcits it.

 

[Wile E]

well 5770 is over his price range m8. I agree I would buy a 5770 before any other options but his price range and not wanting to buy used really restrcits it.

I know. I'm banking on the hope they will drop back down in price. they were $140 when they first released. Barring that, I was hoping a $15 stretch of the budget might be an option. lol.

 

[kurosagi01]

extra $13 bucks is worth the money though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317

 

[keakar]

what about the 5750?

what tells me its a card that needs less power?

also i saw quite a few remarks about fans failing, mainly on the saphires which is troubling to me, so are there certain brands to stay away from because of issues like that?

 

[assaulter_99]

Are you sure you can't fork in a lil more cash for the 5770? Best choice in my opinion, just as the posters above said. Anything lower than a 5750 and you might live to regret why you didnt dish out that extra dough once dx11 games really hit the deck.

 

[kurosagi01]

a 5750 be a good option to upgrade,but if you want notice a bigger improvement you would need get a 5770 as it has a performance of an 4870,gtx260 and such

 

[keakar]

if i cant do this for under $150 then which one of you guys is going to volunteer to tell the little lady she is only getting a box of home made brownies instead of her favorite perfume for christmas.

shes the green one >>>

seriously, if i NEED to spend another $20 then i will find a way but i really cant afford that extra $20 unless i really really really NEED to do it to make the only smart purchase.

now what about my other questions:

what tells me its a card that needs less power?

also i saw quite a few remarks about fans failing, mainly on the saphires which is troubling to me, so are there certain brands to stay away from because of issues like that?

 

[kurosagi01]

well if you don't want spend the extra bucks then maybe get the 5750 vapor-x so you can overclock the card much higher,if you overclock the card you can get probably same performance as standard clock speed of an 5770:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102865
if you want get the new HIS iceQ5 its only extra $5:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161316

If not then go for the standard reference cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448

 

[assaulter_99]

Last i heard they made good cards. Havent heard on the 5750 probs though. Or you can wait till your 8800 dies out, maybe by then you'll have more cash (like you said yourself, you'll then be forced to fork out cash) lol.

 

[SummerDays]

So I did a little searching in the FS section here:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=109424

This card would be exactly what you need. Asus is a good company. I'll probably by my next 5000 or 6000 series cards off Asus.

 

[keakar]

ok can someone answer me the question, what determines a card needs less power?

is it just because its directx 11 and all directx 11 cards use less power or is it something else that controls that?

 

[Lionheart]

HD5770 dude, for sure!

 

[theonedub]

ok can someone answer me the question, what determines a card needs less power?

is it just because its directx 11 and all directx 11 cards use less power or is it something else that controls that?

Without going into detail, low consumption is not because of DX11, lower power consumption is due to the architecture of the GPU and its fab process (65nm, 40nm, etc).

 

[keakar]

ok, im convinced by what you guys have been telling me but now i need to pick one



so i would like your help to pick the best 5770 from this page

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ... 106793261 1067950041 1069109631&name=2 x DVI

i am willing to go for any of the cards there but i really dont see any difference in any of the cards so how do you decide on one?

 

[SummerDays]

Fine, pick this one, not that you're going to listen to me:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

XFX 5770 with 1GB of Ram

If you were spending the money, I'd tell you to go with a 5870, but what the heck.

It's got a lifetime warranty... a good fan.. and it comes with a free game

and best of all.. FREE SHIPPING

 

[keakar]

Fine, pick this one, not that you're going to listen to me:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

XFX 5770 with 1GB of Ram

If you were spending the money, I'd tell you to go with a 5870, but what the heck.

It's got a lifetime warranty... a good fan.. and it comes with a free game

and best of all.. FREE SHIPPING

yep, i was leaning towards that one too because of the warranty but for $15 bucks i could also be happy with the standard 2yr warranty cards.

im very interested in other opinions because i havent spent ANY time thinking about video card choices and im coming into this without any knowledge of whats good or whats not.

as for not listening to you, your opinion is just as valid as the next guys so all opinions are welcomed.

it really doesnt matter but the reviews say that game isnt worth having even for free and thats the only reason why they are giving it away lol.

as for the 5870 OMG dude those things are $400+ so thats never going to happen, im sqeezing my budget to the max just to get the 5770