Looking for a GPU any recommendations

Fatback

Fatback

VIP Member
Well I am getting a little into computer gaming and my built in ATI Radeon 3200 just can't handle it any more. I don't need the best there is just something to get me by. Right now I play Flight Simulator X and WOW so that is what I need the card to play but I won't it to be good enough to handle future games as well. So I was thinking about a 9800GTX or a GTS 250 but i heard the GTS 250 is just a overclocked version of the 9800GTX is that true or false. Right now I have been looking at a EVGA GTX 260 Superclocked edition but don't feel I need something like that or will need something like that any help with this would be great. My price range is about $175 at most but any thing for around $100 would be excellent please use newegg.
 
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Looking at the specs between the 9800GTX and the GTS250, the only apparent difference is core clock speed, and they benchmark very close together. Between those two I’d be looking for the best price. Newegg has a Weekend Special on the 250 for $110 (after rebate). Personally I’d get the GTX260. It benchmarks well above the previous two and at Newegg for $160-$175 (after rebate) looks to be a good value. My rule of thumb for GPUs – Always get the best you can afford, even if you think it’s overkill – You’ll never regret it later when that new game comes out that causes lesser cards to choke.
 
Perhaps you could post your computer specifications.

Right now my suggestion would be the XFX GTX260 (216 stream processors). It's $165 after the MIR and you get Far Cry 2 and Call Of Duty: World At War.
 
The GTS 250 is the updated version of the 9800GTX+

Same chip, but smaller board, one less power connector,
and an updated BIOS.

I think the GTS 250 would be an excellent upgrade and
would play any game you want very well.
 
Thanks for the help so far I have decided to go with the GTS 250 but I am wondering if I should look at some ATI cards instead what do you think would be best.
 
Apparently the Radeon 4770 provides good bang for the buck. That would be the minimum AMD/ATi card to consider, though you should look at more higher-end cards as well.
 
The 4870 is equal to the GTX260 and can be had for around $140-$150. The 4850 is about equal to the 9800GTX+ and starts at about $95. As your MB supports CrossFire, you could get a 4850 and add another later if you feel the need.
 
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No my MOBO only has one PCIe slot. Just wondering about this is says my motherboard has hyper crossfire x and if I get an ATI card that it will combine with my motherboards built in graphics but I heard this was only for older ATI cards. Also somebody told me it would be better for me to get an ATI since my CPU is AMD that they would work better together but I don't think it would really matter. Any ways for some reason I still like the Nvidia cards I don't know why maybe its the way they look or maybe it because there the only one I have been looking at for like a month now. I have heard more bad things about ATI cards then Nvidia so that is one reason I am leaning towards Nvidia.
 
Fatback said:
. I have heard more bad things about ATI cards then Nvidia so that is one reason I am leaning towards Nvidia.
Click to expand...

Please don't base your decision solely on brand name... Each year, each generation of graphics cards, there is a leader and a loser - this year ATi has lost the crown, seemingly - but that may change...
BOTH Nvidia and ATi offer great graphics solutions, and a $150 - $175 card from either manufacturer should satisfy you greatly.
Remember the Geforce FX 5xxx series cards??? Nvidia BOMBED and got spanked by ATi, then, the tables turned with the Geforce 6 series, and so forth...
Just because one company is leading the other in sales does not mean that the other brand isn't a good product. Sometimes, the two giants (ATi/Nv) offer better cards in different classes, ie: ATi is the best bang for the buck in the mid-level cards, and Nv is the best bang for the buck in top-end level cards (example only)... check out which model of card/s is in your price range and read as many reviews/benchmarks as you can and then make an education decision.

As to whats been said so far, the GTS250, GTX260, 4850, and 4870 are all great cards, and will play any game out there (with your system) very nicely. Remember, as someone has already stated, spend the absolute most you can on the card! If you can afford to spend $180 on a card, but would prefer to spend $100, please do yourself a favor and buy the $180 one - or borrow another $50 and get a $230 one ;)
 
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Fatback said:
No my MOBO only has one PCIe slot. Just wondering about this is says my motherboard has hyper crossfire x and if I get an ATI card that it will combine with my motherboards built in graphics but I heard this was only for older ATI cards. Also somebody told me it would be better for me to get an ATI since my CPU is AMD that they would work better together but I don't think it would really matter. Any ways for some reason I still like the Nvidia cards I don't know why maybe its the way they look or maybe it because there the only one I have been looking at for like a month now. I have heard more bad things about ATI cards then Nvidia so that is one reason I am leaning towards Nvidia.
Click to expand...
As far as performance/price, ati cards are the king of that right now. A $180 HD4890 can perform similarly to a GTX275, and beats it once overclocked.
 
I never said I was basing it on brand name only what I have heard and reviews I have read. I lot of reviews I've read are from people that are having issues with the ATI drivers and such this is what worries me not the quality of the card just that software that it uses and from what I understand Nvidia has very good drivers and software with there GPUs. I am considering ATI very much just right now I'm in favor of Nvidia because I am more familiar with nvidia cards because I have been researching them for a month now. I never bothered with ATI and I don't know why I guess I just had my mind set and a Nvidia card. I have no decided anything yet.
 
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Fatback said:
I never said I was basing it on brand name only what I have heard and reviews I have read. I lot of reviews I've read are from people that are having issues with the ATI drivers and such this is what worries me not the quality of the card just that software that it uses and from what I understand Nvidia has very good drivers and software with there GPUs. I am considering ATI very much just right now I'm in favor of Nvidia because I am more familiar with nvidia cards because I have been researching them for a month now. I never bothered with ATI and I don't know why I guess I just had my mind set and a Nvidia card. I have no decided anything yet.
Click to expand...
Heh, nvidia drivers have just as many bugs as ati. Id venture to say ati's drivers are better, and take a look at my avatar(nvidia). Ive always been an nvidia fan, but anymore ati is starting to win me over, especially in the $100-200 range.
 
I was looking at the GPUs just now and came across this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810 it seems I have found my card I never really planed on getting an ATI card but like y'all said they have the best bang for the buck. Now can any one help me with a PSU for it this is the one i currently have picked out http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817226002 is this good or do you have something better for around the same price. I think I picked that one because of the pretty blue lights shiny things seems to attract me.
 
Fatback said:
I was looking at the GPUs just now and came across this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810 it seems I have found my card I never really planed on getting an ATI card but like y'all said they have the best bang for the buck. Now can any one help me with a PSU for it this is the one i currently have picked out http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817226002 is this good or do you have something better for around the same price. I think I picked that one because of the pretty blue lights shiny things seems to attract me.
Click to expand...
Sigma power supplies are pretty much crap, These are decent psu's:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

This gpu is XFX, which has a double lifetime warranty so it keeps better resale value, 1gb frame buffer, and same price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102825
 
Thanks for the PSU I'm going to go with the OCZ stealth because it has the molex and PCIe connectors i need. Plus its 700w which is great if I ever decide to get a better GPU plus it comes with a free flash drive. I have know idea how I missed that XFX card I guess once I saw the other I stop looking. So here is everything I am getting.

XFX Radeon HD 4870 1GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394

OCZ StealthXStream 700W ATX12V PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341019

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM 800 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233001 and an extra fan for it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835705011

is there anything I should change before I make my order.
 
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