Video Card Advice

[Motorcharge]

Getting my tax return shortly and I want to upgrade my video card as well as a couple other components. Used primarily for gaming, movies, media, ect.

Want to stick with nVidia and less than $300, preferably around $200-250.

Current specs are in my sig.

 

[daisymtc]

GTX 275
http://www.amazon.com/BFG-BFGEGTX27...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265643489&sr=1-18

or Wait for GTX300 series

 

[dirtbikeryzz]

Wrong post.

 

[kyleswitch]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125294

The GTX 260 is great, but if you want wait for the gtx 300 series like mentioned above.

Im an Nvidia fan as well, but I put a lot of research in and for $300 the 5850 is the best card... its seriously insane and it has directX 11 so I wont have to upgrade when dx11 games come out.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121361&cm_re=5850-_-14-121-361-_-Product

 

[Motorcharge]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125294

The GTX 260 is great, but if you want wait for the gtx 300 series like mentioned above.

Im an Nvidia fan as well, but I put a lot of research in and for $300 the 5850 is the best card... its seriously insane and it has directX 11 so I wont have to upgrade when dx11 games come out.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121361&cm_re=5850-_-14-121-361-_-Product

Considering the price difference I'd likely go with the first, but how long is it? Looking in my case it almost looks like it would catch some stuff on my motherboard.

 

[kyleswitch]

Considering the price difference I'd likely go with the first, but how long is it? Looking in my case it almost looks like it would catch some stuff on my motherboard.

Its pretty long, the 5850 is shorter. Your motherboard will be fine, but depending on your case, it might reach into your drive bays a bit.

for $80 more, the 5850 is faster, future proof, consumes less power, and is small enough to fit in most cases. I highly recommend it. I went through the same situation. I was looking for a $100 card and after reviews, listening and watching benchmarks, the smart money was with the 5850. But, its your choice.

the GTX 260 is a little less than a foot I think

 

[Motorcharge]

Its pretty long, the 5850 is shorter. Your motherboard will be fine, but depending on your case, it might reach into your drive bays a bit.

for $80 more, the 5850 is faster, future proof, consumes less power, and is small enough to fit in most cases. I highly recommend it. I went through the same situation. I was looking for a $100 card and after reviews, listening and watching benchmarks, the smart money was with the 5850. But, its your choice.

the GTX 260 is a little less than a foot I think

I'll have to measure to see if I can even use a card that size, my sata ports are literally right behind the PCI slot and the ribbon cable for my dvd drive cuts right across there as well.

It's going to depend on how much I can really afford to spend, knowing me though it'll be the more expensive lol

 

[kyleswitch]

I'll have to measure to see if I can even use a card that size, my sata ports are literally right behind the PCI slot and the ribbon cable for my dvd drive cuts right across there as well.

It's going to depend on how much I can really afford to spend, knowing me though it'll be the more expensive lol

I know, i sucker into whats best and end up spending more too

sucks sometimes, but later Im happy

 

[linkin]

FYI everyone: the fermi cards are actually going to be called the GTX 4xx series. I found out somehwere over at OCN.

If your tax return is sometime in march or afterwards, get a Fermi card. I've heard rumours that the GTX 300 series will be a die shrink of the 200 series, with Dx11. I don't know if it's true or not though.

If you really can't wait, go and get a 5850 or 5870. Even a 5770 can max dirt 2 (mine can, but my resolution is limited to 1280x1024. i am using max details and 8xAA)

 

[Motorcharge]

Even a 5770 can max dirt 2 (mine can, but my resolution is limited to 1280x1024. i am using max details and 8xAA)

At what FPS? I'm running it at full details and 8xAA with my card and I'm getting ~30 FPS average.

 

[joh06937]

At what FPS? I'm running it at full details and 8xAA with my card and I'm getting ~30 FPS average.

at 1440x900 with everything maxed i get a constant 30 fps. RARELY deviates... up or down...

 

[linkin]

At what FPS? I'm running it at full details and 8xAA with my card and I'm getting ~30 FPS average.

Yeah i get 36-42. your cpu is a bit of a bottleneck. dual core pentium 4
The game does recommend a pentium d 2.8ghz as minimum

 

[joh06937]

Yeah i get 36-42. your cpu is a bit of a bottleneck. dual core pentium 4
The game does recommend a pentium d 2.8ghz as minimum

at max everything (including aa)? wow. i wonder if i only get 30 'cause of my cpu...

 

[Motorcharge]

Yeah i get 36-42. your cpu is a bit of a bottleneck. dual core pentium 4
The game does recommend a pentium d 2.8ghz as minimum

Yeah, I might be upgrading to a Core2 Quad as well. I might not bother with the GPU, it's not top of the line, but I can run most games currently on the market at full or near full graphics with a solid framerate with it anyway.