ObiTroy is back in the gaming bidness... finally. Almost.

[{CLR} ObiTroy]

Hey guys, haven't been around much lately, haven't really been able to do any gaming in about 1.5 years, 6 year old computer couldn't keep up.

I've finally gotten around to building myself a new PC. I promised myself I'd do it after Christmas last year (built two PC's for the kids for Christmas so I've had the crappiest computer in the house since).

New PC Quick specs:

CoolMaster Sniper case (LOVE this case)
Kingswin 700W Modular PSU
Athlon II x4 620 2.6GHz
ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB,32 MB Cache, 7200 RPM SATA II
LG 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD Writer

Don't have a video card yet (except for onboard on MB). That's why I'm posting in this forum... hoping to get some advice and guidence.

Preconditions:

I don't want SLI or CrossFire, don't have that kind of money .
I've been a loyale Nvidia customer for years and years (and 3dfx before that).

Here's what I'm debating:

Should I keep my loyalty to Nvidia?
- OR -
Should I get an ATI video card to take advantage of the onboard ATI and use the 'hybrid' crossfirex? The onboard is ATI Radeon HD 4200, 128 MB DDR3 1333 (pretty crappy)

Anyway, here's a picture.

[Duke{CLR}]

The conventional wisdom theses days is to get the best single card that you can. Other then that I can't help you much because I haven't been keeping up on the PC parts lately.

Anyway, nice rig and it's good to see you back.

[Skud]

The conventional wisdom theses days is to get the best single card that you can. Other then that I can't help you much because I haven't been keeping up on the PC parts lately.

Anyway, nice rig and it's good to see you back.

+1

Nice rig, man! I just did a build with a Phenom...I'm using an HIS 1gig 4870 GPU and it works very well for anything I play. I've had NVIDIA cards too, but I really can't compare them as this one's a generation or two past them (and I know there are newer/better cards out since I put this in). I'd just repeat what Duke says, "get the best single card you can", and you'll be happy.

[Donziboy2]

Give us a price range you can do for a GPU and we can give you some pointers. I know ATi just came out with a new line of cards 5850/5870 series. NVIDIA is supposed to have something cumming out in a few months.

Also what kinda monitor are you using. If you cant do higher resolutions a super fast card is like a jet engine in a volvo. Its cool for the first few minutes.

[{CLR} Cobalt]

If I had to do it all over again with a single card, I'd go with the 4870 ATI. Dont know if you can afford that much or not, but I think they've come down some in price.

You might wait till after the first of the year when ATI has the new ones out for a while and the price will probably come down a bit more.

Oh, and I've run the Nvidia 9800 GTX in both my laptop and my desktop. Course the desktop one I can overclock. But not the laptop. So the desktop out performs the Laptop my a fair margin. Run 1400 x 1050 on the laptop. Thats about all it will do and not drop the frames low on certain maps. The desktop runs at 1280 x 1024 i believe. And it doesnt bother it too much. Thats as high as the resolution goes on the monitor.

But I really think the ATI 4870 will do better than that. Thats what I would buy right now.

[Apache Warrior]

Every ATI card I have had has given me trouble. I had the exact opposite experience with Nvidia's cards.
Apache

[{CLR} ObiTroy]

Give us a price range you can do for a GPU and we can give you some pointers. I know ATi just came out with a new line of cards 5850/5870 series. NVIDIA is supposed to have something cumming out in a few months.

Also what kinda monitor are you using. If you cant do higher resolutions a super fast card is like a jet engine in a volvo. Its cool for the first few minutes.

I'd like to cap the price at, say, $200-ish.

Monitor is an Acer AL2223W, 1680x1050 native.

[Donziboy2]

For less then $200 on the Nvidia side I would say.
BFG GTX 260 216core $170.00

Or

Save some green EVGA GTS 250 $155.00

-------------------------------------------------------------
For less then $200 on the Ati side I would say.
XFX Radeon HD 4890 $195.00

Or

Save some green Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 $155.00

Ok now ill explain a little for you.
The cards i listed are, Radeon 4890, GTX 260(216core), Radeon 4870, GTS 250.
These cards are very close in performance, I used a Sums Chart of these cards at your resolution and they are each about a 10-30 point jump each which isnt a whole lot.
Have a look.

And here is a Heirarchy based on benchmarks for games at your resolution.
Tomshardware benchmarks check the 1600x1050 speeds

As you can see from the chart there are lower choices. Ive found newegg to have some of the best prices not sure if that will help you or not thou. Use the charts to help figure out how much power you want and how much you need. But keep in mind that right now ATI just sent out ther 5k series so prices should start to drop sometime and NVIDIA is supposed to put a new Flagship out before the end of this year.

[{CLR} ObiTroy]

Thanks for the great input, Donziboy2!

I'm leaning toward the GTX 260; the 250 doesn't look bad either for the price.

Stupid question... The 200 series is a step up form the 9 series? I'm also lookng at the 9800 GT w 1G DDR3.

Decisions, decisions

[Donziboy2]

Stupid question... The 200 series is a step up form the 9 series? I'm also lookng at the 9800 GT w 1G DDR3.

Well yes and no.
The 8800 GTS (g92), 9800 series and the GTS 250 are all based on the same chip, which is the g92. All the other 8k Series cards are based on an older g80 chipset.
The 8800 g92 was the first remake and was a big leap in performance compared to the g80 model. Then they re branded it and increased the clock speed and started calling them 9800's.
All but the 250 cards are a newer chip (g200 if I recall correctly) then the G92. When the 200 series came out 260/275/280/(285 which is a 280 chip upgraded and the 280s are no longer in production), they decided to take there newest stepping G92 and call it the GTS 250. G92 has seen a lot of upgrades and re brands but its still a pretty good chip no matter the name.
now the 9800 GTX + and the GTS 250 are basically the same except for Memory and possible better stepping.

And i seem to have wondered from the question. Now as for the 9800 Gt, its basically a 9800 GTX that has been striped down. Its probably a lower batch chip that failed a test so it got batched as the GT. Ive seen a few reviews and post where people just upped the clock and voltage till they got the same speed as the GTX. So it would be a good choice for a Poor Mans ubercard.

It really comes down to you. The 9800 cards are like 2 years old now or atleast the chips are. Since i bought my first 8800 Gts (g92) around Xmas 2 years ago and it was $350 and 8 months later i bought a second for like $200

Price + Performance + Future Proofing = what you end up buying.

Just a lil editing from afterthought but if your really bored you can try Ebay. Usually a lot of people who just have to have the new toy ebay there older stuff and you can possibly find GTX 280 cards which are discontinued for a pretty fair bargain.

[juneau]

Hey Obi!!!!

My order would be

4890
GTX260
4870
.....
.....
.....
GTX250

The GTX250 isn't that good.

[Donziboy2]

Hey Obi!!!!

My order would be

4890
GTX260
4870
.....
.....
.....
GTX250

The GTX250 isn't that good.

Yep as you have them listed they are in order of speed. And the 250 uses a good chipset its just 2 years old.

4890 24% faster then 250
260 21% faster then 250
4870 10%ish faster
250 Slowest of the 4

Based on speed and price i would have to shoot at the 260 on a price/performance standpoint.
Until the GTX 275's start to drop in price at least.

Btw I only listed cards with lifetime warranty's. Overclocking is your friend.

[Dead...Again]

Keep a lookout for deals. I picked up an EVGA GTX275 from Fry's for $140 after rebate about a month ago.

[Donziboy2]

Keep a lookout for deals. I picked up an EVGA GTX275 from Fry's for $140 after rebate about a month ago.

And you didn't buy a pair for me?

[Dead...Again]

I posted the link on here when i bought it.