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Looking to upgrade graphics.
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: Mathias
My signature is the most current and best show of my current build and the 7600GT is good, but starting to show its age.
The ideal upgrade I have in mind should be able to do max settings at 1280x1024 resolution for all modern games (except Crysis) at smooth FPS, but also handle a good amount of stuff thrown at it up to 1920x1200. It should also be fairly quiet, <300 USD, and be able to take its own heat. I doubt there's many passive cooling options that would fit this bill, but if there are then please show me because that would be ideal for me.
If I had to rate importance of the qualities...
1 - Performance (FPS + Image Quality)
2 - Noise
3 - Cost
Ok, go forth and show me your best!
Also, if you can think of any cheap (as in, <100 USD) upgrades I could do to my build besides this graphics one, please tell me. Thanks!
Lastly, I'm not considering SLI/CF since I only have one PCI-E slot and a 450W PSU. Also I prefer Nvidia since a lot of games seem to optimize for them and Linux seems to like Nvidia cards better.
Posted by: Mathias
It would seem I've already found something VERY nice...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814261002
Posted by: rjbarker
If running games at Very High settings at that Resolution, your going to have to:
A) Drop down to Low / Medium settings and reduce your resolution.
B) Get more realistic with your Budget / Graphics Card + CPU + PSU
Sorry my friend, but Crysis isn't the only "demanding" game out there, I'm afraid they're all going that way!!
Try a 9800 / 8800 GT, GTS or GTX (at least) and beefier PSU, even consider a faster CPU if you seriously want Very High Settings at those specified Resolutions!!!!
See my Sig.....
Crysis "High Settings" (not very high) 1280 x 1024 = playable 70 FPS average
Bioshock "All High Settings" 1280 x 1024 = playable 80 FPS Average
FEAR, Q4, Doom3, HL2 all seem to average around 120 FPS
Bottomline, Cheap Card+Cheap PSU= Sh_t Gaming experience.
Sorry to sound so "frank".....
Upside, these Mid-Higher end Cards are getting quite reasonable in price!!!
8800 GTX $465
Cheers
Posted by: goranpaa
I agree. But as you have a AMD X2 3800, even though it's overclocked. You will bottleneck a 8800GT, 8800GTS 512mb 8800GTX pretty much. You will be needing at least an AMD X2 5600 or a 6000+ to get by. I belive you will be better off with a Radeon HD 3870 512mb actually. The Radeons, are less cpu dependant than the Geforce cards. The HD 3870, may not have the raw power of the 8800GT and up. But instead, you will get better image quality. It have been like this for quite some time now. The Radeons is the best choise for great image quality. Want speed? = Geforce cards.
Also remember, that as long as you have like 65 to 70 fps average. Your games will run smoothly. This, as the human eye can max see differences in fps up to 70. Most peoples eyes, can see fps differences just up to 60 - 62 fps. So the quest for like 120 fps average is just a waste.
Just make sure that your case can take a 10 1/2 inch 9600GT or a 11 inches long HD 3870 512mb. Those measurements are with the PCI E power connector attached.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814125086
The 9600GT is good choise for running most games on high ( maybe not the highest though. This, depending on the game) settings. And like at 1280 x 1024 res or 900 x 1400 wide screen resoloution.
And I do hope that the upcoming games are'nt as bloated as Crysis!
Posted by: Mathias
Well, if one 9600GT doesn't satisfy my needs, then I could always upgrade my whole platform a little later on and get an SLI capable board and a higher grade Athlon X2/Phenom or Core 2 Duo/Quad, then SLI another 9600GT in there. From what I've seen, 9600GTs in SLI perform VERY nicely, getting about 10 - 20% below a 9800GX2, but for nearly half the price.
Also, I can already run Bioshock and Supreme Commander at a mix of medium and low settings, getting good FPS. Considering where I'm coming from, a 9600GT would probably seem like a godly upgrade. From what I understand, a 9600GT performs roughly double that of an 8600GT and the 8600GT performed just barely better than the 7600GT. So, in essence, I should see about double the performance that I get now.
Posted by: goranpaa
Yeah, get the 9600GT then. The 9600GT is just 10% slower than the 8800GT. So for the price / performance ratio, it's hard to beat.
Check out the MSI 9600GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814127333
This is the 9600GT with the most quiet and efficient cooler. Heatpipe cooler a'la' Zalman VF 1000.
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