To buy now......or to wait for 4800 series?

Wait for more information. The 8800GTS is definitely one of the best buys for graphics card on the market right now, but if you can wait for more information on the 4870, then do it.

If it ends up being close to same price with a 10%+ performance increase, then it's a win-win. (I wouldn't touch a new card with new drivers without at least 10%+ performance increase, too much headaches)

Only thing you'll have to risk manage at that point is using a card with proven drivers or a card with potential driver disasters at first.

Wait and don't even buy a 9600 to tide you over, just wait a month and save the 150 bucks you'd spend on the 9600 anyways, that'll pay for most of your 4000 series right there probably.

For EQ and WoW, an old 7900 series or ATI 1900 series would do just fine. Those games do not strain the graphics card. As for the 4800 series cards, they should be good, but until benches come out, no one knows how good. If you need a card now, I'd recommend either a 8800 GTS 512 or a 3870, as they can be found for reasonable prices and both provide good performance, far above what you will need. I personally don't like the 8800GT because its single slot and runs hooter and the cooler makes more noise, but that's a subjective opinion. If you can wait two or three months for the new cards, then just wait and read the benches when they come out and then decide.

I'd say buy now. The 2xxx and 3xxx Series of ATI cards have all been grossly overhyped to be more than they actually perform. 3870 was supposed to be the GTX killer, the x2 was supposed to be the Ultra killer, both of which got pounded by the 9800GTX and GX2. The 8800GTS 512MB is a fantastic buy and will probably will be about the same as the 4800 ATI series, regardless of premature rumors of how "awesome" 4800 will be. I'm glad I didn't buy into the 3870 hype..

The problem with waiting is that just as the prices settle out and all the benchmarks are in and you've found a card you like at a price you're willing to pay...............49XX out soon! wow wow wow grinds the old 48XX into the dirt ! new Nvidia 10000 out in 2 months ! crushes the competition ! etc. etc.

I normally don’t say this, but, wait. Although waiting forever sucks, just hold out. The worst that can happen is the prices drop in your favor because of the new line coming out.

What are you talking about...the 3870x2 beats the sh!t out of the 9800GTsuX

http://en.expreview.com/2008/04/03 [...] review/13/

Its ok to be a fanboy but its carnal sin to mislead people.

First off, Im not a fan boy, and no need to start flaming. And your link is to one set of benches. I bet we could each find a whole ton of links each supporting one or the other. Example http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 800-5.html

My point was that the ATI 3xxx series was overhyped for realword benches, not who the king of the hill is. Flame off.

Well, the general consensus seems to be to wait. While I am patient and can do that, my new dilemna would be the lack of fun playing the game because of the lag generated by my current setup. The socket 939 Athlon 64 4000+ 2.4GHz single core paired with the 7600GT 256MB video card and 1.5GB DDR400 memory just doesn't make for fluid FPS on raids in Everquest. Could a viable alternative be to wait a month or so, and but a new video card in the lower price range that is still better than what I have? Unfortunately, I believe the processor is my main bottleneck/problem. Plus........my tax money won't stay in the bank forever lol! This computer I currently have will be an upgrade for my girlfriend, and we will retire hers. SO......if a video card would help this current system I would be willing to do that and wait.........just a thought.


BTW........this forum is great! Again thanks to everyone for their opinions and feedback. I have gotten lots of good tips.

If you want to even think about the 3800s, 4800s, 8800s, 9Series, or any other recent performance card, you're gonna need to upgraade that entire system, unfortunately, and yes that Tax money aint going nowhere, unless that IRS barge in there violating your constitutional rights.

goatfarmer-

You could upgrade your motherboard and processor right now (maybe up the RAM) and then wait to get the video card until more info is out, as others have previously stated. I would assume that you would still get somewhat of a performance increase from doing that--maybe enough to make your games more playable.

I am in the same boat with a X800XL and 3.0ghz P4 64-bit. Waiting sucks, but I think it's the best thing to do right now for video cards at least. I would have started my build already, but I'm waiting for a motherboard to be realeased (nVivida), which now I may not even use depending on how the 4800 turns out.

I just wrote something about how this waiting sucks in another thread.Please wait,the 4800 comes with physics engine,which will make them a major leap above what you are looking at.My friend the card you will need will the 4850.We have about a month.

Well......partially made a decision. I am gonna go forward with the build. If it does turn out that the 4800 series IS that much better than the 8800GTS, I will just get one after all the new driver kinks are worked out, and use the "old" 8800GTS for a build for the girlfriend to upgrade the old aforementioned system I am gonna give her. Thanks for all the info. I hope the 4800 series is all it is cracked up to be, becuase it will interest me. But I decided that with the games I currently play(EQ and WoW) the 8800GTS should be more than I need, especially seen as I only play one character at a time. My luck is I will decide I wanna play Crysis after I build this and have to upgrade lol. Such is life. On a side note..........has anyone seen/used this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130357

One of the main reasons I was gonna get the 8800GTS was for the dual slot cooler. This looks like a more economical alternative though.

What are you gonna do if your gf's 8800 stomps on your 4000 tho ? lol

I'm gonna tell her ur giving her the slower one hehe