Price drops- 2 3870s or wait for 4870

[kawininjazx]

I built a new system and bought an X1550 to hold me over for the 4870s. I have a Q9450, 4GB of DDR2-1066, and an GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard. I can get two saphire 3870s for $260 shipped. Or I can wait for probably another month and get a 4870 for who knows...$350. I play team fortress 2 mostly now, but I want GTA4 when it comes out for PC. Do you think if I got two 3870s it would hold me over for a year or so?

Also, how are the Ati drivers now and which games are doing good/bad with crossfire?

 

[50bmg]

3 weeks ago, i built (See sig). I went ahead with 2 visiontek 3870s OC editions from best buy for $260. At this point 4870 performance is speculation. I didnt want to wait another month for $300+ cards that might not be that good. Besides, come jan 09 the 4870 will sub-$200.

I am very happy. In COD4, I am hitting 600fps at peak on low settings and average 90fps on high settings; 8xAF, 4xAA, 1600x1000. The image quality is great. COD4 is the only game i have played with this set up.

I am happy with my choice.

Edit: i play Legions(a 3d browser game like Tribes). I hit 200fps regularly with this set up.

 

[romulus47plus1]

4870 is the way to go for me!

 

[KyleSTL]

I would say wait a couple more weeks and get a single 4870 if they are as awesome as speculation says they will be. If they aren't, maybe 3870s will have dropped lower by then. It would be helpful to know what resolution you game at, as anything <1920x1200 would not constitute a CrossFire setup.

 

[kawininjazx]

Right now I have an acer 19" LCD and it maxes at 1280x1024. I might go to a 22" eventually and game at 1600 resolution. My TV is only 1080i, but I'm going to hook my PC up to it when GTA4 comes out. So if I'm staying at 1280, dont do crossfire? If that is the case I might just get an 8800gts 512mb

 

[KyleSTL]

A 9600GT, 8800GT, or 8800GTS512 is more than enough for 1280 (except Crysis @ max, I'm sure). For 1680x1050 I would say a single 8800GTS512 is appropriate.

 

[Darkmatterx]

I'm getting bad FPS in AOC atm and am waiting to see what happends when the new cards come out. Even if you decide to get the older cards the price should go down when the new cards come out. Its worth it to wait a little bit longer either way.

Sadly, from what I've seen and heard, for me, AoC will run at 15 fps no matter what setting or ATI card I have in my system right now... Seems AoC and ATI don't play nice together... I used to always get ATI because I am Canadian and I wanted to support them but now that AMD owns them I may just switch to Nvidia since they're both owned by US companies now.

I'll just have to wait and see....

 

[doomturkey]

I've heard a single 4870 will be better than two 3870s or a 3870X2, and its supposed to be priced @ < $300.

 

[a 6pack in]

I'm getting bad FPS in AOC atm and am waiting to see what happends when the new cards come out. Even if you decide to get the older cards the price should go down when the new cards come out. Its worth it to wait a little bit longer either way.

Sadly, from what I've seen and heard, for me, AoC will run at 15 fps no matter what setting or ATI card I have in my system right now... Seems AoC and ATI don't play nice together... I used to always get ATI because I am Canadian and I wanted to support them but now that AMD owns them I may just switch to Nvidia since they're both owned by US companies now.

I'll just have to wait and see....

i am looking at 2 3870x2 cards. I did a custom build system for a friend w/ a q6600 and 2 3870x2 in crossfireX and his frame is smooth as water. I dont know what it is in your config that is stopping it at 15fps. There was a patch put on for AoC that caused ati to malfunction, and then another patch that caused a mem leak amd phenoms. It has now all been resolved.

I play AoC also. hence I know all this..

I've heard a single 4870 will be better than two 3870s or a 3870X2, and its supposed to be priced @ < $300.

got a link? cause thats a wild statement.

 

[a 6pack in]

well, bought the 3870, returning it.. getting the 4850 instead. the power of the 3870 leaves me wanting more.. one 4850 is better games than the 3870x2.

save your money, get the 4850. I know I am.


if it was totally up to me i would be with my SLI board, and would have the 9800GTX+ w/ the phyx API