Post your 3dmark06 scores.

Mine:
Overall: 15546
SM2.0: 6661
HDR/SM3.0: 6386
CPU: 4916

Now, onto the question...

Which should I upgrade to? Current choices are 4850, 4870 and 260gtx when they come out. I can't really afford 280gtx. I'd rather not use crossfire. It cost a lot, and I perfer to get a more powerful card now and save the spot for a second one later when prices drop to make a cheap upgrade. Should I ditch the 8800gts or make do until the next generation comes out?

Screen resolution is 1280x1024, which is my 19" lcd's native resolution. Some moderate aa on future titles would be nice, even though I can do without.

Oh, and post your bench. Those using the new cards would be most helpful, but everyone is welcome. Thanks.

I think the dual of the 4870 is my choice for heat out of the case. Its still baby young, the 4870. For $300, you cant go wrong, and at 12x10, there really shouldnt be a game you cant crank the eye candy on. The 260 so far is still coming in as too pricey. Futureprofofing, if there is such a thing, a 4870. Nice scores btw.

Makes sense, that's exactly what I was leaning towards. gtx260 is not only pricy, but my motherboard can't support sli, only crossfire. And 4850, despite the recent hype, doesn't really make a real upgrade. As for 4870, are there any reliable benchmarks out? How much performance boost for $300? Is it enough to buy now or make do with 8800gts until price drop?

18622

8400@3870@1.35
p5q pro
wd640aaks
wd 150 Raptor
visiontek 4850 cf@690/1100
4 gigs corsair 6400
corsair 550vx

If you really want to upgrade, i would say that the 4870 should be the way to go. And here is a benchmark of the 4850/70 http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341.

But if I were you, if you can still play games with high settings with your 8800, I would wait for better games to come out

Id look to Tech Reports, Anands.

Yep, I saw that bench already, and needless to say, it's looking good for 4870. Although it'd be nice to see lower resolutions fps comparsions, on different aa levels. At least for now, I'm not going above 1280x1024 anyway. And any predictions on how much and how soon price for 4870 will drop? My current card cost $200 at the time, and $300 is more than I've ever spent on graphics before.

Heres one with lower res benches. New to the site, seen it a few times, looks ok as far as reputation/reliable http://www.overclockersclub.com/re [...] or_hd4870/

Looks interesting. Too bad it doesn't oc well. With that small oc, the oced version perform the same as non-oced version.

Ive seen people getting far more than 790, but for right now, thats the limit, it just isnt the real limit, only in CCC it is, and we need a 3rd party oc tool, or a CCC upgrade, which may be on the way, but thats rumor at this point

Honestly, besides the fact that everyone loves new tech, why do you feel you need to upgrade?

I'm currently using an E4300 @ 3Ghz and an old G80 8800GTS 320 and i haven't found a single game not named crysis that i can't crank everything to the max or near max and still have playable fps, and I game at 1680*1050.

Although playable fps for me is anywhere above 45. If i were you I'd wait until a game comes along that requires more power and evaluate your options then.

Hey dagger maybe you should wait for the 4870x2 aka R700 for the real big jump. Your system's performance now is good with the GTS being there.

Keep what you've got and get a new monitor, 1680 x1050 and above (1900 x 1200??) is where your card starts working at it's optimum.

Id hate to be caught short with the new titles coming out. Up to you, but at these prices, always good to be one step ahead, but thats just me. AoC will crush a 8800gts320, theres others too. Actually, Oblivion cranked with everything and HDR will slow a gts320

Psst, why are you mentioning the GTS 320?

Wow! Is that the new card from Nvidia that's going to cost $10k?

And it's just for you.

I think jaydeejohn was commenting on my post (i said i use an 8800GTS 320). Although, from now on i should probably include the 8800 part when i mention it since Nvidia's next arch may actually include a 320 GTS or something...