What GPU should I buy.

[RaZZ3R]

Hi. Would someone please help me with the this problem: I have a AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ and 4 GB DDR2 800 MHz and I want to build a PC. The problem is I'm not shore wath GPU to buy. I only had low-end PC configurations ( the best I had is ADM Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2 GB DDR2 800 MHz and ATI 2600 Pro 512 DDR2 128 bit ) and I had Intel and AMD CPU's and nVidia and ATI GPU's. What GPU should I buy that is adequet for my CPU and memory. Money ... let's say 200-350 bucks. I usualy prefer nVidia but if ATI offers better performance for my bucks then I'll take it.

Tnx in advance for your reply and advice.

 

[aevm]

Wait for the HD 4850. It should be out this month. If you can afford that, and it is as good as promised, it will be your best choice.

If you're in a hurry you can get an 8800GTS 512MB.

 

[RaZZ3R]

And how long will it last ( as performance ) ? I'm only building this PC so I can game until a realy good GPU and CPU comes put, like the next generation of AMD and Intel. Will 8800 GTS 512 last for lest say 9-12 moths ?!?

 

[aevm]

The new generation of GPUs from nVidia has just come out, i.e. GTX 260 and GTX 280, and it's not pretty.
Just look at the threads on this site, or the Anandtech review of the GTX 280.

The new generation of GPUs from ATI is the 4850/4870/4850X2/4870X2 and it should be out in days, maybe weeks, depending on where you live.

The next generation of CPUs from either Intel and AMD is really nothing to worry about for now. Whatever video card you buy, I'm 100% sure it will work in future motherboards for those CPUs because they will have to use PCI-E.

An 8800GTS G92 should be able to play any game currently out at 1680x1050 or less with good settings and fps. The HD 4850 will be able to do it even better, if the rumors are true. IMO either of those should last 2 years or more.

 

[RaZZ3R]

I would like to think that HD 4870 would be a very good GPU ( gDDR5 sounds sweet ) but a have a bad feling about it. I always have been and will bee a fan of AMD ( only CPU ) but when I meant a next generation a wuz speeking about a very good optimized ( hardware and software ) quad core that a dude like me ( I'm from Romania and in the East part is not so full of money. for example a child pay from the state is 15$ and the avrage salary is about 250-400$ ). I'm waiting for the big fishis to settle down ( Intel's Nehalem abd nVidia's 280 GTX ) for drivers optimization and price cuts. I want to build a dream gaming PC ( about 3000-4500 $ ) so i have to start collecting money so it will take me about 12-16 moths. And by the way a read the GeForce 280 GTX and I think it's have issues but 1GB memory and a large bandswitch is prety good, and if it cane really handle Ageia's phsihics then I would buy it but for now 650 bucks is reeeaaahhhhiiihhhiiiihiiiily to much for me. mkay.

PS. I'm not a AA or uber high resolution ( 1680*1050 is more then enough for me ) and how the F*** is willing to pay 400-600 $ for a LCD with a biger resolution. what is up ith the hole 1920*1200 or the big one 2560*1600. whats up whit that, i even seen people playing at medium seting just to cracnk up the resolution. those people are wankt.

 

[B-Unit]

Hold off a couple weeks and see how the 4870 faires, then I would get either that or an 8800GTS-512. Prices for the GTS should be dipping below $200 regularly in a couple weeks, so that will be the best time to grab one.

IF you really want top performance and are willing to spend, the GTX260 will probably be your card, but as I said we'll have to see how the 4870 does.