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The final piece of the jigsaw: Graphics card

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - The final piece of the jigsaw: Graphics card

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patmoore   08-13-2008 at 12:04:19 AM

Alright dudes. Recently purchased/been given the following parts and have built a new PC minus a new graphics card.

Gigabyte X38-DS4
OCZ Reaper 8500
Q6600

My screen runs at 1680x1050. I want a card that'll fill that resolution with ease on highest settings on games and at the same time be cost effective.

I've narrowed it down to a

ATI 4850
ATI 4870
Nvidia 260
or 2 ATI 4850 in Xfire if that makes a difference when I output to a Full HD TV.

Read countless reviews, benchmarks etc however these don't give a me feel of what I'd see/expect in real world/time. Some others here might have experience or other knowledge.

Please help me finally not need to constantly trawl through websites and forums!!

Cheers

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zenmaster   08-13-2008 at 12:14:14 AM
- 0 +

Get the HD4870.
That gives you the option to upgrade to a 2nd 4870 in the Future.

You can't run Two NVIDIA Cards on that Board.
The 4870 should match or beat the 260.

------------------------------ If its good in theory but not in practice,
its not good theory.
 Reply to zenmaster
cal8949   08-13-2008 at 12:16:51 AM
- 0 +

you can look at the 4850 1gb it would help at the hd tv

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102759

you also can wait for the 4850x2 it might be 10-20% better then 4850's in crossfire and i would think they would cost around $350

edit: i think the 4850x2 will be around $400 and it will launch around the end of august


Message edited by cal8949 on 08-13-2008 at 12:20:34 AM
Reply to cal8949
samuraiblade   08-13-2008 at 12:23:16 AM
- 0 +

+1 on 4870. ull benefit more from the DDR5 than 1gb on the 4850 imo

(or if you have cash the new 4870x2 is awesome , check the reviews and comments today :) )


Message edited by samuraiblade on 08-13-2008 at 12:24:33 AM
Reply to samuraiblade
4745454b   08-13-2008 at 12:23:23 AM
- 0 +

Seeing as the 4850 performs ok at 1900x1200, I'm not sure you need anything more then a single 4850 for 1600x1200. Unless you crank up the AA, I'd just get the 4850. You could go with the 4870, but I wouldn't bother. Save the dough now, upgrade again in a couple of years when the 4850 isn't doing so well anymore.

------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
 Reply to 4745454b
surfbum   08-13-2008 at 12:35:42 AM
- 0 +

if you have the money, get the 4870, if you are on a little tighter budget, get the 4850. for your monitor resolution the 4850 will run perfectly (that is what i have and i run the same resolution), but if you have the budget the 4870 will boost your performance even more

Reply to surfbum
bydesign   08-13-2008 at 12:56:10 AM
- 0 +

A 4850 is all you will need at that res. HD tv output isn't going to remotely stress card. Just as the number guy just above me said.

I would also return the MB and ram and go for a DDR2 setup. That should save you the cost of the 4850.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to bydesign
1HAPLO   08-13-2008 at 01:02:18 AM
- 0 +

+1 4870

Or spend the money and get the 4870X2

I have the 4850 and it runs games great at 1680X1050. I play Assassin's Creed, The witcher and Crysis fine.

If you have a 1680X1050 display, The 4870 and the 4850 are within 15% of each other, but at higher res the 4870 has a bigger margin

1Haplo


Message edited by 1HAPLO on 08-13-2008 at 01:04:16 AM
Reply to 1HAPLO
pauldh   08-13-2008 at 01:14:20 AM
- 0 +

Nothing against the HD4870 at all; It's very nice. But One HD4850 may be all you need to be very happy. And if not, add the second card and your only talking about $300 total.

I have this one en route right now - $155 shipped AR with race Driver Grid:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161235


Message edited by pauldh on 08-13-2008 at 01:15:34 AM
Reply to pauldh
patmoore   08-13-2008 at 09:34:45 AM
- 0 +

bydesign wrote :

A 4850 is all you will need at that res. HD tv output isn't going to remotely stress card. Just as the number guy just above me said.

I would also return the MB and ram and go for a DDR2 setup. That should save you the cost of the 4850.



My setup is DDR2!

Anyway thanks folks, very much appreciate the response. I now just have to wait a few days to get paid. :)

I think I might stretch to a HD 4870, with the foresight of no issues (!) when I plug in my 40ZF355DB tv.

Reply to patmoore
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