help me decide what to buy

[Kaya47]

hello everyone! i decided to make a little upgrade for my pc. my current system is an intel dp965ltck motherboard with an e7200 cpu and nvidia 7600gs 512mb video card. i want to change my video card. i can choose between 9800gtx+ and 4850. yes i know this is a well discussed subject, but i want to know which of these graphic cards is best for my system. i heard that 4850 has bad drivers and the games freeze, but it`s a bit better than the 9800gtx+. i want to play games at full graphics including AA and other stuff. also i`m playing at 1280x1024 resolution. my monitor dosen`t support higher resolutions, and changing it is not a sooner plan. if you recomend me the 4850, please tell if the drivers for it are ok and games don`t freeze. 10x all!

 

[ahslan]

4850! the drivers are pretty good...you will get better fps on an nvidia card from games that are nvidia supported , such as crysis...but even on some of those games, the 4850 manages to beat the 9800gtx+

 

[dagger]

4850! the drivers are pretty good...you will get better fps on an nvidia card from games that are nvidia supported , such as crysis...but even on some of those games, the 4850 manages to beat the 9800gtx+

That's wrong, at such low resolution, 4850 definitely does not outperform 9800gtx+ in Crysis. Another thing to consider is AA. 4850 scales AA much better than 9800gtx+. If you run high AA, even if at the same resolution, 9800gtx+ performance will drop back.

Benchmarks.
http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-5631-view-9800GTX+-vs-HD-4850.html

Overall, 9800gtx+ is stronger at your low resolution.

As for 4850 game freeze, that hardly ever happens. Don't put it into consideration.

 

[nottheking]

Actually, I'm inclined to think that even the 9800GTX+ may be overkill at such a resolution. In either case, the performance difference between it and the 4850 are effectively pointless, given that both are going to be capped at a more or less constant 60fps. I'm wondering if perhaps something cheaper, like the GeForce 8800GT, might be a better choice...

 

[Kaya47]

at first i was thinking for the 9800gtx+, then for the 4850. now i`m confused. and how about the fan noise? i want a silent card. which manufacturer should i head for?

 

[dagger]

at first i was thinking for the 9800gtx+, then for the 4850. now i`m confused. and how about the fan noise? i want a silent card. which manufacturer should i head for?

4850 runs nosier and hotter, due to its smaller fan coupled with single slot heatsink having to spin faster to push air, compared to 9800gtx+'s dual slot cooler. The dual slot cooler also vents hot air outside, while 4850 vents into the case, raising internal air temperature.

Manufacturer don't matter. It's the same thing.

 

[nottheking]

I'd actually argue differently on manufacturer... The cards will be the same, but different manufacturers can offer different perks aside from the card itself, such as packaging some free games with it, or offering uniquely potent warranties. Personally, my favorite when it comes to these is eVGA, with their famous "step-up" program, especially since the amount they credit you for your old card is always equal to what you ORIGINALLY paid for it, even if, say, it now sells for half the price... So effectively, it's insurance in case the graphics card market gets shook up within the 90 days after you buy it, allowing you to, in that situation, often upgrade while paying little more than shipping & handling.

 

[Kaya47]

how about his hd 4850 iceq ? it`s a dual slot card. also i found this http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_4850_IceQ4/25.html . so should i consider for a 9800gtx+ ?
the 9800gtx+ has same price as the his hd4850 iceq with 1024MB. what should i choose?

 

[dagger]

how about his hd 4850 iceq ? it`s a dual slot card. also i found this http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_4850_IceQ4/25.html . so should i consider for a 9800gtx+ ?
the 9800gtx+ has same price as the his hd4850 iceq with 1024MB. what should i choose?

The dual slot cooler really helped with the noise level. The factory overclocking also helps with performance. Just wondering, how much is the price?

 

[megamanx00]

If you want a cool and quiet 4850 Card then consider this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161243

 

[Kaya47]

in my country (romania) the 9800gtx+ or the his hd4850 1024mb is about 200 euro. the 4850 with 512mb is 145 euro
as you can see in my link, a one slot card is more silent then a two slot card...?? that doesn`t make any sence

 

[ahslan]

That's wrong, at such low resolution, 4850 definitely does not outperform 9800gtx+ in Crysis. Another thing to consider is AA. 4850 scales AA much better than 9800gtx+. If you run high AA, even if at the same resolution, 9800gtx+ performance will drop back.

Benchmarks.
http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-5631-view-9800GTX+-vs-HD-4850.html

Overall, 9800gtx+ is stronger at your low resolution.

As for 4850 game freeze, that hardly ever happens. Don't put it into consideration.

I never said the 4850 outperformed the 9800gtx+ in crysis!!! I said exactly the opposite... I said the 9800gtx+ would perform better on nvidia supported games...like crysis...

 

[dagger]

in my country (romania) the 9800gtx+ or the his hd4850 1024mb is about 200 euro. the 4850 with 512mb is 145 euro
as you can see in my link, a one slot card is more silent then a two slot card...?? that doesn`t make any sence

That is not worth it. Just get the base model 4850.

With current exchange rate, 200 euro is $280. So overpriced. For that much, you can get a 9800gx2 to blow away any 4850 or 9800gtx+.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=13
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=14
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=15
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=16
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=17
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=18
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133231
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130338

Not sure about European prices though.

And that one slot card probably just had its fans on low speed, which would result in higher temperatures. Those things are not exact.

 

[Kaya47]

If you want a cool and quiet 4850 Card then consider this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161243

yes, the only problem is that i can`t find this card anywhere in my country. all other cards are available but this one`s not...
and you know for sure that this card is silent, right?

 

[Kaya47]

That is not worth it. Just get the base model 4850.

With current exchange rate, 200 euro is $280. So overpriced. For that much, you can get a 9800gx2 to blow away any 4850 or 9800gtx+.

i know that.. but here prices are much higher than in other european countries... you`re lucky if you can order from newegg or just buy at that price range. anyway i have only 280$ to spend on a graphic card, and prices over there are not the same as here

 

[dagger]

i know that.. but here prices are much higher than in other european countries... you`re lucky if you can order from newegg or just buy at that price range. anyway i have only 280$ to spend on a graphic card, and prices over there are not the same as here

55 euros for a cooler is still not worth it.

 

[Kaya47]

yes, but i still want silence in my system. there are people that spend hundred of $ just to have a water cooled system. i`m not that kind of person, but if 55 euros would make any noise difference, i would go for it. is there any other card besides the his hd4850 iceq 512mb with dual slot or with a good ventilation? if not, i`m thinking of buying the 9800gtx+..