What is overkill for a 19" CRT?

I am wondering how much these new graphics cards will actually help my gaming experience, especially if I stick with my Viewsonic G90fb 19” CRT at 1152 X 864 and 100Hz. With a new 4870, for example, with my S939 A64 4200+ OCed at 2.8GHz, running XPSP3, and 2GB of Corsair XMS PC3200 ram (adding another 1GB would be easy), how much will a 4870 be better than a 3870, or even a 1900XT? Will I ever need more than 512MB of video ram?

I am a fairly heavy gamer, yet light on the FPS side (not WoW, but more in terms of NWN2 and Oblivion). I get it that when I jump to a 22” wide screen with a much higher resolution, the need for speed and ram will kick in, but what will I need to play Crysis, for example. I have a feeling I will give that game a try this winter.

And I am still fighting off the urge to go WS 22”… I have actually spent the night researching WS 22-24 inch monitors, attempting to figure some of this stuff out (and if I had a better handle on it, I might be up for it. The blur issue causes me duress). I am kind of thinking about getting a 4870 with 1GB of ram. When I leap to a WS 22” monitor, that is one thing, but what will it do for my 19” CRT in Crysis at 1152 X 864, compared to a 3870 or 1900XT at 1152x864 as well? And please let me hold onto my belief that my S939 A64 at 2.8GHz still has some life in it.

I still game on a 19 crt at 1900 × 1600 at 75 hz. My 4830 is doing a great job keeping that resolution in most games medium .

I have not purchased a LCD yet. Every time I consider, my pals here talk me out of it. My viewsonic does 1280x960 at 85Hz. I do not like the idea of using less than 85Hz, but I might give it a try. 1600x1200 is supported but at 75Hz, and I can see the lights moving. I hate that Hz.

I picked up a 21" Iiyama Vision Master 502 off of a guy on Craig's List for free last spring, and it has been on my wife's computer. It can do 1600x1200 at 85Hz. I might have to steal that and try it for gaming. That monitor is very old, but looking online, it was around $800 new one time. I take it Iiama is a good brand.

I do not know if upgrading my CPU is an option; I feel lucky to have a X2 A64 running a 2.8GHz. It is a S939, so a new CPU would mean a new motherboard and ram as well.

My current video card has kind of become "spoken for," i.e., selling/bartering it to a friend, so I will need to be buying a new video card this month, maybe this black friday with some good advice here.

I wonder if the Iiama can go even higher res if I lower the Hz to 75.

Ok I see your point so you wana upgrade the gpu and then upgrade the rest down the road. A 4850 should do well at 1600×1200 all high and most of the time better if you willing to go into the dangerous 60 hz region.

Oh and also.. DO NOT FORGET TO CONSIDER THEIR consumption .... especially if you only have a more or less 350W PSU
you wouldnt want to upgrade your PSU too!
might wanna check this
http://archive.atomicmpc.com.au/fo [...] c=7&t=9354

Bang for buck no. But the 4870 would provide your future proof atleast when games finally brings these puppies to their knees. That 10 20 percent would make a difference when the 4850 is getting say 19 frames average. Look at the 88s before crysis they could man handle any game at 19x10 maxed out now all that extra video ram is wasted as they are reduced to 16×12 and lower.

Then go for a 4850 and buy an aftermarket cooler if the stock cooler is giving you problems. But the 4870 is very hard to turn down if its hovering around 200. Think of it you get a high end card for a midrange price compared to previous generations.