Upgrade to what from 8800gtx

2.0 is backwards compatible.

What resolution?

so are you saying i can put a pci- 2.0 card into a pci-e x 16 slot and get same power from it?


the mobo says its ait crosfire suported so im taking it i can put in an ati card? I have never used ati i have been an nivida user for yeares and years. Whats my options there?

i suggest u go for 4870 1GB as u not Playing over 1152 x 864 .
at that res 4870 1GB will be enough for u at less 2 years from now .
u can find it around 225$ ~270$..

A faster card would most likely be CPU bound (limited by the CPU speed) at your current resoloution, so unless the card is failing, or plan on getting a bigger display, stay where you are.
And, much as it pains me as an ATI user to type this; If you`re using WOW stick with Nvidia.

How can you predict the market like? What if all games choose to use the Crytek engine? Or another demanding engine? 2 years is a long time. Just because it happened with the 8800 GTX doesn't mean its going to happen with the new cards. You can't predict it that simply.

A 4870 1 gig would be a safe haven, but you can't expect to max out all settings for 4 years. I mean look at the 280 GTX. It has trouble with a game as simple as stalker. Pushing like 30-40 frames....

We still don't have a card that can keep Crysis playing as smoother as butter, even at 1280x1024. On very high with out AA. You'll always have those 20 fps dips, even though the avg might be high.

I do second a 4870 1 gig purchase since you can find it soo cheap, but I wouldn't go as far as predicting the year.

P.S

though the resolution is really low, and 1 gig seems like overdoing it, trust me it won't as textures become more detailed and AA becomes hard to output

Really i dont have a bad card. Im just looking for upgrade options. Im looking at installing this gpu into wifes comp and getting a new one for my self.

Thats what im wanting to know right there. As i have only used nivida in the past i have allways used them. I know them and trust them. So can i get a better nivida card or should i go with an ati card? If i go ati should i go with crossfire and get 2 cards or not? The mobo it self works with both ati and nivida cards.
when i built this thing the 8800gtx was the top card out thats why i went with it. same for the ram and cpu. i only got the best of the best of the time except for the cpu i could of got the quad but it was liek 2k at the time vrs 600 for a dual.

here is my cpu-z link

and a side note im running liquid cooled case with upgraded pump

Yea im reading abotu the 295 and finding that you can not play wow with it. There is somethign about the dual procsers it dont like at all.

ok i see that to get the 2 gig mem we are steping intot the dual gpu agin that my game will not suport. so maby the 4870 1 gig is my best choise. and its 1/2 the price i was willing to spend. Is there a even bigger one then that wile staying with in the 1 cpu range? also what about running 2 cards as i have that ablity? can i get more out of 2 cheaper cards then just 1 4870?

ok thanks, that was my next question what brand to get. mow the question is to water cool or not? As water cooling will more then likly void any warenty. Then agin maby do it after the warenty is gone? Thoughts?

BTW, just be aware that your MoBo does not in fact support Quad-core. I know, I know, the Asus website says it does, but believe me (having bought a quad - Q9550) I couldn't get it to work. After much searching on the web, I found that the issue is that the fsb on the mobo can't keep up with the cpu requirements.

As luck would have it, the wife unplugged the computer and the psu and mobo took some damage. Enter stage left a new mobo and a GTX295 - because the opportunity presented itself. I have to say though the this is pure extravagence. The P5W DH with a 8800 GTX is pretty good.

Whilst I'm always keen to get the latest thing (though I didn't go for Core i7), you really do have a pretty good system already. Consider a "cheap" replacement for her computer, you keep the 8800 GTX and buy some flowers - noting of course that you're saving the money for another day (get that marker down). Then when yours does become tired, hit the big time again.....

Also \, like you I'm an NVidia man. I did have an ATI way back but didn't like the drivers - can't remember which card but it was years ago. I think it is fair to say that both are good and it really comes down to what you're used to.

Just a few thoughts.

Good luck.

If you want one with a strong stock cooler go with a Sapphire (4870). Mine stays at 30-35c idle and 45-55c load, (depending on the game) overclocked to 785/1000, fan on 40%.

My 4870 is currently idling at 32 degrees... weird. Actually I've never turned the Fan above 35% and even OC'd it doesn't heat up much.

Problem is it can't run Fallout 3 and several other games to my expectations!

Sorry, it's the old reference design. Right now my fan is set to 25% and I'm at 41 degrees while watching a movie.

I suggest you wait until the next generation of GPU's are released. I'm using a 8800gts (g92) 512mb OC 770/1008/1848 and i'm able to play most of the latest games on max or high quality at 1920x1200. The 8800gtx outperforms my card and your running at a lower resolution. Until your unable to play the games to your liking, theres really no need to upgrade.

I'd have to agree with mrbumbum here. The 8800GTX still does phenomenally well in most games nowadays (bar maxing Crysis, Warhead, GTA IV and possibly STALKER: Clear Skies, obviously) and anything else at your 1280x1024 resolution is overkill.

Why not spend the money on a bigger and better monitor? 22" monitors (1680x1050) are somewhere between $150-200 nowadays, and you can occasionally find a 24" (1920x1200) for not too much more than $250. The 8800GTX should do just fine at those resolutions as well, barring the few games I've previously mentioned.

8800GTX? For that resolution spells overkill.
Runs all new games well at that resolution.
Upgrading to a 4870 won't see a lot of performance increase(but may help save some money on bills.)
I'd rather wait for some great leap if I were you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102801

Thats the low temp 4870 1GB I'm using, with stock cooling. I'll take screenies when I get home.