Upgrade Time what to get?

GFKiraR

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Mar 15, 2006
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Hello everyone, alright here is my current setup
AMD Athalon 64 X2 5000+ BE oc'ed to 3ghz
4GB 1066 Ram
Asus M3A mobo
EVGA 8800GTS 512 G92
750Wt PSU
ok so anyways as most of you can see most of my system is getting dated an i feel that is time to upgrade staring with my Graphics Card, as powerful as it is i am starting to see its limits more often, i play mostly at 1600X1050 with everything up as high as it can go. eventually i will be getting a new monitor an play at higher res so i want something that can deliver good quality an stable fps. i have never owned an ATI card but am very open to them, mainly i go with EVGA cause of the lifetime warranty which has come in handy twice. anyways ive been looking around an have found 5 cards at about the same price range all within about $60 of each other.$230-$290. i want one that will deliver good performance and last me for at least a year like my 8800 has. Also i have seen no real direct comparison of these cards anywhere so im looking for best bang for the buck, also any processor recomendations for a CPU under $150?
1.Sapphire HD4850X2 1GB $235
2.HD4870 1GB $220-$275(whichever one has best Manufacture Rep an Warranty)
3.EVGA GTX 260 SSC 896MB $270
4.Sapphire HD4850X2 2GB $290
5.BFG 9800GX2 1GB$250(i know its just 2 of my 8800's slapped together)
Yeah so thats what im considering right now an im open to anything else an no i dont plan on going CF or SLI
 

doormatderek

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Jun 1, 2006
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Why do you think you need to upgrade? My x2 5400 and 4850 is plenty enough for me.. if you do upgrade, what do you plan on doin with your old vidcard? cause i might want it. ;P
 

GFKiraR

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Mar 15, 2006
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Yeah i was looking at those but I'm pretty sure my current motherboard doesnt support it(ASUS M3A). anyways i just want to upgrade the Video card right now, just lookin for recomended CPU upgrade options, but ill probly wait another month or so to upgrade that an any thing else i decide to get. as for my current card it depends on what i do when i upgrade the CPU, if i go intel then its going into a spare rig. if i stay AMD an keep my current mobo then ill sell it.
 

nightelite

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Feb 20, 2009
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I'm thinking the M3A is a AM2+ socket which should work with the Phenom II, just a bios update is all. Don't quote me on that though as I mostly went intel in the past.

Between that and the new video card you should be set for awhile.
 

GFKiraR

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Mar 15, 2006
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Yeah thats what i figured too. an yes the M3A is an AM2+ board. i just really dont wanna get a new cpu just to find out it wont work with my board ya know.