New Video Card wanted to play most games on max settings on my sys...

joshuasp75

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Here is my system -->
Mobo: Biostar Tforce TA790GX 128M w/ ATI Radeon HD 3300 onboard video
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black AM3 2.8Ghz
Memory: 2x2Gigs OCZ DDR2 1066 PC2 8500 240-Pin
HDD: Western Digital 640GB Black SATA 3.0Gb/s
Cooler: Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle
Case: 18.5"x17.5"x7.5" ATX Clear Acrylic Case
PSU: Corsair TX650W 650 Watt Power Supply
Burner: LG 22x DVDRW Drive

Monitor: Q22wb 22" monitor currently 1680x1050 max resolution in Vista x64
2nd monitor: 47" LG 1080p HDTV

So I've been playing some games with the onboard video and think I could use an upgrade sooner than later.
I had originally asked advice and was told to wait on the 4870 1GB to come down in price, well it hasn't and I don't think that spending around $200 for a video card is worth it since I just spent only $400 to build this system (using some old parts that I had).
I would like suggestions for a QUIET and economical video card, say under $100 maybe? with MIR or other discounts if possible, that will run most or all games at highest or high settings and hook up to my monitor and TV at the same time. Please make any and all suggestions as I'm open to anything, I may even just keep saving and waiting for the 4870...
 

joshuasp75

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I was considering this card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127399
it's a 4670 1GB for $60 after rebate and comes combo'd with rainbow6 vegas2 for free.
That card ^ wouldn't run most of my games at max settings? or would it just not run them on the 47" (corrected in original post BTW) HDTV?
Any specific card suggestions to buy and links for research from multiple opinions would be much appreciated! Thanks..
looks like I may just wait on the 4870... I don't like waiting
 

jassao

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With that monitor you need a $100+ GPU, there's no way you can max settings with a cheap card, you can play at lower resolutions like 1280x1024 and maybe you can max most of the games. 4830 sounds like a good option for you.

But dont torture the 4830 trying to run something on a 1080p resolution, stick with low res and you'd be fine.

(I wish I had your 47in HDTV T___T )
 
Your title says you want to run most games @ max settings. What do you mean by most games? If you want to play current titles, @ max settings on either of your monitors you need to be looking at $150-$200 for a video card.

@ 1080p you're talking 1920x1080 resolution (which is what I play at). If you want max settings in your games, you need to get into the ATI 4870 or GTX 260 Core 216.

NewEgg.com has the MSI GTX 260 Core 216 for $189 right now, with $30 MIR drops to $159. I just installed that card in my system last night.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127409&Tpk=msi%20gtx%20260
 


This is true. If he wants to potentially run multiple GPUs he'll want to do the 4870. That's part of why I went GTX 260, since I have an SLI board. Albeit I generally upgrade my GPU before I go SLI. ;)
 

Nica Guy

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4870 512mb $150...
thats plenty... i run most games on highest settings and im just using a 4850...
must games play above 45fps average, im using it at the same resolution as u...
i get 46fps avg in farcry 2 and about the same in fallout 3...
 

jennyh

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No that won't be enough either. Stick with ATI seeing as you have an AMD chip and mobo. You don't seem to be overclocking so you will be able to get the most out of AMD fusion.

I agree with the others though, what you need is gonna cost more than what you are willing to spend. The 4870 1gb keeps popping up and for good reason. They are due a price drop soon, probably within 3 weeks.
 

Hardewarenerd

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Try the 4670, it is approx the same performance if not better than the 4830.
Also with the 4670, you can get both the ddr3 or ddr4 versions in 512-1gb for around 100. I have a friend that has an HP-pavilion somethin-or-other with a 790gx mobo and has seen massive performance gain over his IGP. Before, crisis, follout, and GTA4 were unplayable, now he can play all but gta4 on high, which before was on low-med/low

Plus, if you want to upgragde to crossfire X later, and purchase a 4870 they will crossfire well together

also, the 4670 does not require external power, it is powered by the mobo.
 

joshuasp75

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Yea, I'm pretty sure I want to run most games (old and games like farcry2, bioshock, maybe even crysis but not at highest settings, and other current titles) at 1080 if I can easily hook up my TV to this system. I've hooked up TVs to my computer's before, but never used them to game on. Would I be better off just using my 22" monitor to game on? It's fine, but I have the TV pretty close so hooking it up would be a sweet gaming setup. If I need a 4850 or 4870 to do this, then maybe I could wait a few weeks and continue using onboard vid until the prices drop to below about $150 (how likely is this???). As I said, I just can't justify spending another $200 on JUST the video when the whole updated system only cost me $400.

@jassao - that TV only cost me $850 6 months ago, and I assure you it is top of the line LG brand. CRAIGSLIST!!! Some guy had bought it as a 2nd TV for his bedroom but decided he didn't need it and wanted money for a motorcycle or something, scour ur local CL and get a nice HD half off.
 

joshuasp75

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BTW, thx EVERYONE for all the comments and opinions, I like researching and finding out why everyone suggests what they do.
Regarding crossfire, I don't know that I'll do it for two reasons...
1. If I get a 4870 or even 4850, by the time I need to upgrade because it isn't playing games well enough, I'll probably upgrade my whole system again.
2. I think there is an issue with my mobo in that it doesn't crossfire at the highest speed, 8x for two instead of 16x for one card, or something, I need to research this more, but I haven't since I know I'll be starting off with one card no matter what I get.
 

fullmetall

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No to the 4670, no to the 9800 gx2 due to bad drivers, no to the gts 250 so he can keep Crossfire open.

Wait a little bit, the sapphire 4870 1gb should be dropping in price in a matter of weeks, this will benefit all your needs.
 

Hardewarenerd

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I partially agree with fullmetal, with an absolutely no to the Nvidia cards, the people who suggest these on a xfire board do not know what they are talking about. And for the only way for your IGP to xfire with an additional card, it has to be in the 3-series. I dont know your budget, but i do have experience with building with that mobo, and with different GPU solutions. How much are you looking to spend on a video card? For around $75 you can find a 3850, which if you are only running 1920x1080 should be fine. I have another friend that has the same 790gx mobo and just recently purchased a 3850, and he uses a 24" monitor at 1900x1200 (which is only slightly higher than yours) and he can play most games at high at around 40-45 fps.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131096

here is a 3850 for less than 70 with mir.

So someone else should suggest an Nvidia card to prove their ignorance...
 

joshuasp75

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Fullmetal, what do you think about getting the 3850 card listed above by hardewarenerd, and then in like a month, ebay it and get a 4870 1gb once the prices drop to less than $150 or $100 hopefully! I think that may be the best solution since with the MIR I can probably sell it for near what I paid for it and use that money as a rebate of sorts on buying the new 4870. Thanks so much again for everyones advice!
 


3850 are overpriced and are outdated technology.

4870 > 4850 > 4830 > 4670 > ... > 3850
GTX280 > GTX260 > 9800GTX/GTX+/GTS250 > 8800GT/9800GT > 9600GT

Get yourself either a 4830 or 8800/9800GT at the minimum if you want to play the latest games at decent graphics on your monitor.

Get a 4850 or 9800GTX/GTX+/GTS250 at the minimum if you want to play games such as Crysis.
Actually, you should just get these cards since their prices are hovering around $120-$130 right now

 

fullmetall

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Prices should be dropping soon as the 4890 comes out, which is the 9th of april.

save up till then. If you buy a card now at $120-$130 then have to wait for money to roll back up in time the 4870 is in your budget, the 4870 will be in that range so its kind not worth getting the low end of the stick when the high end of the stick will be at that price sooner or later.

4870 512 is OK but, recommend a 1gb.
 

joshuasp75

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Looks like I'll be going with the 4870 1gb, I was afraid that I would end up needing to wait for the prices to drop to get the best vid card option. Although, that is one reason I went with that Biostar board (the onboard video) so that I could wait for a special price on the best card for me and use onboard vid in the meantime. Now I just wait for a price drop and then still have to decide which brand is best and also try to pick a quiet one...
 

Hardewarenerd

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well heres the problem... if you are looking for the newest tech, you will ALWAYS be behind. In Q3 of this year, the 5000 series by ati will be coming out.

The main reason i advised the 3850 or any 3000 series, is because it will crossfire with your IGP, no 4000 series will. And for about 70$ the 3850 will make a HUGE difference in your graphics. I have a Asus 4870 DK 1GB, and love it, but i am pushing higher resolutions than you, and probably play a bit higher-end graphic games. Besides, i am going to get a 2nd 4870 to xfirex because i am only at 45-50fps in alot of games, and i want to max out my monitor at 72hz (which is lamens terms is 72 Fps)

Again, what is your budget for a GPU? you originally said sub-100. The 4870 will probably stay steady around 200+ until the 5000 series comes out in about 6 mos, because if they drop price on their premium card, some of the more inexpensive cards will end up being free...

4670>4830 btw, i have first hand knowledge, i have built with both.
 

fullmetall

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