Upgading Geforce 7900 GS-OC

[singingigo]

Current Build:
Gigabyte p35-DS3L MB
Core2 Q6700 CPU
2x2GB G-Skill PC2-8500 1066MHZ RAM
FoxConn Geforce 7900 GS-OC 256MB (factory overclocked, 3dmark scores ~7900 GT)
24" Dell LCD (1920x1200 resolution)

Usage:
I play mostly RPG games (Civ4Colonizations, Age of the Empires 3), but I also play some Madden/Battlefield 2/TrackManiaNations, and I'm interested in playing CoD4. I like to game at 1920x1200.

My current GPU allows me to play at high resolutions with medium to high settings. AoE3 and Madden 08 do get bogged down...framerates drop to 19-24 fps on those games on medium, and high settings are unplayable.

Question:
What kind of video card upgrade can I get for $100? And how much will it help?

 

[knowsitall]

for 130$ u can get this card.. should be a pretty big improvement

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468

 

[singingigo]

That is a great card....but it's more than I wanted to spend. I guess I can spend the extra $30, but I wonder if it's more than I need. Most of the games I play now play just fine with my current card, and I'm wondering if the 256MB of vRAM is hurting me on the games that are bogging down. I guess I'm wondering:

a) Would simply having more graphics memory help my current situation?
b) If more v-memory will make things better, how much do I need to upgrade the actual GPU? 7900 GS to 8800? HD4830?

 

[knowsitall]

a. well i mean they say at 1920 x 1200 more memory deffintly helps.. like if u had to pick between the 4870 512mb and the 4870 1gb , the 1gb would def help at 1920 x 1200 but not really help at 1024 x 748.
b. i really dont understand what you mean, but the 7900 is still a good card, if u lowered the setting a bit in madden an stuff it should become more playable.. but if u want to play games maxed out at 1920 x 1200 the whole card def needs to be updated.

 

[singingigo]

b. i really dont understand what you mean, but the 7900 is still a good card....

I guess I'm wondering: "If I had 512MB of vRAM, would my 7900 might work just fine?"

Obviously, if I need to upgrade the vRAM, I have to buy a new card. I'd LOVE to buy the latest and greatest, but I'm on a tight budget these days. I'm seeing HD4670s and Geforce 9600GTs for around $70 plus rebates. Do they offer better performance than a 7900GT with the increased 512 RAM? Or do I need to bite the bullet and spend $100-130 and get an HD 4850 or GT 250?

 

[singingigo]

Anyone have opinions on this card?

Sapphire HD4830:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

 

[coozie7]

Have a look here. it`ll give you a idea as to where each card stands.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/geforce-gtx-radeon,review-31515-6.html

If you want to play FPS shooters like COD4 I would really strongly advise you to look at getting the fastest card you can afford.
That said the Egg has a pair of HD4830s for a little over $70 with rebates, which is faster than the 9600GT although slower than either the 9800GTX/GTS250/Hd4850.
Take a look here for a few performance numbers.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Galaxy/GeForce_GTS_250_1_GB/

 

[singingigo]

It looks like the 9600 GT or the HD4830 would be a 3-4 tier upgrade. They run around $70-85. Anyone got recommendations on which one to get?

 

[coozie7]

I`d suggest the slightly slower 9600GT, it`ll save problems with driver installation.

 

[lasoski311]

LOOK AT THE CHART ON THIS PAGE, it might give you a better idea of where your current card falls and youll see how much better the cards we are suggesting are.

heres my suggestion....stretch your budget $20-30 and youll see a big improvement

POWERCOLOR AX4850 512MD3-DH Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131125

or if you really dont want to spend over $100 u can get this (still a very good card)

SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

 

[singingigo]

LOOK AT THE CHART ON THIS PAGE, it might give you a better idea of where your current card falls and youll see how much better the cards we are suggesting are.

heres my suggestion....stretch your budget $20-30 and youll see a big improvement

POWERCOLOR AX4850 512MD3-DH Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131125

or if you really dont want to spend over $100 u can get this (still a very good card)

SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

I looked at the chart already. But there isn't hard data for that chart. It doesn't give me a % improvement....it just says "This group of cards is better than the next group". I can't find a straight Geforce 7900 vs. geforce 9600 GT or HD 4830/50. That is why I said "it look like a 9600 GT or a HD4830 is 3-4 tiers better".

I also had asked people about that sapphire HD4830. Thanks for seconding that card. Anyone else got an opinon on which card would be a good upgrade?

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Get the 4830 or a 4850 if you can afford it. I have a 9600gt running 1680x1050 resolution, mine is an overclocked card as well, and I get good graphics, but I would suggest you get at least a 4830.

 

[megamanx00]

Go with that Sapphire 4830.

SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

Sapphires custom PCB uses a little less power than the reference design, and it's a pretty good card. It will prove faster than the 9600GT, especially if you overclock the core a bit. If you can wait till tomarrow though the 4770s should be comming out soon for under $100 and they offer better performance than the 4830s, almost the level of the 4850s.

 

[megamanx00]

Don't forget that $15 mail in on that sapphire though sure makes it look alot better, assuming you want to go through that hassle .