What graphics should i get for my rig?

[nightside]

Hello everyone, First i wanted to thank you for any advice that is left. My current rig is a custom built.

Intel(R) core(TM)2Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GhZ
RAM - 8.00 GB -(4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
XFX GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
Windows 7 RC- 64 bit
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS
Monitor- lg 23' inch 1080pi


my price range is 300-450

Im going to be playing AION online, and want top notch max graphics with almost MAX FPS- on my default resolution

 

[nightside]

I forgot to add that i also have an X-fi soundcard (xtremegamer)

 

[sirkillalot]

"What graphics should i get for my rig?"

you have aa 9800gtx, thats fine you just need a good conection

 

[shadow187]

That 9800GTX+ is a great card. If you really want a new one, wait until the 21'st, ATI will be releasing the 5870 for 400$, perfectly in your price range and more powerful than anything available.

 

[shubham1401]

Don't you think those monstrous cards will be bottlenecked by your CPU?
(Cards like 5850 and 5870)

 

[shadow187]

Maybe, but the E8400 is a great processor.

 

[shubham1401]

E8400 "WAS" a great processor just as 8800GT was a great card.

Though its your own opinion..........

 

[obsidian86]

well a gtx 275 could be an equal compliment to the e8400

 

[Onus]

I don't see a need for an upgrade either. My niece has been playing that game for some time now, using a 3850, and has not complained of poor graphics quality.

 

[nightside]

the 9800GTX+ will not hold up with this game on high high settings.

If i updated my processor would i also have to upgrade my motherboard, i dont think my motherboard supports i7? its an asus.

 

[hirschbergt]

It might be worth considering putting a second 9800GTX+ in SLI with your current card. I'm not sure if that would give you quite the performance boost that you're looking for, but it would be fairly cost effective and allow you to keep your current card.

 

[nightside]

does the new 9800gtx+ have to be the same brand? as in XFX. they both have to be XFX 98000GTX+ the same exact card?

 

[coozie7]

Right now I'd say stick with your current rig and upgrade if needed, there's no point in spending money in these cash-strapped times when you do n't need to!

As for SLI, which MB do you have? Only Nvidia chipsets support SLI for the LGA775 chips.

Not every game uses SLI, so check the AION website carefully, posting questions if
you have to to find out. If the game does not benefit from multiple cards, getting another 9800 would be an obvious waste of money.

Given your specs and budget I'd say the best overall upgrade would be a GTX275, it's a little cooler and quieter than the HD4890 and you do n't run the risk of driver problems by sticking with the same manufacturer. They can be found on the Egg for less than a paltry $220

 

[boulard83]

youll play AION on HIGH settings with this rig.

If you really want to uprgade get a GTX260 that can be founf for nearly 150$ sometimes

Or just wait for the DX11 cards to come out PLZ !

 

[nightside]

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

 

[sirkillalot]

personaly i would sell the 9800 and buy the 5870 ati when they come out
no point in getting two old cards
it has better shadows
directx 11 ready
512-bit bus and the tried and tested GDDR5 memory
much faster
&twice the ram as your 1 at the mo

 

[nightside]

would the 5870 ati bottleneck my CPU//motherboard?

 

[sirkillalot]

tell you the truth im not sure at this time till the benchmarks come in but you could upgrade that if you had to as well down the road

the amd 955 with mb is about $350-$375ish
intel im not sure much more 4 there top 1

 

[shubham1401]

Find out whether the fastest card now (GTX 295 ) is bottlenecked by your CPU or not.
If yes then 5870 will also be bottlenecked.After all it will be better than 295!

But don't worry.
Since you have planned to get that card I would say keep that processor and whenever you have money get a matching proccy

 

[nightside]

do i have to update my motherboard to? it says supported all processos but not i7, because when the Motherboard came out i7 didnt exist? so does it support it or not?

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard : is my motherboard

 

[shubham1401]

It doesn't support i7.
It won't even fit in that slot.
Cuz the slot you have is LGA775 and the one i7 uses is a LGA1366.

 

[shadow187]

x58 motherboard you need.

Go with a Q9550 for the higher-end processor.

 

[nightside]

isnt the Q9550 a lot slower then i7?

 

[boulard83]

Depand for what ... gaming no really. Multi GPU, YES.

Encoding-Rendering YES

The I7 have a great advantage in the memory bandwith and SLI/CF with 3 GPU.

 

[nightside]

it is for gaming, and the game only utilies 2 cores not 4. Can i oc my cpu to 3.6? and if i did what program should i use to test my cpu temp. and manual to do the overclocking?