Specific Video Card question for my budget PC. Help would be awesome!

Well here's the build you guys helped me come up with, greatly appreciated by the way, wouldn't have been confident in my build without you guys!

CPU
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103649

MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128397

MEMORY
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231189

VIDEO CARD
QUESTION BELOW!!!

HDD
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

POWER
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341016

CASE
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119068

OPTICAL
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151188

COOLER
Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835207004

________________________________________________________________

Ok here's the question:

I found that I can save a significant amount of money if I buy (combo deal as well):

SAPPHIRE 279L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102850

instead of what I originally had on my list, which is:

XFX HD-487A-ZHDC Radeon HD 4870 1GB XXX 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150395

The biggest and most obvious difference I see is the fall from 1GBs to 512GBs. I've read conflicting reports on whether or not that is significant with my type of set-up. Currently I have a 17'' Dell moniter (w1700) with 1280 x 768 resolution, but I hope to upgrade this soon for a better gaming experience..

So what do you guys think? 1GB of memory on the card worth the extra $75 it would cost me (partially b/c of the great combo deal on the first card)??

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Its not worth $75 compared to the total price of your build.

But . . . that psu . . . I can't find a review of that specific model, and OCZ makes . . . er, markets stuff that goes all over the map. Would strongly recommend this Antec, since most of the problems we encounter here stem from flaky power supplies:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371020

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Twoboxer

XFX has this cheaper 4870 model in stock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150436
and this one sold out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150394
Sapphire also has 2 models of 1GB 4870 at the same prices as the above XFX. Maybe XFX has decided 512MB is not enough RAM and doesnt make one anymore? With XFX's warranty, I would choose them over any other card at a similar price point.

The place you will notice 512MB vs 1GB is when you try to run antialiasing. With a 512MB card you may have to turn antialiasing off to get the same frame rates as a 1MB card.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by dndhatcher on 09-08-2009 at 06:50:46 AM

Reply to dndhatcher

dndhatcher wrote :

XFX has this cheaper 4870 model in stock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150436
and this one sold out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150394
Sapphire also has 2 models of 1GB 4870 at the same prices as the above XFX. Maybe XFX has decided 512MB is not enough RAM and doesnt make one anymore? With XFX's warranty, I would choose them over any other card at a similar price point.

The place you will notice 512MB vs 1GB is when you try to run antialiasing. With a 512MB card you may have to turn antialiasing off to get the same frame rates as a 1MB card.

Thanks.. I just can't bring myself to take the performance drop-off. I'm looking at the cards you suggested now. Thanks for the help!

Reply to MrRabbit

Twoboxer wrote :

Its not worth $75 compared to the total price of your build.

But . . . that psu . . . I can't find a review of that specific model, and OCZ makes . . . er, markets stuff that goes all over the map. Would strongly recommend this Antec, since most of the problems we encounter here stem from flaky power supplies:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371020

This PSU got OK ratings on Newegg, but I'm afraid that it just doesn't have enough juice. I think I'm gonna step it up to a 600W Antec.

Reply to MrRabbit

Actually for your resolution and 17" monitor you could get by with a cheap + low power HD4670 and when u do upgrade to a bigger better display the juicier HD5K series would be available for an upgrade hehe In fact for my clients with no immediate gaming needs and willing to wait i just do up a functional rig on 785G/790GX IGP voila

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by batuchka on 09-08-2009 at 10:56:02 AM

Reply to batuchka

Wait a few days, HD 5870/5850 will be out and it is worth waiting to see the benckmarks and true pricing!

Message quoted 2 times

batuchka wrote :

Actually for your resolution and 17" monitor you could get by with a cheap + low power HD4670 and when u do upgrade to a bigger better display the juicier HD5K series would be available for an upgrade hehe In fact for my clients with no immediate gaming needs and willing to wait i just do up a functional rig on 785G/790GX IGP voila

I hope to be getting a new moniter within the next couple weeks.. so I'm trying to buils with that in mind. Around 22'' is the plan.

Reply to MrRabbit

moricon wrote :

Wait a few days, HD 5870/5850 will be out and it is worth waiting to see the benckmarks and true pricing!

This will be a very difficult few days... but I guess it's worth the savings!

Reply to MrRabbit

moricon wrote :

Wait a few days, HD 5870/5850 will be out and it is worth waiting to see the benckmarks and true pricing!

Also, do you guys think the mid-low range card price drop will be immediate or will it be days or weeks until the true prices flesch themselves out?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to MrRabbit

Probably a good idea to keep checking prices daily and there will likely be a good bargain to jump on sometime in the next few weeks. (like the $200 i7 920s at microcenter). It will likely take weeks or months for stable new prices to be established.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to dndhatcher

MrRabbit wrote :

Also, do you guys think the mid-low range card price drop will be immediate or will it be days or weeks until the true prices flesch themselves out?

Where i'm at the HD 4870s are already tumbling

Reply to batuchka

dndhatcher wrote :

Probably a good idea to keep checking prices daily and there will likely be a good bargain to jump on sometime in the next few weeks. (like the $200 i7 920s at microcenter). It will likely take weeks or months for stable new prices to be established.

Do you think this is a trustworthy card? It seems like a good price and it is well reviewed..
HIS H487FN1GP Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161269

Reply to MrRabbit

Ive never seen HIS before.
XFX comes with a lifetime warranty and a good reputation at the same price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150436

The big question is how much does the 4800 series drop in prices on friday when the 5000 series is released.

Message edited by dndhatcher on 09-08-2009 at 11:59:49 PM

Reply to dndhatcher

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Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Specific Video Card question for my budget PC. Help would be awesome!