GPU advice

[velvetsky01]

Hello All,

I am thinking of adding a new GPU to my current setup I have a Nvidia Geforce 9800 GT currently but I am not sure wether to do one of the following options -

1) buy a new GPU (1gb or something) but I am not sure what do get?? in the £150 price range

2) SLI my current card with another Nvidia Geforce 9800 GT

3) do nothing? - is my card all good for games now and the next year?

the rest of my spec is as follows

Intel Core i5 750 (2.66GHz) 8 MB 4.8GT/s
Asus P7P55D (Intel P55) Deluxe
4GB (DDR3)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 BIT

Many thanks

Tony

 

[cjl]

Are you unhappy with your current performance? If not, don't do anything right now.

 

[schumi_thelegend]

@ above

What the hell do u do with 12GB RAM???

 

[jay2tall]

^That is rude. You would be supprised at what some editing, engineering, and graphic software will use.

To the OP.
1)What are some cards in that price range? I am not sure what sites you can order from. What does a 5750 run over there?

2)I am assuming you have the Asus P7P55D model that supports SLI. But if you can get a 2nd 9800GT cheap, it would be a pretty good upgrade.

3)That is your call. Yes it will play all your games in the next year, but probably not with tons of detail. If you just want to play and aren't concerned with high detail, you would be good. The lower the resolution you play at, the better it is going to perform. Although playing at a high resolution, I am usually happier at lower graphics on a bigger screen.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

IMO a better idea than getting a second 9800 GT to sli is to sell your one 9800 GT card you have now. Add the proceeds to your 150 quid budget and buy a GTX 275 (and still have some change) that you can overclock to a GTX 285 performance.

How big is your monitor? If it 26" or larger, you might want to spend it all and buy an HD 5850.

 

[velvetsky01]

sorry for late reply....

I have a 23" monitor would that be ok for that card?

which is the best Geforce card out there for the money? I know spec wise the GTX 295 is the best but for value and performance which is the best for your money...

 

[hell_storm2004]

9800GT wont do good for a 23 inch monitor. If you can get HD5870 or HD5850 then buy it, provided you have a good enough PSU.
Or wait till the price drop.

 

[velvetsky01]

whats wrong with a 9800GT for a 23inch monitor?

I have a 750Watt PSU so should be fine

whats the advantages of either a HD5870 or HD5850 over a 9800GT?

Im not very knowledagable on GPUs

 

[hundredislandsboy]

On a 23 inch monitor you'll be playing on a native resolution of 1980 X 1080 and a 9800 GT was not designed for smooth play at that high count of pixels. You can always "dumb it down" to a lower resolution but the picture quality suffers. LCD monitors look best at their native resolutions.

If you overclock your Core i5 750, it will be bottlenecked by a 9800 GT. The 9800 GT is not a evenly balanced component for that CPU.

IMO, if you have $240 for a videocard, get a GTX 275 and overclock it to the performance of a GTX 285.

If you have $300 for a videocard, get an HD 5850 and you won't need to overclock it.

 

[velvetsky01]

how to you mean "If you overclock your Core i5 750, it will be bottlenecked by a 9800 GT. The 9800 GT is not a evenly balanced component for that CPU. " ?

You said the HD 5870 - would this one be ok? is it better than the 9800gt as its only £40 more in price....?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-HD5770-GDDR5-Express-Graphics/dp/B002RXK3P0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259595678&sr=8-1

if not could you give me some sites to look at to buy it please? as i cant seem to find a good cheap place!!

 

[Mousemonkey]

In games where SLi is not used I have not had any major issues with a single 8800GT 512 running @ 19 x 10.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

In games where SLi is not used I have not had any major issues with a single 8800GT 512 running @ 19 x 10.

Okay no major issues. How about minor ones such as minimum fps dropping to the low teens to the point you're thinking "this sucks!"

Are you talking about the latest first person shooters or Duke Nukem era 1998?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

how to you mean "If you overclock your Core i5 750, it will be bottlenecked by a 9800 GT. The 9800 GT is not a evenly balanced component for that CPU. " ?

You said the HD 5870 - would this one be ok? is it better than the 9800gt as its only £40 more in price....?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-HD5770-GDDR5-Express-Graphics/dp/B002RXK3P0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259595678&sr=8-1

if not could you give me some sites to look at to buy it please? as i cant seem to find a good cheap place!!

I'm saying you have a processor much more capable in feeding your GPU whereas your GPU has to tell it to wait while it eats the date.

Here's a word picture:
Your CPU is ready to give your GPU 10 spoonfuls of data per millisecond. But your GPU says, wait a millisecond (or two), I can't swallow that much data at that fast rate.

Hope that helps.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

In games where SLi is not used I have not had any major issues with a single 8800GT 512 running @ 19 x 10.

Come on. The guy has a decent system, better than mine (and I'm running a GTX 260!), His system is just begging to be opened up at the track. Why hold him back ? His CPU and mobo is late 2009 and his GPU is early 1998 - not complimentary components wouldn't you say?

It's like a a new sports car but you don't take the Z-rated Pirelli tires option to go with and instead you get no frills R rated Walmart specials.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Okay no major issues. How about minor ones such as minimum fps dropping to the low teens to the point you're thinking "this sucks!"

Are you talking about the latest first person shooters or Duke Nukem era 1998?

The last game I was playing that didn't use SLi was something called Section 8 and that runs at 70 - 90 fps on one card @ 19 x 10.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

I guess Velvetsky has to say which games he plans to play and that will lead him to the answer.

 

[velvetsky01]

wow thanks for all the information - that all makes sense esp the spoon feeding picture (thank you for that!)

Im wanting to play all the latest games etc COD MW2 etc

so need a hearty GPU - this is why I just need some ideas

Any UK sites anyone would recommend getting maybe a GTX 280 or HD 5870 ? Or anything anyone recommends

 

[hundredislandsboy]

I believe Mousemonkey is on that side of the pond.

You'll get more value with a GTXZ 275 that you can overclock than you will with a GTX 280.

 

[KidHorn]

1998?
I hope you're kidding. I think 1998 was pre AGP.

If you can sell your 9800 for a decent price, then sell it.

Whether you sell it or not, i would get a new card. Doubling up your 9800 isn't money well spent. I don't know how much video cards cost in England, but if you can afford a 4890, 4870, 275, 57xx ... . Get one of those. I'm pretty sure the 5800 series is out of your price range, even if you can find one.

 

[Mousemonkey]

I believe Mousemonkey is on that side of the pond.

You'll get more value with a GTXZ 275 that you can overclock than you will with a GTX 280.

I am indeed. Scan.co.uk would be my first choice but they do not have a great deal in stock at the moment and have not had 275's in ages Novatech.co.uk have four at the moment but at over £180 each not what you'd call a bargain and HD5870's are like rocking horse poo as far as availability goes.

 

[velvetsky01]

many thanks for all your help - not sure which to go for however which is the best? spec wise and performance?

 

[hell_storm2004]

I think the sites are already mentioned by mousemonkey. Spec wise you cant beat HD5870. So why ask, if its something you can get within your budget, why wait!!

 

[velvetsky01]

what about the 5770?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/12068850/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD-5770-1GB-GDDR5-PCI-Express-2-0-Graphics-Card/Product.html?&_$ja=tsid:11518%7Ccc:%7Cprd:12068850%7Ccat:Components

how much better is that to this card?

http://www.wikio.co.uk/guide/pny-geforce-9800-gt-512mb-142564.html

as it seems the 5850 isnt going to be in stock ANYWHERE anytime soon...

 

[hell_storm2004]

HD5870 would be an African elephant.
HD5850 - Asian elephant.
HD5770 would be cow.
9800GT is a goat.

Hope you got the differences!

So if you want anything good, have patience!

 

[velvetsky01]

is the sapphire HD 5850 any good?