Should I Even Bother to Upgrade My GPU?

[tkenney65]

OK.....I've got the bug to upgrade my GPU but not sure what a new card will do for me or if it is even worth doing it.

Dell XPS 630i
Win 7 X-64 Ultimate
E8500 CPU (Core 2 Duo 3.16ghz), currently OC to 4.00ghz.
4GB RAM
22" LCD Monitor (1680x1050 resolution)
Nvidia GEForce 8800GT (512mb)

I am an occasional gamer but am primarily interested in connecting the PC to my Samsung 52" LCD. I think I would play more frequently on the bigger screen. Games I play are C.O.D., Crysis and NFS Shift.

Budget is around $150.....and I would like to find a card that will send both audio and video via HDMI to the TV....my current card only sends the video via DVI and I really am looking to avoid sending the audio and video separately if I can avoid it.

Very interested if people think it is even worth it to upgrade.


Thanks....

 

[Bluescreendeath]

4870 1GB will do nicely for $150. A 4870 is roughly 4.5 tiers above an 8800GT. Most 4870s will have a DVI-HDMI adapter for the internal sound card, and a few 4870s will have a native HDMI port.

8800/9800GT ~ 4830 < 8800GTS 512 ~ 4770 < 9800GTX/GTS250 ~ 4850 < GTX260 192 ~ 4870 512mb </~ GTX260 216 ~ 4870 1GB

Or spend about $20-$30 more for either a 5770 (dx11 support, uses less energy) or 4890 (much better raw performance)

 

[rolli59]

HD4870/90 HD5770 or GTX260 all around your budget all good solutions.

 

[wa1]

GTX260 is a good card, but at your range then HD5770 would be a nice choice, dx11 ability, less power consumption...

 

[jay2tall]

For a cheap upgrade you could add a 2nd 8800GT. I looked up your PC and it is a 650i motherboard and a 750W PSU. You could get a 8800gt cheap and double your performance.

 

[Aneesh@4GHz]

ATi: 4890/ For DX11 HD 5xxx
nVidia:GTX260/GTS 250

Wat abt ur psu?If it cannot handle these cards, u need to change the psu too!

 

[tkenney65]

ATi: 4890/ For DX11 HD 5xxx
nVidia:GTX260/GTS 250

Wat abt ur psu?If it cannot handle these cards, u need to change the psu too!

The PC has a 750W PSU

 

[tkenney65]

OK....great feedback......thanks to all.

So I am leaning towards the 5770. If I wanted to save around $40 I could go with the 5750. How much would I be giving up in doing so? If there really that much of a difference?

 

[rolli59]

It would take away most of the wow factor of the upgrade but here you can judge for yourself http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5770,2446.html

 

[jay2tall]

Do not waste your time with the 4770, 4870 or GTX 260, The 8800 GT isnt that much slower, well not slow enough to justify the spend. If you are going to upgrade from an 8800 GT shoot for atleast one of the following 4890, GTX275, 4870X2 or 58xx.

Small upgrades are pointless, you want an upgrade you can feel.

Um (2) 8800GT's will give an awesome boost for him at a cheap price. I looked through some old reviews and 8800GT's in SLI beat out a GTX280.

 

[tkenney65]

jay2tall......any ideas on where to pick up one of these cheap?

If I do go with a 5770 do I need to secure an spdif cable to get the card to pass the integrated audio off of my motherboard or will it do it upon installation by default?

 

[jay2tall]

8800GT? I would honestly grab one off ebay cheap. Just make sure its a good seller that has a return policy. None of this as-is stuff.

The 4xxx and 5xxx ATI cards have build in audio, so there is no need for a cable. I have a 5870 and I can just plug in my HDMI cable and audio goes with it.

 

[tkenney65]

8800GT? I would honestly grab one off ebay cheap. Just make sure its a good seller that has a return policy. None of this as-is stuff.

The 4xxx and 5xxx ATI cards have build in audio, so there is no need for a cable. I have a 5870 and I can just plug in my HDMI cable and audio goes with it.

OK....I do see some pretty cheap on there. Pardon the newbie questions but....I would need the card, an SLI cable, DVI to HDMI adapter, and, in this case, I believe I need that spdif cable to pass the audio if I am correct.

 

[jay2tall]

Does teh 8800GT have an HDMI output? or are you using an HDMI output? otherwise you don't need to pass audio.

Yes you will need the SLI bridge to connect the cards

 

[tkenney65]

Does teh 8800GT have an HDMI output? or are you using an HDMI output? otherwise you don't need to pass audio.

Yes you will need the SLI bridge to connect the cards

The 8800gt does not have an HDMI output but I would like to use HDMI from the PC to TV

 

[avenger386]

if you game at 1920x1080 then then an upgrade in is order especially since you can still get $60-100 by selling the 8800gt on ebay depending on brand warranty etc (i sold my XFX 8800gt with lifetime warranty for $100 after fees and shipping back in november)

anyway two cards fit you budget.
for $139
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002SOX9W2
for $180
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002SP113K

if you don't care about xfx double lifetime warranty (makes it easier to sell the card later on ebay)
then these are cheaper
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002RWJH4O
or
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0030IVTRC

ALL have HDMI with their own audio on the HDMI line

 

[jay2tall]

I think you need the adapter and also the SPIF audio cable. You would just plug it into the primary card though in port 1. You would have to read the documentation on this as I never used the nvidia cards with HDMI. I had a 8800GTS but never used it and it didnt come with a cable or adapter.

 

[tkenney65]

OK....so I found a decent deal on the XFX "Alpha Dog" version of the 8800GT and I confirmed that it has the audio connection on the board (spdif). Can anyone confirm for me that I can connect a non Alpha Dog version of the 8800GT (Dell OEM) to the Alpha Dog version via SLI?

 

[Bluescreendeath]

HD 4870 or GTX 260. GTX 260 is the best option

The 4870 1GB is the better option because it performs the same as a GTX260 and is about $40 cheaper.