Upgrading from 9800GTX+

[Kazul]

Hey guys, I'm looking to upgrade my current GPU.

My specs are:
CPU: AMD Phenom 2 X4 940 3.01
RAM: 4 GB
Mobo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131361
GPU: Nvidia 9800GTX+
PSU: Corsair 750TX 750W

My resolution is 1920x1080 on a 23 inch monitor. I prefer Nvidia but am willing to change to ATI should it really be necessary. I am not looking at the current top of the line, considering I have a lower budget. I was considering the Nvidia GTX 260 Core 216 but am not sure I will see a worth while improvement from my current 9800gtx+.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130434

Feel free to comment on, criticize or insult the rest of my build as well.

Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

A GTX 260 is not really enough of an improvement to recommend. It generally is only a few FPS faster in most games at that resolution. An ATI HD 5770 would be a decent upgrade or even a 5850 if you can afford it. Or if you want to stay with Nvidia then the GTX 470 would be my choice.
It really depends on the game and the resolution. I am still happy with my 9800GTX+ but I have an old 1440x900 monitor so I can still play most games with high graphics settings.
Maybe this will help: http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2010-gaming-graphics-charts-high-quality/compare,2130.html?prod%5B4014%5D=on&prod%5B4022%5D=on&prod%5B4010%5D=on

 

[spentshells]

a friend saw great improvment over his 8800GT
but I agree go bigger but I do not feel the 5770 is far enough ahead either

 

[Kazul]

Around $200 is my current budget but I can easily put off a buy for a bit longer. The main game that inspired this upgrade was Metro 2033. The only thing that keeps me from spending $500 on a video card is, yeah sure I can max Metro 2033 but how many other games will really require that much power? I can definitely agree looking at the benchmarks anort3 provided that going up to just a gtx 260 is not enough of an improvement to buy.

 

[mindless728]

^+1, except for the 5770 since it would only be as good as the GTX260 (performance wise) and isn't a huge upgrade, though a 5850 or GTX470 would

 

[shadow187]

You have a quad-crossfire (4x 8x)...get an HD5770 now, buy another in 6 months, another in 6 months, and last but not least, another in 6 months.

 

[shadow187]

In that case, wait until you get ~$300, and then get an HD5850. Much more powerful than a 5770 (though not as powerful as a 5770CF!), and overclockable past an HD5870 (and as powerful as a 5770CF). Then you can quad-crossfire it in the years to come for remarkable performance.

 

[spentshells]

5770 and 260 are about the same.
the 260 is a good card slightly better than the 5770
but you can not add one later like you can with the 5770
mind you a friend upgraded from a 8800gt to a 260GTX
and its night and day for him.

 

[Kazul]

I never really plan to use SLI or Crossfire. Not only because of the few issues with it but simply because it seems by the time its time to get another card I'd rather get one of the newer cards rather than one of the same. Also by going with multiple GPUs I am forced to remain either ATI or Nvidia which I don't enjoy.

 

[jyjjy]

If you don't want to crossfire then the HD5850 is your best choice so save up a bit more. At stock it is a great upgrade(twice as powerful as your 9800GTX+) but it also OCs a huge amount as well.

 

[Kazul]

Looking at everyone's advice I am definitely skipping the 260. I am left trying to decide between the HD5850 or the GTX 470. You seem to be saying that the GTX 470 will outperform the HD5850 but will it outperform it enough to justify the extra $40? Going off the current price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130549
I also prefer Nvidia, I have been with them for a long time. I have used ATI and they did not disappoint but Nvidia has always done good for me. While I am not worried about power consumption I am worried about heat as I live in Florida and it can get pretty hot in my computer room. If the GTX 470 is going to run so hot that I need to buy after market cooling then its price tag goes up.

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, I wouldn't say it's worth the extra money considering the power/heat factor(especially if you may ever decide to use 2 cards at once.) Just get an HD5850 and OC it. You can bump up the voltage for speeds over 1ghz and the card still runs quite cool even so.

 

[Kazul]

Thank you very much for the help guys, and I do like the HD5850. But before we finish this up I have one final issue. I'm looking at the many different HD5850 models there are for sale and am not sure which one to go with, also being unfamiliar with ATI products I'm not sure which manufacturer is the one to go with.
Just a few I've found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102881
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103085
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

 

[Mousemonkey]

While I am not worried about power consumption I am worried about heat as I live in Florida and it can get pretty hot in my computer room. If the GTX 470 is going to run so hot that I need to buy after market cooling then its price tag goes up.

IMHO some people are making a mountain out of a molehill as far as the heat is concerned.

 

[shadow187]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121375&cm_re=5850-_-14-121-375-_-Product

$320, one of the BEST HD5850s on the market. Raise the voltage on that puppy, hit 1000/1200 core/mem and be happy.

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, grab the card shadow linked if you want to OC. If not then just go for the xfx which seems to be the cheapest at the moment.

 

[Kazul]

I will definitely be over clocking it. It also seems like a great GPU for the price so I guess I'll be going with the HD5850 within the next few days. I'll be keeping my eyes open and checking back here every now and then though to see if anyone from the Nvidia side feels they can bring me back. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[shadow187]

The reason that's the best is that it'll beat the HD5870, run cooler, and be on-par with a GTX480. Read this 'ere; http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx5850/

It would be on-par or very sub-par to the GTX480.

 

[rathana_v]

+1 on the 5850...i used to have a evga 9800gtx+ but i got a xfx 5850...(xfx great company)....saw a major improvement...if i remember correctly... i ran heaven benchmark with my 9800gtx+ directx10 i got 23fps...with my new 5850 with same directx10 settings i got 68 fps...good improvement...right now im able to get 850mhz core clock and 1200 memory oc and stable not going over 70 degrees once in game

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey

 

[Mousemonkey]

Best answer selected by mousemonkey.