Which is the better buy?!?

[stryder092]

I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a video card upgrade but here is my current system specs:

Intel Duo Core 2 3.0 Ghz
4gb pc6400 ddr2
gigabyte g31m-es2l
750 watt psu (not top brand, kinda gimp, but works well)
radeon hd 4850 512mb gddr3 (needs to be replaced, having issues)


So the thing is my hd 4850 just crashed out, it had issues with heat and stability, anyway... I don't want to spend an arm and a leg but I want a real good decent card with a nice cooler and warranty. Now that being said I will be playing my games at the resolution of 1280x1024, which isn't that high. Here are some of the cards I was looking at for a nice upgrade (I don't really want spend more then $250, thanks guys!)


BFG Geforce GTX 260 MAXCORE 55 216sp OCX:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4683600&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE


XFX Radeon HD 4890

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5210080&CatId=3669


ASUS Geforce GTX 275

http://www.thebestdealscheap.com/asus-geforce-gtx275-pcie-p-15977.html


XFX Radeon hd 5830

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Radeon-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-HD583XZNFV/dp/B003BKTS40



EVGA Geforce GTX 465 (Fermi)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130555&cm_re=Geforce_GTX_465-_-14-130-555-_-Product


I can pretty much pay for any of these cards and I actually like NVIDIA more then ATI at the moment because of some Radeon issues I have had in the past. The GTX 465 looks real nice.

 

[stryder092]

ehhh nah dude I don't like the 5700 series of video cards... friend has a 5750 it sux it's actually worse performing then the 4850 and the 5770 is not a whole lot better.

I'd rather get real nice performance so I don't have to worry about it in the future as much, I don't care about dx11, not my worry I will be playing mostly starcraft 2 and maybe some mmorpgs.

Check out this BFG GTX 275 OC with lifetime warranty for 255$ on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/BFG-BFGEGTX275896OCE-GeForce-Express-Graphics/dp/B00243FMWW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1276046696&sr=1-1

 

[stryder092]

Nah I don't need a 5850 lol it's too much I need around 250$ card maximum. I was thinking like an HD 4890, GTX 275 or something. I actually prefer Nvidia, so what's good?

Again, I really don't care about DX11 that flushed the 5700s down the toiled.

Rather get a horrid gtx 465, if it was 100$ less then the 5700s, lol

 

[stryder092]

Find me where I can get a GTX 275 for >200 and I'd buy it lol the 4890 is not that power hungry as you might think and is 199$, I'd actually rather get an NVIDIA card to be honest! So which NVIDIA card should I get then between the lower end GTX 260 216sp Maxcore, gtx 276, gtx 465, gtx 470, I just don't know. I mean I have a decent 750w psu and 2 6 pin pci-e connectors, power shouldn't be an issue for these cards for me.

 

[stryder092]

GTX 460 coming out in July huh? hm well I want an NVIDIA card, Maybe like the best gtx 260 216sp maxcore for now, it should do me and my system fine I think.

 

[redechelon]

Find me where I can get a GTX 275 for >200 and I'd buy it lol the 4890 is not that power hungry as you might think and is 199$, I'd actually rather get an NVIDIA card to be honest! So which NVIDIA card should I get then between the lower end GTX 260 216sp Maxcore, gtx 276, gtx 465, gtx 470, I just don't know. I mean I have a decent 750w psu and 2 6 pin pci-e connectors, power shouldn't be an issue for these cards for me.

Timop has been giving really good advice here. I just wanted to point out that both ATI and nVidia have great offerings, depending on your needs... you shouldn't rule one or the other out just because you've witnessed a card perform poorly once before. Look at benchmarks, temps, power consumption, and you will see that both have their benefits. Choose the card best for your current setup, not by brand.

 

[stryder092]

yeah well brand only matters because of the warranty, but yeah he suggests getting a gtx 260 for now and then step-up program if I get an EVGA card or something to the gtx460 at that time? hm?

 

[stryder092]

maybe step up to the GTX 470 then idk?!?

 

[stryder092]

well I'm saying get the GTX 260 216sp OCX version now which will work real nice on my existing computer configuration, don't you think? the hd radeon 4850 played real nice on here for awhile and I know the GTX maxcore 55nm 216sp is real nice.

 

[stryder092]

I want a nice upgrade man I don't know what to do it's hard at the moment, at my resolution the radeon hd 4850 I have still worked veryyy well, played Prototype beautifully, but it just ran too hot and was unstable, I want NVIDIA. I want a really good GTX 260 or 275 then I guess..

 

[stryder092]

I had a bad ati 9200 , a worse ATI 9800XT, a bad radeon HD4850 and im done with ATI for now.

 

[stryder092]

hm maybe I should take this dude up on his offer he offered me a brand new factory sealed Gigabyte HD 5870 for 290$, no warranty though..

yes it is a little overkill for my system, and yes no warranty!! ugh that sux, but it's an amazing card it beats the GTX 470 on nearly all tests even though it is a freakin ATI!

I know it is an ATi, but it seams like there's like no logical choice from NVIDIA right now the GTX 465 sux orangutang balls with price/performance ratio.

 

[stryder092]

But without any kind of warranty ugh, I don't know if I should even with that discount!!!

Man and it is an ATI card....

And I do need to somewhat save some money up!!!

something is just telling me to get a real nice factory overclocked and a good brand (warranty) GTX 260 216sp 55nm version. That would blow away my old HD4850 wouldn't it enough at 1280x1024 to play those games I said?

 

[redechelon]

Personally, I don't think I'd upgrade my card with something that will get me a ~20% boost.. 4850 to GTX 260. Unless you can't stand the current state of your PC... dunno what your stability issues are.

If I were in your position, I'd save up $750 or so, keep transferable components like HDD's, DVD-ROM's, the PSU, and spend it on a new balanced system in the near future.

I'd also probs take the risk of buying that 5870, but like you said... overkill for your system. =/

Good luck man

 

[redechelon]

Well I don't want to push ya into something, and then later find out the card is damaged or whatever... But if you decided the risk is worth it for the 5870, it would fit reeaaaal nicely into your future setup =].

 

[stryder092]

Personally, I don't think I'd upgrade my card with something that will get me a ~20% boost.. 4850 to GTX 260.

If I were in your position, I'd save up $750 or so, keep transferable components like HDD's, DVD-ROM's, the PSU, and spend it on a new balanced system in the near future.

I'd also probs take the risk of buying that 5870, but like you said... overkill for your system. =/

Good luck man

Well dude that is the overall plan, but not for right now though, I do plan on upgrading my cpu/motherboard and ram soon, but not for a few months probably.

For now, however, I need a new video card, an investment, maybe I should just take the plunge for the real nice Gigabyte HD 5870 for 290$ with free shipping it's a real good deal, but just no warranty!

 

[stryder092]

yeahhh I know!!! it's a really nice card