March 2010 $750 gaming computer; first time builder

[xhobbesx]

Hello all, I wanted to get the $750 gaming system listed in the 2010 marathon computer building. in fact, i already did. i got all parts and installed them on the computer. the only parts that i am still waiting on are the graphics card.

However, it seems that these cards are no longer being made...anywhere. Ive tried various vendors but no deal. I am looking for a suitable replacement for around the same price. hopefully it will be better quality?

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP

BUDGET RANGE: $200-250

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: everything minus the graphics card

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: whatever is good

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: CROSSFIRE

MONITOR RESOLUTION: whatever works best

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Here is a link to the gaming PC graphics card.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/value-gaming-pc,2578-4.html

Thank you in advance,
Hobin Lee

 

[mrhoshos96]

too bad you didn't get an sli ready mobo i would,ve suggested the gtx 460
i would say save some money and get this 5850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102884&cm_re=5850-_-14-102-884-_-Product

or if u insist on the 4850 this is a great deal http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102834&cm_re=4850-_-14-102-834-_-Product

for $90 after rebate has great coolin and great quality but still the 4850 is an old card and i wouldn't recommend getting.

 

[xhobbesx]

yikes $560 for 2x 5850s? im not really a hardcore gamer.

i dont necessarily need to get the 4850, just something that is compatible with the mobo and is comparable in price with the 4850s which is around $200-240 for 2x. any other suggestions?

thanks in advance.

 

[mosox]

You have a crossfire capable mobo but don't get two cards, get one and add another one later when you'll need it (when the games will be more demanding, as of now you can play anything with those cards below).

You can get a HD 5770

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125327&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-125-327-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-102-873-_-Product

or a HD 5830

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102878&cm_re=hd_5830-_-14-102-878-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121367&cm_re=hd_5830-_-14-121-367-_-Product

 

[xhobbesx]

Thank mosox for the answer. however, i read online (wikipedia) that crossfire only supports graphics cards within their subseries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATI_CrossFire

If that is true, wouldnt any of the above models become obsolete when games eventually become more demanding? thus i would not be able to link two cards together

 

[mrhoshos96]

any 5700 can cf for ex: 5770 can cf with a 5750
and any 5800 and 5900 series can cf together for ex: 5850 can cf with 5870 and a 5850 can cf with a 5970 and a 5870 can cf with a 5970

 

[mosox]

Instead of buying now two weaker and older cards like the 4850, get a good one like a HD 5770 or HD 5830. Then you'll be able either to buy another one and crossfire or sell it and buy a more powerful one. Anyway you can't get two decent cards on your budget.

 

[mrhoshos96]

+1 save some money and get one 5850
i don't recommend the 5830 though

 

[xhobbesx]

Thanks for all the help.

currently i am leaning on two options.

2x 5770s: ($298, with shipping and rebates)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858

1x 5850: total price ($274, with shipping and promo code)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102884

I dont necessarily need to have the best graphics card but i want to have a computer that i would not need to update for a while.

Looking at the graphics card charts:
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2010-gaming-graphics-charts-high-quality/3DMark06-v1.1.0,2255.html
2x 5770 scores 24468 on 3Dmark6 benchmark
1x 5850 scores 22179

i am leaning more towards but the one 5850 but if i just pay little more i can a little better performance (which i may not need).

Any final suggestions? once again, thanks in advance.

 

[mrhoshos96]

i would say go with 1 5850 bec. not all games handle cf that well so in some benchmarks u can find the 5850 faster plus you can cf it in the future

 

[mosox]

^+1, get a HD5850.

 

[xhobbesx]

Best answer selected by xhobbesx.