ATI Radeon X1900XT Upgrade?

[atpratt]

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on an upgrade to my current graphics card, ATI Radeon X1900XT. I will probably build a new system later in 2011 so I'm looking for something that's at least going to make the min requirements of some big game releases in the 1st Quarter. What would be the absolute best card I could put in my current system and what would offer the best performance increase for the price. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Current System:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 3 GHZ
Asus P5B
2GB Corsair DDR2
300GB 7200RPM HD
Corsair 620W PSU
Antec P150 Case
ViewSonic VX2025WM Max Resolution 1680 x 1050
Windows XP SP3

 

[Maziar]

Hello and welcome to the forums
For your resolution,a card like ATI HD 5770/GTS 450 can handle games fine

 

[tigrc]

ATI HD 5770 for your resolution and CPU. It will cost around $135.

 

[nforce4max]

I have this card and it is a personal favorite when tweaked right but at the very least that you need is a 3870 to see any meaningful upgrade which is good news seeing how cards like the 5770 are much cheaper than they were a year ago. Power wise a 5770 will save you a small wad of cash on the electric bills, for me I saved $10-15 a month after the upgrade due to heavy use.

ATI 5770........ Old news
Nvidia GTS450 Underwhelming

5850.... If you can get one at a decent price or a 6850 if they are in stock
GTX 460 1GB will blow you away on the cheap and has very low idle power draw.

 

[jaguarskx]

I upgraded from the X1900XT to the HD 5850 back in Sep/Oct 2009. My resolution is 1920 x 1200.

For you, I would consider the following HD 5770 for $100 after a $30 MIR. That's less than any HD 5750 at Newegg.com.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161338

 

[atpratt]

Thanks for the recommendations everybody. I have a few Amazon gift cards to use and was looking at this card? Is it good to go?

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Rade...TF8&coliid=I2CCEGOTCYMX2S&colid=2Y091BYT3BXXZ

 

[jaguarskx]

Sure.

Sapphire is actually a sub-division of PC Partners which is one of a few OEMs that manufactures video cards for all other brand names.

 

[nforce4max]

Just be sure to keep that card cool (not just the core) and keep it clean meaning not major build up of dust.

PS keep your old card as a spare never know you might need it.

 

[atpratt]

Would a HD 6850 or GTX 460 be a substantial improvement over the HD 5770 or would the other components in my system limit any performance gains? Also, would either card be better for UE 3.0/3.5 games?

 

[nforce4max]

Would a HD 6850 or GTX 460 be a substantial improvement over the HD 5770 or would the other components in my system limit any performance gains? Also, would either card be better for UE 3.0/3.5 games?

Just go for it as both the GTX 460 and 6850 blow away a single 5770 and don't cost that much more.

 

[Maziar]

460/6850 are significantly faster than 5770 but for a resolutions like 1680x1050,5770 suffices.So if you are going to get either 460 or 6850,upgrade your monitor too.