$10 XFX GeForce 6800 GS vs $170 HD 6850?

[RichterFry]

My friend has an old scrap computer, and he's got an XFX GeForce 6800 GS and he said he'd sell it to me for $10. This is my current set up:

CPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

RAM: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220597

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

PSU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339036

HDD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148764

Case: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133094

And this is the gfx card I'm looking into getting:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150512

If I do end up going with the one my friend has, that will allow me about $150 to upgrade anything else on that current build.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

 

[amirp]

I'm commenting only about the gefore 6800 gs that your friend has, it is a very very old graphic card and you wouldnt be able to play modern games with it. The 6850 is many magnitudes more powerful.

This is all if you're a gamer, which I think you are since you're looking at a $150 video card

 

[RichterFry]

I'm commenting only about the gefore 6800 gs that your friend has, it is a very very old graphic card and you wouldnt be able to play modern games with it. The 6850 is many magnitudes more powerful.

This is all if you're a gamer, which I think you are since you're looking at a $150 video card

Yep, I'm a gamer... Nothing hardcore yet, but perhaps when I get this build I'll move onto something more graphically demanding. As of right now, I just play a little SC2 and I'm probably going to try LoL (my friend says it's good).

Oh, would it be worth picking up the card for $10 anyway, just to have?

 

[amirp]

the only thing you could use it for is if lets say your current graphic card dies and you have to RMA it (hopefully it doesn't happen!) you can use your friends $10 card to just boot your system since your motherboard doesn't have on-board video.

Also I am sure you can do better than some of those parts, like the HDD, ram, and the PSU I am not sure those are good choices,
here, fill out one of these: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice and ask in the build forum and somebody will give you a better build.

Do you live in toronto by any random chance?

 

[RichterFry]

the only thing you could use it for is if lets say your current graphic card dies and you have to RMA it (hopefully it doesn't happen!) you can use your friends $10 card to just boot your system since your motherboard doesn't have on-board video.

Also I am sure you can do better than some of those parts, like the HDD, ram, and the PSU I am not sure those are good choices,
here, fill out one of these: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice and ask in the build forum and somebody will give you a better build.

Do you live in toronto by any random chance?

Nope, Halifax.

My budget is $750 after taxes and shipping, and with that set up, I'll be at exactly $749.81 with a DVD burner. I've done a lot of asking when it comes to those components.

 

[larkspur]

I am not sure about your friend's 6800GS but some versions of graphics cards in that era used a different interface called AGP that is not compatible with current motherboards.

The bottom line: Don't get the old card. That 6850 isn't bad and it crossfires well. Spending a bit more for a 6870 or a 560 might be worth it. Then get bulldozer when it comes out and consider adding another card for an SLI/Xfire setup.

Edit: Your mobo only has (x16, x4), if you plan to someday xFire/SLI get a mobo with (x16, x8) or at least (x8, x8). If you won't be SLI/Xfiring consider raising your budget to get a 6950 or better. You'll be happier in the long run I think.

 

[RichterFry]

I am not sure about your friend's 6800GS but some versions of graphics cards in that era used a different interface called AGP that is not compatible with current motherboards.

The bottom line: Don't get the old card. That 6850 isn't bad and it crossfires well. Spending a bit more for a 6870 or a 560 might be worth it. Then get bulldozer when it comes out and consider adding another card for an SLI/Xfire setup.

I'd be willing to get the better card(s) if I could lower the price on some of the items I already have chosen. I don't want to spend a penny more than $750. I have 19 cents breathing room.

 

[RichterFry]

Damn it, I'd get this if it were on sale for that price after today, as I'm literally activating my credit card tomorrow

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500206&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-14-500-206-_-Product

 

[larkspur]

I'd be willing to get the better card(s) if I could lower the price on some of the items I already have chosen. I don't want to spend a penny more than $750. I have 19 cents breathing room.

Do you plan to upgrade the system by adding an identical graphics card into SLI/Xfire later on? If you want to SLI/Xfire, your mobo only has (x16, x4) and I don't think that will work well (or at all?). You would want to get a mobo with (x16, x8) or at least (x8, x8).

But if you're set on your price and/or don't care about SLI/Xfire then just go for the one you picked, its good enough to game on a budget, you can always put something newer, faster, better in the future.

 

[RichterFry]

Do you plan to upgrade the system by adding an identical graphics card into SLI/Xfire later on? If you want to SLI/Xfire, your mobo only has (x16, x4) and I don't think that will work well (or at all?). You would want to get a mobo with (x16, x8) or at least (x8, x8).

But if you're set on your price and/or don't care about SLI/Xfire then just go for the one you picked, its good enough to game on a budget, you can always put something newer, faster, better in the future.

I have no idea what you're talking about when you say (16x, 4x). I don't really understand motherboards. But, in all fairness, if I do ever decide to Crossfire/SLI, I don't see why I couldn't buy a different motherboard, maybe sell the one I have there.

Having said that, if there's a chance to get a better card on shell shocker or just on sale at newegg, I'll probably grab it within the next few weeks. I figure I can hold off for a bit in ordering the parts in case a sale of a few of the items I want happen, or in case something better goes on sale for the same price or cheaper.

 

[larkspur]

Damn it, I'd get this if it were on sale for that price after today, as I'm literally activating my credit card tomorrow

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500206&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-14-500-206-_-Product

If you really want to stretch your money and get tremendous value check out used radeon 5870s. They are around your price range and will blow away a 6850, 6870 and the 560 for sure. They perform similarly to 6950s despite the silly naming convention. They have dx11 and eyefinity. I would NOT recommend crossfiring them, they scale poorly compared to the entire 6000 line.

 

[RichterFry]

If you really want to stretch your money and get tremendous value check out used radeon 5870s. They are around your price range and will blow away a 6850, 6870 and the 560 for sure. They perform similarly to 6950s despite the silly naming convention. They have dx11 and eyefinity. I would NOT recommend crossfiring them, they scale poorly compared to the entire 6000 line.

Really? That's interesting. I thought that the 58XX was the same as the 68XX except they're older and therefore not as good. I'll look into that. Thanks!

 

[larkspur]

Really? That's interesting. I thought that the 58XX was the same as the 68XX except they're older and therefore not as good. I'll look into that. Thanks!

Yep, you've fallen victim to the AMD/NVIDIA make-our-naming-as-confusing-as-possible-so-people-always-buy-the-new-stuff scheme

Here's the solution to all your problems: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-performance-radeon-geforce,2997-7.html

Tom's publishes that every month, it has helped sort out the confusion.

 

[RichterFry]

Yep, you've fallen victim to the AMD/NVIDIA make-our-naming-as-confusing-as-possible-so-people-always-buy-the-new-stuff scheme

Here's the solution to all your problems: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-performance-radeon-geforce,2997-7.html

Tom's publishes that every month, it has helped sort out the confusion.

Damn, that's great! Thanks a lot, this should be quite useful!

 

[RichterFry]

Best answer selected by RichterFry.

 

[amirp]

bro i'd choose a different HDD, the one you picked is 5900 RPM eco friendly drive... so itll be slow.

also the power supply you picked is not a well known brand at all, I would change this part to something else, like an antec, corsair, seasonic, or xfx.

lastly you can switch your cpu to the PhenomII 955 instead of the 965 to save $15 to spend on the graphic card since you are on a strict budget. The 955 is only 200mhz slower than the 965 which is nothing and still a black edition so you could overclock it very easily to reach 965 and beyond levels.


Also.. it's really not a bad idea to go with my first post, and fill that form out and ask in the homebuilt forums. People here are experts on this stuff, they will build you a pc at exactly $750 with the best possible components.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey