Dead graphic card, what now?

[hizagui]

hi, my graphics card just died, and now I'm stuck with two options: get something as a replacement and later get a whole new system OR get something along the lines of a 6870 http://www.hisdigital.com/gb/product2-594.shtml ( and probably buy a cooler and overclock my cpu)

my current system is:

motherboard: assus p5kc
cpu: Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
ram: 4gb ddr3 1333 currently at 1066 due to cpu's fsb

 

[fuggles]

sure. get a 6870

or if your budget affords wait until radeon release the new cards on january the 9th

 

[geofelt]

I am not much in favor of interim purchases.

Since you need a graphics card now, go ahead and get the best graphics card you feel comfortable paying for. Plan on using it on your next build. If it is significantly stronger than the card that died, you may still get an upgrade in performance today.

 

[hizagui]

ok buying something better was what i was thinking, the 6870 costs 160€ ( I'm from portugal) and that is probably what I'm comfortable spending now, that... or less , is there anything you recommend? and also i have a laptop so i can hold out till january 9th it'll probably be worth the wait price wise right?

 

[geofelt]

I would not hold out much hope for any magic on January 9. The 7970 and 7950 will be very high end cards and appropriately priced. If you are looking for a bargain, you might test the used market if you can trust the seller.
There should be some who are selling their current high end cards in anticipation of the new.

See if you can't find a card that is several tiers stronger than the card it replaces. Anything less, and you may be disappointed.

One thing to watch out for is how much power a high end card will consume.

Here is what EVGA recommends for their graphics cards:

GTX550ti needs 400w with 24a on the 12v rails plus one 6-pin PCI-E power lead.

GTX560 needs 450w with 24a on the 12v rails plus two 6-pin PCI-E power leads.

GTX560Ti needs 500w with 30a on the 12v rails plus two 6-pin PCI-E power leads.

GTX570 needs 550w with 38a on the 12v rails plus two 6-pin PCI-E power leads.

GTX580 needs 600w with 42a on the 12v rails plus one 6-pin and one 8-pin PCI-E power lead.

GTX590 needs 700w with 50a on the 12v rails plus two 8-pin PCI-E power leads or 4 6-pin power leads.