Graphics Card vs. Monitor

[jkremis]

Here is what I have:

Card: Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4850
and
Disp: Some Gateway 17", 1440x900, 5ms, VGA/DVI ports (always used VGA, but plan on getting DVI cord regardless of the choice I make).


Here are my options (I can only choose one of them):

Card: XFX AMD Radeon HD 6870 for (used) $100
or
Disp: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+21.5%26%2334%3B+Widescreen+Flat-Panel+LED+HD+Monitor+-+Black+High+Glossy/Blue+Deco/4835379.p?id=1218540192800&skuId=4835379 for 10% off of that listed price.


Thoughts?

My plan under normal circumstances would be to jump all over that incredible deal on the card, then flip my old one to be able to get the monitor as well. However, the monitor will be going back to its original price on Saturday, and I'm nowhere near confident to gamble with flipping it in one day, lol.

What will give me a larger upgrade viewing experience (Netflix type services and MMOs mostly)?

 

[jaguarskx]

The Radeon HD 6870 will give you higher frame rates with your current monitor because it is a higher performing card.

Buying the 1920x1080 resolution will cause your frame rates to drop because your video card will be pushing more pixels. The higher the resolution, the lower the performance with the same video card.

Click below for some HD 4850 benchmarks. The closest resolution to 1440x900 is 1280x1024. The test rig uses an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.6 GHz.

1440x900 = 1,296,000 pixels
1280x1024 = 1,310,720 pixels

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/HD_4850/6.html

Watching movies on the 21.5" monitor will be better because the monitor is a little larger. Also, if you are watching HD video, then it will look better on the 2.15" because of the higher resolution. HD videos can be played on your current monitor without any issues but because the resolution is lower than HD, the video must be shrunk down a little bit. It should still be fine and you should not notice much difference unless you compare it side-by-side with a 1920x1080 resolution monitor (which would look a little sharper).

 

[jaguarskx]

Of course with the 1920x1080 monitor you can still play games at 1440x900 by selecting that resolution in the game.

 

[GI_JONES]

That isnt really that great of a deal on the monitor. Newegg has 6 or 7 for $130 right now, not even on sale. They usually have a few monitors on sale each day if you check the latest email specials. I have seeen them as low as $119 for that size

 

[jkremis]

That isnt really that great of a deal on the monitor. Newegg has 6 or 7 for $130 right now, not even on sale. They usually have a few monitors on sale each day if you check the latest email specials. I have seeen them as low as $119 for that size

Yes, i know that. But, generally, they aren't what i'm looking for, or are a cheap-o brand to begin with. I know I have a personal Promo Code for 10% off select LG monitors, but most included don;t even have DVI. I thought $135 was actually a really good price for that monitor, especially with it being an LED backlit Samsung (which I believe it actually calls it a full LED monitor online, but I saw it in-store, and I'm pretty sure it's LCD/LED backlight).

Jaguar, I didn't skip over your stuff completely, but I need to digest that post more! Thank you, sir!

 

[jkremis]

The Radeon HD 6870 will give you higher frame rates with your current monitor because it is a higher performing card.

Buying the 1920x1080 resolution will cause your frame rates to drop because your video card will be pushing more pixels. The higher the resolution, the lower the performance with the same video card.

Theoretically, say I get both. Wouldn't that still hold true in the new card's case? Are smaller screens generally better overall for gaming for this reason? I feel like you're telling me the display is a worse investment either way.

Those framerate drops are absolutely insane in the link you posted btw! I know it would be slightly less extreme from my 1440x900 to the new one, but still... Interesting.

 

[randomkid]

Here is what I have:

Card: Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4850
and
Disp: Some Gateway 17", 1440x900, 5ms, VGA/DVI ports (always used VGA, but plan on getting DVI cord regardless of the choice I make).


Here are my options (I can only choose one of them):

Card: XFX AMD Radeon HD 6870 for (used) $100
or
Disp: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+21.5%26%2334%3B+Widescreen+Flat-Panel+LED+HD+Monitor+-+Black+High+Glossy/Blue+Deco/4835379.p?id=1218540192800&skuId=4835379 for 10% off of that listed price.


Thoughts?

My plan under normal circumstances would be to jump all over that incredible deal on the card, then flip my old one to be able to get the monitor as well. However, the monitor will be going back to its original price on Saturday, and I'm nowhere near confident to gamble with flipping it in one day, lol.

What will give me a larger upgrade viewing experience (Netflix type services and MMOs mostly)?

Getting the 6870 does not add any value except increase the fps which you probably do not need anyway as the 4850 should drive the 1440x900 to decent frame rates.

But getting the monitor will (a) give you a bigger viewing screen for working or gaming or watching movies & (b) give you a 2nd monitor to look at. Both increase productivity & entertainment value of your rig.

So get the monitor & keep the 4850 until it dies.

 

[goodguy713]

ehh... get the 6870 and play all your games with max detail.. baring a few titles .. at that resolution you can turn on all the eye candy .. take it from some one who has 2 of them in crossfire.. lol i liked the first so much that i wanted to get a second one.. its worth the money and the effort

 

[jkremis]

Well I got the price on the graphics card knocked down to $80. I absolutely cannot pass this up. That's like 60% off of Newegg's price. As long as I see that it works, I'm going for the Card, and I will worry about a display later. Maybe if I sell my RAM and old CPU I'll put it towards the monitor.

Thank you all for your input though! I really appreciate it

And this is the exact card by the way:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-XFX-_-14150561