Upgrading Graphics card from 8800 gtx 768mb, 384 bit gddr3

[italstalpf3]

Let's face it the graphics card and all the parts are 5 years old it is time for a little upgrade but over time.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week
BUDGET RANGE: $250-320 Before

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, BF3, Tera Online, Various Steam games at High Settings minimum.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Thermaltake W0106RU 700W Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version SLI Certified 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: MoBo - ASUS M2N32-SLI Premium Vista Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor ADX6000CZBOX

Memory - G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBHK

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com, Amazon
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: Best Graphics card for the buck with good cooling and great performance, whether it be ATI or Nvidia 1.5 gb to 2.5gb
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

Cards I have been looking at -

MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (11200-00-20G)

MSI R7870 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

XFX Double D HD-695X-CDFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

EVGA 025-P3-1579-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) HD 2560MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card




MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050 (same resolution for gaming)

Eventually, I am going to upgrade from my dual core to a quad core or more, my motherboard, and my RAM, but waiting a little longer for new tech to come out and some prices to drop or some sales.

------------------->>>
Future Mobo or equivalent: ASUS Sabertooth 990FX AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Future CPU or equivalent: AMD FX-4170 Zambezi 4.2GHz (4.3GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4170FRGUBOX

Future RAM or equivalent: G.SKILL Sniper Low Voltage Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR2

 

[trapper]

I know waiting sucks, but in less than a month the 660 is supposed to come out. It might be a good buy, or it might just mean lower prices on ATi cards.

If you don't want to wait I'd strongly suggest looking at the 7850 or 7870. Both are great cards and should overclock really nicely. And both would rock 1680x1050. The only reason I'd get the 7870 over the 7850 is if you're thinking of a higher res monitor, and that it should last a bit longer with newer games.

 

[italstalpf3]

Thanks for the reply, maybe ill wait until the card comes out and see what it does to prices etc.

 

[DeadRam]

Your CPU will limit all of those video cards but you should see some improvement. I would start with the PC and get a new Ivy bridge CPU. It has onboard graphics so you can use it while you save money for a new graphics card.

 

[jemm]

For now I´d another GTX 8800 for a SLI config, since your PSU might handle the load. Try to find a cheap second hand GTX 8800 for SLI.

 

[4745454b]

I wouldn't bother with SLI. Only but a bigger load on CPU and PSU and they might not handle it well.

If you for sure will be upgrading the board and CPU then by all means get a GTX560TI or 7850 now. Yes it will be held back by your current setup but once you upgrade again you'll be fine. I personally wouldn't get the FX41xx. Better off with a 2120 for gaming.

 

[italstalpf3]

I wouldn't bother with SLI. Only but a bigger load on CPU and PSU and they might not handle it well.

If you for sure will be upgrading the board and CPU then by all means get a GTX560TI or 7850 now. Yes it will be held back by your current setup but once you upgrade again you'll be fine. I personally wouldn't get the FX41xx. Better off with a 2120 for gaming.

What about upgrading to an Ivy bridge instead of Sandy bridge as DeadRam suggests?

Also what about the 6 core? AMD FX-6200 Zambezi 3.8GHz (4.1GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6200FRGUBOX

 

[wavetrex]

The CPU is too old/slow. You won't see any gains in modern games by upgrading the videocard first... (minimal at best).

Your best bet is a new Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) / 8-16 GB DDR3, and until you get the money for a videocard upgrade you can always lower the texture resolution and shader detail in case you happen to run a graphic heavy game, keeping the experience and fluidity just about the same with lower graphics quality.

However, stuttering and very low minimum FPS due to slow CPU usually can't be fixed by changing settings ( because modern games run complex AI, physics, etc. which for now can ONLY run on the CPU and they are required for the game to function, can't be turned off like graphics settings )

+ we're less than 6 months away from a next generation from AMD, who knows what beauties they will launch ?

 

[italstalpf3]

The CPU is too old/slow. You won't see any gains in modern games by upgrading the videocard first... (minimal at best).

Your best bet is a new Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) / 8-16 GB DDR3, and until you get the money for a videocard upgrade you can always lower the texture resolution and shader detail in case you happen to run a graphic heavy game, keeping the experience and fluidity just about the same with lower graphics quality.

However, stuttering and very low minimum FPS due to slow CPU usually can't be fixed by changing settings ( because modern games run complex AI, physics, etc. which for now can ONLY run on the CPU and they are required for the game to function, can't be turned off like graphics settings )

+ we're less than 6 months away from a next generation from AMD, who knows what beauties they will launch ?

Yea that is true. I guess I may wait to see what the "latest" gen has to offer once it is released. Maybe I will upgrade by Christmas now. At that point I will have some money saved as well.

 

[Preecher]

I switched out my 8800gtx about a year ago with 460gtx 768MB. I have a comparable build to yours (about 5 years old, core 2 duo OC'd to 3.0 GHz). CPU is going to limit you. Get a decent 1GB card and you'll be just fine. I can play max payne 3 on max settings with only a stutter rarely. the 2GB cards are overkill and you wont fully utilize them so waste of money.

 

[italstalpf3]

I switched out my 8800gtx about a year ago with 460gtx 768MB. I have a comparable build to yours (about 5 years old, core 2 duo OC'd to 3.0 GHz). CPU is going to limit you. Get a decent 1GB card and you'll be just fine. I can play max payne 3 on max settings with only a stutter rarely. the 2GB cards are overkill and you wont fully utilize them so waste of money.

Thanks for the update Preecher! Much appreciated.

 

[4745454b]

Upgrading to IB is fine, but a bit above what OP was talking about. If I'm in the right thread he was talking about buying board and new CPU, but a cheap FX4170 or something like that. Grabbing an IB is fine but I can't remember right now if intel has any down at that price point.

 

[italstalpf3]

Upgrading to IB is fine, but a bit above what OP was talking about. If I'm in the right thread he was talking about buying board and new CPU, but a cheap FX4170 or something like that. Grabbing an IB is fine but I can't remember right now if intel has any down at that price point.

Ok I will keep my eye out on deals. Thanks for all your input everyone! Much appreciated!

 

[italstalpf3]

Best answer selected by italstalpf3.