1366x768, sapphire 7850 too much?

[Ankh16]

System Specifications:

I. Processor/CPU: i5-2500k


II. Current Graphics Card: none


III. Display Resolution: 1366x768 (probably wont be upgrading for a couple years)


IV. Power Supply Unit Specification: OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=35456&vpn=OCZ700MXSP&manufacture=OCZ Technology&promoid=1263


V. Case Specifications: not sure what exactly the specifactions are but its a slightly older alien-ware case, looks pretty large should be able to fit everything.


Purchase Details:

I. Budget? $250(canadian) is about the maximum I'm willing to go, I was planning to go with NCIX simply for price matching as it should allow me to get the cheapest price for my build.


II. Any particular preferences: Nope


III. Do you plan to have any Multi-GPU solutions such as Crossfire or SLI? Possibly in the future if necessary


IV. Have you previously looked at a product(s) which you feel would fit your needs? I was originally planning on the 7850 I found a sapphire manufacture OC'd to 975 for only $254 but I'm worried I'll be wasting my money given my resolution.


V. What are your needs for this GPU? Which games(If any)do you intend to play? If you have this information at hand, what are the desired detail levels? Gaming, I plan on playing a variety of games BF3, SW:TOR, SC2, Witcher 2, Diablo 3, CS:GO, Guild Wars 2, and any new games, pretty much a bit of everything preferably at max graphics.


VI. Do you plan on overclocking the card you intend to purchase? Probably not right off the bat as I'm hoping it won't be necessary but as games become more demanding in the years then yes.


Additional Notes

This is my first ever build, I currently have no PC, I'm looking for a card thats going to allow me to hopefully max out (or at least run on high) games at this resolution for at least the next 2-3 years (I understand no one can predict the future).

So I have a few additional questions:

Basically I'm wondering if a 7850 is overkill, am I wasting my money?

Would a 6870 be more appropriate or would the 1gb vRam limit me in the next little while? (i.e. BF3 on high-maxed out on multiplayer) Or maybe a 2gb 550ti or 560?

Would it be more efficient to buy the 7850 and maybe it would last me the next 4 years, or buy something cheaper but have to upgrade in 2?

I may think of a few other questions as answers come in, try to bare with me I just want to make sure I get everything right and that I'm not wasting money. Any other thoughts or ideas that you guys might think of are appreciated.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and any replies that are given.

 

[Ieat]

I would consider it overkill. I would get a 6870 or gtx 460/560 instead and pocket the money for a future upgrade.

 

[blastingcap]

That resolution is literally ~50% of 1080p. A 7850 is overkill unless you prefer to remain glued at 60 frames/second, which some people do.

 

[superxero044]

I would seriously get a better display. If u can save up a little more money. In the states u can get a very decent display for about $150. I would base this build under the assumption that at some point you will be driving 1080

 

[Olikan]

you can buy a 7750 with this resolution

 

[Pia]

The most stressful games (Metro, Crysis, Battlefield etc.) should just barely run at solid 60Hz minimum with that card and resolution, everything maxed. So I wouldn't say the card is a waste, more like it has a very comfortable reserve of power. You'll be able to truly max everything right now, and still play everything at very nice settings several years in the future. Dropping down to high settings or tolerating slightly lower FPS would allow you to upgrade to a 1080p screen.

 

[Arachnotronic]

Get a better display. It's SO worth it if you can afford it.

 

[Don Karnage]

WTF. Spend money on a MONITOR

 

[toyota]

I dont think its silly overkill since he has the cpu to push it. I have a gtx570 which is about equal to a 7850 and there a certainly some games that are way too demanding to crank the settings if I want to maintain anywhere near 60 fps at 1920x1080.

that being said, I would not want to play games on such a tiny monitor. I assume its tiny since the OP said monitor not TV and monitors with that res are only like up to 18.5". a larger monitor makes the gaming experience vastly better IMO.

 

[bigsnyder]

If you have the budget for one, then by all means get the 7850. Nothing wrong with more headroom to crank up eye-candy and higher resolutions when you upgrade that monitor

 

[RavenSEAL]

Well, if you get the 7850, you'll probably be maxing the living **** out of every game at that resolution.

 

[Termie]

OP - I've got a solution for you.

HD6870 for $145AR: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=62756&vpn=HD687AZHFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1263

PLUS

BenQ 20" 900p LCD for $115: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=57497&vpn=GL2030&manufacture=BenQ

OR

LG 21.5" 1080p LCD for $135: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=37492&vpn=W2243T-PF&manufacture=LG Electronics

Now, for $260 you have a great 900p setup, or for $280 you have a great 1080p setup.

Seriously, do not spend $250 on a graphics card if you have a 768p monitor. That's simply a waste of your hard-earned cash. If you're on a budget, use what you have wisely - I'd say the 6870 and the 20" monitor is actually a great use of what you have at $260, although I'd step up to 1080p if you can stretch just a bit more.

If you honestly have no interest in a new monitor, then just buy a 6850 for $130: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=63985&vpn=HD685XZCFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1263. It's a much better value for your resolution than a 7850.

 

[kylebisme]

I'm guessing the OP isn't planning to use a little 768p monitor, but a big 768p TV. In which case, I say go for the 7850, and run games at higher than 768p when you can as they'll look better for it.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

IMO if you choose a higher res then games like Crysis etc won't run maxed out. Even at this rez Crysis 1 and 2 will run just without AA and AF if you want steady 50-60 fps.

 

[toyota]

IMO if you choose a higher res then games like Crysis etc won't run maxed out. Even at this rez Crysis 1 and 2 will run just without AA and AF if you want steady 50-60 fps.

that is really not true for Crysis 2. my card is slower in Crysis 2 than a 7850 so I just fired it up at 1366x768 on DX11 with all Ultra settings and high res textures and averaged about 75 fps or so. turned on vsync and never came off of 60fps except for split second loading a new area. going back to 1920x1080 though was way too sluggish with vsync on and even with it off it dropped into the 30s quite a bit.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Exactly my point. At 1366x768 you were comfortable. But at 1680x1050 you would struggle to sub 50s at various points but at 1366x768 you would probably get 60+ FPS as minimum. Yes you may have some room to spare but that is a good thing, not a bad thing. Metro even my 7970 OC can't max out for example.

So with games of 2012, you will probably be able to max them out some with AA and perhaps some without AA and get steady 60ish FPS

That is exactly why 7850 is the perfect card if your CPU is good and if you have money to spare

 

[toyota]

Exactly my point. At 1366x768 you were comfortable. But at 1680x1050 you would struggle to sub 50s at various points but at 1366x768 you would probably get 60+ FPS as minimum. Yes you may have some room to spare but that is a good thing, not a bad thing. Metro even my 7970 OC can't max out for example.

So with games of 2012, you will probably be able to max them out some with AA and perhaps some without AA and get steady 60ish FPS

That is exactly why 7850 is the perfect card if your CPU is good and if you have money to spare

lol, I know all of that and agree. you said that even at that 1366x768 res he would not get 50-60 in Crysis 2 though when clearly he will get much better.

 

[AtenRa]

At 1366x768 every game will look very nice(especially in a bit TV) with maxout image quality settings. If you have the money get the HD7850 and enjoy maxout DX-11 gaming

 

[aaksheytalwar]

At 1366x768 every game will look very nice(especially in a bit TV) with maxout image quality settings. If you have the money get the HD7850 and enjoy maxout DX-11 gaming

This

 

[amenx]

"1366x768, sapphire 7850 too much?"

No. 1366x768 is too little.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

"1366x768, sapphire 7850 too much?"

No. 1366x768 is too little.

agreed
but what the hell, might as well get the card THEN the monitor

 

[nanaki333]

overkill NOW. with new consoles close to fruition, the 7850 may start struggling this time next year.

 

[Termie]

OP - are you using a TV for output? If so, go ahead with the 7850, as you probably don't have space for a monitor. Otherwise, seriously, get a 1080p monitor instead of dumping all your money into a video card that is totally overkill. A computer is about so much more than games, and everything will be better at 1080p.

 

[JBT]

Agreed if its a tv go for the 7850. if its a monitor upgrade the thing to 1080p and get a 6870.

OP - are you using a TV for output? If so, go ahead with the 7850, as you probably don't have space for a monitor. Otherwise, seriously, get a 1080p monitor instead of dumping all your money into a video card that is totally overkill. A computer is about so much more than games, and everything will be better at 1080p.

 

[PowerYoga]

why would you get a card before you have the monitor? It's like putting the carriage before the horse.