My dad called me today and said he is getting black screens (audio continues) and slow performance in BC2 with his GDDR4 3870.
I thought this over - and since I am going to be home for Christmas I decided I'd have him buy a new video card and I'd take a new OCZ ModXStream 500W Pro down with me. Originally I had thought I was going to get the Palit GTX 460 1GB for $140 AMIR from Microcenter. The horrible reviews of that card on NewEgg scared me off. They have a 768 460 GTX EVGA for $130 AMIR.
That got me thinking about finding something more powerful, my dad said he was willing to spend $150, making the rest a gift from me I suppose.
NewEgg had these to offer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-386-_-Product <-- PowerColor 5850 - $170 (overnight shipping and rush ordering it brought it up to $196)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Video%20Cards <-- Sapphire 6850, $170 AMIR and there is an additional $15 discount code. Figuring the difference would be that $15, but I would have to hack the UPC out of Christmas gift and wait for the MIR for it be anything but the same price.
I am also concerned that the latest Catalysts drivers seem to be crap (had to roll back on my 4830 setup just this week after my PC became unstable with the latest drivers...) and that the 5850 as the older card might have more mature driver support.
Given that I would submit the rebate, did I make the right choice in picking the 5850 over the 6850?
Pretty sure either card will be a large upgrade from the 3870...
I thought this over - and since I am going to be home for Christmas I decided I'd have him buy a new video card and I'd take a new OCZ ModXStream 500W Pro down with me. Originally I had thought I was going to get the Palit GTX 460 1GB for $140 AMIR from Microcenter. The horrible reviews of that card on NewEgg scared me off. They have a 768 460 GTX EVGA for $130 AMIR.
That got me thinking about finding something more powerful, my dad said he was willing to spend $150, making the rest a gift from me I suppose.
NewEgg had these to offer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-386-_-Product <-- PowerColor 5850 - $170 (overnight shipping and rush ordering it brought it up to $196)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Video%20Cards <-- Sapphire 6850, $170 AMIR and there is an additional $15 discount code. Figuring the difference would be that $15, but I would have to hack the UPC out of Christmas gift and wait for the MIR for it be anything but the same price.
I am also concerned that the latest Catalysts drivers seem to be crap (had to roll back on my 4830 setup just this week after my PC became unstable with the latest drivers...) and that the 5850 as the older card might have more mature driver support.
Given that I would submit the rebate, did I make the right choice in picking the 5850 over the 6850?
Pretty sure either card will be a large upgrade from the 3870...