8800 GT died... need a new card for around $100

[coffeejunkee]

Did you fry the 8800gt with a bit too much BC2, by the way?

Is there a specific relation? Or could it have been Crysis as well?

Asking this because I have experienced this myself. Fortunately I didn't fry mine with a bit too much oven. Although it crapped out pretty soon again, which might have been caused by repeated bfbc2 torture.

 

[Termie]

Is there a specific relation? Or could it have been Crysis as well?

Asking this because I have experienced this myself. Fortunately I didn't fry mine with a bit too much oven. Although it crapped out pretty soon again, which might have been caused by repeated bfbc2 torture.

I was really just kidding around, although I've certainly heard of BC2 frying video cards. I started out playing it on an 8800gt, but quickly invested in a new card, mostly because it was a bit too much for my 8800gt to handle.

Maybe it's just that BC2 is a game that you either hate...or play for countless hours regardless of the torture your system and your psyche are enduring...

 

[minmaster]

no, it fried when i tried to run cryostatis, a free game i downloaded. i didn't even get to play it, it just froze my PC during video setup and my video card was done for afterwards... stupid free games...

yea as much as i want the 5770 and the dx11 for the future, it seems like the 4870 is the better bet here as it beats the 5770 at everything. i remember i thought about getting the 4870 when i was getting the 8800 a while back, it seems like the price didn't drop much during all this time though!

 

[Acanthus]

no, it fried when i tried to run cryostatis, a free game i downloaded. i didn't even get to play it, it just froze my PC during video setup and my video card was done for afterwards... stupid free games...

yea as much as i want the 5770 and the dx11 for the future, it seems like the 4870 is the better bet here as it beats the 5770 at everything. i remember i thought about getting the 4870 when i was getting the 8800 a while back, it seems like the price didn't drop much during all this time though!

Just to be clear, the game did not cause the failure... It is impossible for a properly cooled piece of hardware to die from a piece of software overtaxing it.

The only case i can recall where the rule doesnt hold up is the nvidia drivers that killed graphics cards with 3d screensavers because the fans didnt throttle up properly. Even that falls under insufficient cooling though.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Don't forget the sc2 menu screen! :awe:

Ok, well afaik the problems lies in bad soldering, which lets loose after being exposed to rapid temperature changes (like the ones gpu's generally experience, and which is also the reason the baking trick works, it's like resoldering)

Since it happened to me when playing bc2 (twice) I thought this game might bring forth the problem sooner.

Personally I'd advise the 5750 btw, works decently enough for me at 1680x1050, but most importantly stays very cool which means less noise which I prefer to more fps (and powersavings are nice as well).

 

[minmaster]

Just to be clear, the game did not cause the failure... It is impossible for a properly cooled piece of hardware to die from a piece of software overtaxing it.

The only case i can recall where the rule doesnt hold up is the nvidia drivers that killed graphics cards with 3d screensavers because the fans didnt throttle up properly. Even that falls under insufficient cooling though.

yea that was quite odd because i hadn't played a 3D game that day. well i played some civ4 earlier, then i left for a few hours and came back. none of my PC parts were high temp, then i fire up the game, watch the logo movies and got into video options to adjust my resolution. that's when it crashed. upon research, it's common that the game crashes during adjusting video settings, but nobody else seems to have had their card damaged like me though. my card was likely under 60 degrees, more like high 50's as i have my fan set to run 50 percent, even at idle.

 

[alfa147x]

I just got a 9800 GTX+ 1GB for $85

 

[Termie]

yea as much as i want the 5770 and the dx11 for the future, it seems like the 4870 is the better bet here as it beats the 5770 at everything. i remember i thought about getting the 4870 when i was getting the 8800 a while back, it seems like the price didn't drop much during all this time though!

Well, you were probably shopping during the golden age of video cards, when you could get a 4890 for under $150 and the 4870x2 for $300. As for me, I got my old 8800gt for a whopping $300 in Oct. 2007...amazingly, it was an ok deal then, but in retrospect it was crazy expensive.

$100 for a 4870 is actually quite a deal, and definitely the cheapest it's ever been...the prior low was about $125, IIRC.

 

[RussianSensation]

I just got a 9800 GTX+ 1GB for $85

Why when a 4870 1GB is 50% faster for $15 more? (9800GTX+ = GTS250)

http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/...470/18/#abschnitt_performancerating_qualitaet

 

[minmaster]

i found a used 4870 1GB for $90 locally. he doesn't have receipt and i'm scared i can't get any warranty coverage since the last few cards i've owned all broke down... what do you guys think? take the chance? what if it dies in a short period of time?

 

[Termie]

i found a used 4870 1GB for $90 locally. he doesn't have receipt and i'm scared i can't get any warranty coverage since the last few cards i've owned all broke down... what do you guys think? take the chance? what if it dies in a short period of time?

Unless you really can't wait for a card to arrive by mail, can't shell out the $125 for the 4870 and wait for the $25 rebate, or can't buy from Newegg, I wouldn't bother with a used card for $10 less that the Asus 4870 from Newegg. Sounds like you've had some bad luck and a warranty would be worth having.

Here's the link again (assuming it isn't broken by detonator): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121376

 

[minmaster]

yea i saw that earlier. that card was 90$ AR at one point during a sale last month. i'd have to also pay taxes but that seems like the better bet since it'll have warranty.

maybe i'll wait a few days to see if anything else goes on sale. i'm not in any rush to play any 3D games for the time being.

 

[alfa147x]

Why when a 4870 1GB is 50% faster for $15 more? (9800GTX+ = GTS250)

http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/...470/18/#abschnitt_performancerating_qualitaet

A couple of reasons:
1) You link to an article that is using a 9800 GT 512MB ... I reread your post skip this
2) I dislike ATI's utilities
3) Hackintosh compatibility
4) $15 on a $85 card is a ~18% increase in price
5) The 4870 1GB is selling for $100 - $150 which is a ~41% increase in price (Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5 )

 

[minmaster]

btw, are any of the cards due for a price drop anytime soon? i don't really mind waiting a month or so since there isn't really a game i'm dying to play right now. i can get by on this onboard graphics for non-gaming stuff.

 

[bryanW1995]

On second thought, why don't you put a 9500gt DDR2 in there: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121339. (gosh, that's an awful price, BTW.)

It might give me a shot at climbing the BC2 leaderboard: http://bfbcs.com/stats_lb/1006413.

In all seriousness, if you can afford it, you might take this opportunity to double your performance by buying a GTX460, as Gully suggested. It stinks that your 8800gt gave up the ghost, but consider it an opportunity to get a serious upgrade.

Edit: As an aside, Minmaster has 383 hours logged on BC2 since March. That works out to about 2.5 hours a day, on average. Sounds like cruel and unusual punishment of your 8800gt to me...

how much of an upgrade is gtx 460 1gb over a gtx 260 or 4870 1gb, esp at that resolution? 25% maybe? I'd take the new 4870 for $100.

 

[evolucion8]

A couple of reasons:
1) You link to an article that is using a 9800 GT 512MB ... I reread your post skip this
2) I dislike ATI's utilities
3) Hackintosh compatibility
4) $15 on a $85 card is a ~18% increase in price
5) The 4870 1GB is selling for $100 - $150 which is a ~41% increase in price (Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5 )

Regardless, the HD 4870 1GB is the much faster card, specially in newer, more intensive shader games.

 

[alfa147x]

Regardless, the HD 4870 1GB is the much faster card, specially in newer, more intensive shader games.

IT'S IN A DIFFERENT PRICE BRACKET



Holy shit...

 

[Dark Shroud]

btw, are any of the cards due for a price drop anytime soon? i don't really mind waiting a month or so since there isn't really a game i'm dying to play right now. i can get by on this onboard graphics for non-gaming stuff.

The current big rumor is that ATI's 6000 series cards should at least be announced if not launched in November.

On top of that new FERMI cards could show up soon. Either way the ATI cards are slowly coming down in price. I'm talking glacial speed here but the higher end 5770 models have come down to the $150- price point. If anything save up for another month if nothing happens you can get yourself an HD 5770 with DX11.

 

[evolucion8]

IT'S IN A DIFFERENT PRICE BRACKET



Holy shit...

Wow for real? An HD 4870 1GB brand new in Newegg for $100 after MIR is in the same price bracket as the HD 5750, GTS 250 and HD 4850. I guess that you are the type of people that buys GeForce FX with 1GB of VRAM because of the price "bracket"

 

[Termie]

The current big rumor is that ATI's 6000 series cards should at least be announced if not launched in November.

On top of that new FERMI cards could show up soon. Either way the ATI cards are slowly coming down in price. I'm talking glacial speed here but the higher end 5770 models have come down to the $150- price point. If anything save up for another month if nothing happens you can get yourself an HD 5770 with DX11.

My guess is that even when the next generation comes out, you won't be able to get a card with the power of the HD4870 for $100. The 5770 will probably come down a bit, but even if it drops to $100, which is unlikely, it's actually not as powerful at the 4870. The only reason to skip the 4870 is if you don't like its power/heat characteristics. DX11 vs. DX10.1 isn't too critical in this class of cards. Heck, DX11 effects put the hurt on my 5850.

 

[alfa147x]

Wow for real? An HD 4870 1GB brand new in Newegg for $100 after MIR is in the same price bracket as the HD 5750, GTS 250 and HD 4850. I guess that you are the type of people that buys GeForce FX with 1GB of VRAM because of the price "bracket"

$85 is less than $100 AR

 

[Termie]

Just came across another great deal on an HD4870. Newegg has the XFX HD4870 for $100 FS/AR/coupon: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150436. Use coupon code EMCYTZT105 for $20 off.

The advantage this one has over the Asus I linked before is it's only $120 out of pocket instead of $130, and it has a lifetime warranty.

 

[badboyeee]

also the rumor is the ATI 6000 series is coming out in november

 

[minmaster]

i was very close to buying a 4870 but i've experienced how cool my room can get without a hot video card and have no desire to go back. after reading reviews that 4870 idles at 65 and at load goes 90-95, i am not sure i will get it. maybe i'll just wait for 5770 to reach 100 and get it. seems like a much cooler card.

 

[Termie]

i was very close to buying a 4870 but i've experienced how cool my room can get without a hot video card and have no desire to go back. after reading reviews that 4870 idles at 65 and at load goes 90-95, i am not sure i will get it. maybe i'll just wait for 5770 to reach 100 and get it. seems like a much cooler card.

Fair enough. Anyway, it seems like you must have built-in graphics, since you're still using your computer.

If you really like it cool, and still want to be able to play a game once in a while, Newegg has the EVGA superclocked GT240 DDR5 on sale for $39AR this weekend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130531

To have almost the performance of your old 8800gt and essentially no heat output for $39 is a pretty good deal.