Best affordable upgrade from a 9600 GT?

[kyzen]

Not playing many cutting edge/system pwning games here like Crysis, but my 9600 GT is hitting its limits with the games that I do play, since I try to play everything at 1920x1200.

I'd like to run WoW and EVE at max (aside from raids/fleet events, which are going to kill any system ), Counterstrike Source, Neverwinter Nights 2, and Battlefield 2142 at relatively decent settings.

What set me off on this was playing Quantum of Solace last week, which isn't a very 'pretty' game, but still required me to knock graphics down to low across the board to remain playable.

So - what card would be worth stepping up to? I can really spend as much as necessary, but I don't see any point in dropping $400+ on a card that I'll probably want to replace in a year anyways; $200 and less would be ideal.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[cusideabelincoln]

HD4870 or GTX260 would be the best options. And good news: They can both be found for less than $200!

If I were buying, I'd probably look at these cards:

The MSI HD4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127400

Sparkle GTX260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814187050

Although you may be able to find better deals.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
HD4870 or GTX260 would be the best options. And good news: They can both be found for less than $200!

:thumbsup:

Just make sure your case can handle long cards (GTX 260 is 10.5" long and sticks out past the motherboard) and your power supply has two PCIe 6-pin plugs.

Hmmm, strange thing about that Sparkle card. There is no warranty information beyond a 30-day return period at Newegg. The MSI card plainly states 3 year warranty.

Now, $179.99 is the cheapest "hard" price (no rebate) of a GTX 260 on Newegg. If you don't want to do rebates but want to make sure that you have a warranty, how about...

BFG GTX 260 Maxcore OC $179.99 hard price

It has a lifetime warranty (with registration), is factory overclocked and does not need a rebate to hit that price. FWIW it is a 216 core 65nm version, not 55nm version. Some feel that the 55nm version is better due to die shrink, while some feel 65nm version is better due to having more PCB layers, the PCB backplate and having the Volterra chip.

There are a few EVGA cards that end up cheaper but only after a mail-in rebate. Note that there are two versions of all those cheap EVGA cards, with the cheaper ones (part number ending in TR) having only a 2 year warranty, so caveat emptor.

DISCLAIMER: I work for BFG, but even if I didn't, I would think $180 for a factory overclocked GTX 260 with lifetime warranty is a hot deal!

 

[Tempered81]

a 512mb 4870 can be had for about 135 AR

 

[cusideabelincoln]

I think the Sparkle has a 1-year warranty. That blows. I assumed it would have at least a 2-year warranty. The only reason I chose it above the BFG was because of the free game. Now that I know this I would recommend the BFG, with its lifetime warranty.

Or maybe you could wait a few days and see if any hot deals pop up.

 

[s44]

Warning: the HD48-- series and NWN2 don't play nice together. You may actually get no improvement from your 9600GT. This may get fixed someday... or not.

Get the GTX260.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: s44
Warning: the HD48-- series and NWN2 don't play nice together. You may actually get no improvement from your 9600GT. This may get fixed someday... or not.

Get the GTX260.

He will get an improvement over 9600 GT! Where did you get that from???

http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/...642863&forum=109&sp=30

This is what this guy had noticed when he upgraded from an 8800 GT to a 4870 512mb.
But, from what I've read, NWN2 works better with gtx 260 C216. I don't know that for a fact, though, as I don't seem to find any benchmarks for this game.

 

[crazylegs]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
a 512mb 4870 can be had for about 135 AR

For a decent upgrade and with 1920x1200 in mind think the OP would benefit more from a HD 4870 1gb or GTX 260 216sp.

Yes its a few more £$£ but he shouldnt need to upgrade again for a while

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
a 512mb 4870 can be had for about 135 AR

yes, for your resolution and what you do I'd stick to around $140 AR. I saw a 4870 512 the other day at zzf for $143 AR shipped, I paid $159 AR shipped for my msi 260 core 216 (55nm btw).

 

[s44]

4870 1gb in NWN2

This is really a no-brainer -- given their relative equality in price and performance elsewhere, the gigantic advantage Nvidia has in one particular game he likes should tip the balance.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: s44
Warning: the HD48-- series and NWN2 don't play nice together. You may actually get no improvement from your 9600GT. This may get fixed someday... or not.

Get the GTX260.

He will get an improvement over 9600 GT! Where did you get that from???

http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/...642863&forum=109&sp=30

This is what this guy had noticed when he upgraded from an 8800 GT to a 4870 512mb.
But, from what I've read, NWN2 works better with gtx 260 C216. I don't know that for a fact, though as I don't seem to find any benchmarks for this game.

Fear; Uncertainty; Doubt.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Fear; Uncertainty; Doubt.

Fan
Boy

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Fear; Uncertainty; Doubt.

Fan
Boy

:roll:

 

[kyzen]

Well, I suppose I'll be keeping an eye out then for a good deal on a GTX 260, and if I don't find anything spectacular within a week, just pick up the cheapest that I can find then.

Thanks a bunch

 

[kyzen]

What about the Radeon 4850 x2? Better or worse than a 260? Does it also have issues with NWN2?

 

[error8]

4850X2 is much faster then gtx 260. Is even faster then gtx 285. Sometimes though, it might not scale, so that leaves you at one 4850 1gb level. I have no idea about the performance level in NWN2, though.

 

[kyzen]

Well, looks like I'll be getting either the GTX 260 216 core, or the 4850 X2... the price on the 260 is nicer, and I'm seeing the 4850 mentioned in tech support forums more frequently than I'd like. But the benchmarks on the 4850 are just awesome

 

[error8]

So you are playing mostly NWN2?

 

[Schmide]

I say this only if you have a dual pci-e 16 board. Get the GTX 260 use the 9600 as a physx processor. Then again none of your titles have physx, so ignore me.

 

[kyzen]

I'd saw NWN2 is my most frequent game right now, playing through the original campaign + both expansions with a group of friends. Once we finish that it'll just be a here and there kind of thing, but it's still a game I'll keep playing as it's the only way I stay in contact with a few friends.

EVE is my largest time sink, but seriously, that'll run on my laptops with integrated Intel video.