best possible gpu for 1440x900 res. without bottleneck/overkill?

[renaldtao3]

What's the absolute best GPU I can get get right now to use with a 19" LCD for games like HL2, Bioshock, COD4, Crysis(although I know its in a category of its one) with highest settings and as much AA and AF as possible? Native res. is 1440x900. Thanks.

MOD EDIT: Will move to Video where this would be more appropriate. - Zap

 

[angry hampster]

My GT will play Crysis in DX10 with everything on medium-high settings at 14x9 beautifully. HL2, COD4, and Stalker play without a hiccup with everything maxxed out.

 

[Zap]

8800GT or 8800GTS 512MB (not the 320MB or 640MB) would probably be your best choices, along with the Radeon 3870 for a cheaper alternative.

 

[bryanW1995]

I love my 3870, but it's hard to pass up the evga 8800gt right now for $240.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...04&name=GeForce+8800GT

there is a gigabyte 3870 with a zalman fan for $220, but I think that $20 is too close in price to not buy the 8800gt.

 

[renaldtao3]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
I love my 3870, but it's hard to pass up the evga 8800gt right now for $240.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...04&name=GeForce+8800GT

there is a gigabyte 3870 with a zalman fan for $220, but I think that $20 is too close in price to not buy the 8800gt.

Thanks for the reply, are you basing your recomendation on the 1440x900res. or overall value for price?

 

[renaldtao3]

thanks for the replies every1

 

[bryanW1995]

both. I also have 1440x900 native resolution. I don't play a lot of fps, but I did benchmark the crysis demo extensively with my 3870. I get around 26 fps on all high with no AA in winxp, all clocks listed in my sig. Based on what I've read, I would get well over 30 fps with an 8800gt, probably closer to 35. My oc isn't bad at 860/2602, but I've seen a LOT of people post 20+% oc's on their evga stock cards. With that kind of oc you should be able to get 40 fps on all high as long as you have a nice c2d or better and 2gb ram or better. You could probably even throw in some AA and still get over 30 fps, a result that many gamers of today would kill to get.

I didn't get my card for crysis and I realize that is just one game, it's just that all of the other games that you mentioned will run great on either card at very high quality settings. now, admittedly, ati cards don't do very well in crysis right now, but 8800gt seems to do better with AA than 3870.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: renaldtao3

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
I love my 3870, but it's hard to pass up the evga 8800gt right now for $240.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...04&name=GeForce+8800GT

there is a gigabyte 3870 with a zalman fan for $220, but I think that $20 is too close in price to not buy the 8800gt.

Thanks for the reply, are you basing your recomendation on the 1440x900res. or overall value for price?

re overall value for price, there's about a 15 % difference between 8800gt and 3870 performance at 1440x900. there's about a 10% difference in price between the two cards. I think that the 3870 is priced right for its niche and is probably a "good-enough" card for 1440x900, but for the games that you play I think that you'll see more benefit from the 8800gt.

 

[Blacklash]

HD 3870 @ ClubIT for 209usd is a great deal IMO.

http://www.clubit.com/product_...il.cfm?itemno=A9630955

The 8800GT will out perform it though.