Building new system, need advice on graphics card

[horrido]

Its time to upgrade my old system. My goal is a system that will last about 2-3 years. Biggest demand on the system are FPS games, and I don't mind running medium settings. I'm getting an I7-860 2.8Ghz cpu. Budget for my graphics card is about $200-$300. Resolution I'd be pushing 1920x1080, but being future proof for a better monitor is a plus.

Normally this would be a fairly easy decision for me. I'd shoot for a mid to mid-high range card. But what's going on with the card availability? Newegg has no 5870's, or 5850's (which seems to be what I'd want). They do have 275gtx's for about $250.

What cards would you recommend? How does DX11 release effect the decision. Should I buy a low end card and wait until DX11 cards come out.

It really seems like the market is in flux right now, and I could use a bit of advice. TYIA

Maybe 4870 is the way to go...

 

[Barfo]

I'd wait until I can get a hold of a 5850.

 

[videogames101]

I'd wait until I can get a hold of a 5850.

qft

 

[RussianSensation]

Given the performance delta between 4890 and 5850 relative to the price difference, I would just get HIS 4890 for $160:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-299-_-Product

It comes with a quieter fan than stock cooling. This saves you a whopping $140 over 5850. Depending on the games you play, you may want to upgrade to a 5850 but at this time I cannot recommend almost 100&#37; price increase for <40% performance increase in most cases:
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/17747/6

Since 4870 1GB is close to $150, unless you can find it for $130, I don't think it represents good value. Right now you can almost buy 2 4890s for the price of 1 5850. The performance at this point isn't even close.

 

[bigriggg]

the one thing you have to think about is if you choose the 4800 series...they demand more power, so in the long run a 5800 series might save you money because you wouldnt have to get such a beefy psu. the differences in power consumption are quite different actually. the 5800 series are sippers.

 

[Schmide]

the one thing you have to think about is if you choose the 4800 series...they demand more power, so in the long run a 5800 series might save you money because you wouldnt have to get such a beefy psu. the differences in power consumption are quite different actually. the 5800 series are sippers.

It would take approx 2-4 years of 24-7-365.25 usage to make up that cost BTW.

 

[bigriggg]

It would take approx 2-4 years of 24-7-365.25 usage to make up that cost BTW.

yes, you're probably right. i didnt take that into consideration by saying "save you money" , even though that is a factor. what i meant was the cost difference in the psu that he would have to purchase to support the output differences in 4800 series and 5800 series. my friend thought he would save a hundred bucks and get a 4890, so he did...now his psu that he has (about 500w) will not power it, where he couldve spent another 100 and got a 5850, instead of now he has to buy a better psu and now has a less future proof card because of it.

 

[TemjinGold]

yes, you're probably right. i didnt take that into consideration by saying "save you money" , even though that is a factor. what i meant was the cost difference in the psu that he would have to purchase to support the output differences in 4800 series and 5800 series. my friend thought he would save a hundred bucks and get a 4890, so he did...now his psu that he has (about 500w) will not power it, where he couldve spent another 100 and got a 5850, instead of now he has to buy a better psu and now has a less future proof card because of it.

Sounds like your friend just got a crap PSU. A 500w should be plenty to power a 4890. The 5850 is a lot more efficient at IDLE but not so much at LOAD, so you would still need the same PSU for either card. You would just save some power at idle.

 

[bigriggg]

Sounds like your friend just got a crap PSU. A 500w should be plenty to power a 4890. The 5850 is a lot more efficient at IDLE but not so much at LOAD, so you would still need the same PSU for either card. You would just save some power at idle.

ok