Friend wants to replace 8800GTS

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ExcaliburMM

ExcaliburMM

Senior member
Jan 24, 2009
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Sup video forum. :)

My friend wants to replace his 8800GTS 320mb. He's currently saving for a trip to Boston to visit his GF, and thus funds are tight. Probably sub 100$ territory. I doubted he could find a card worth the upgrade at such a price point, but he's asked me to dive into the FS/FT forum looking for a deal.

However with an odd bit interface and RAM size, I'm not sure where this card falls, and what an appropriate replacement would be. I've heard them lauded to the skys and then dismissed as mediocre, which I believe has to do with core versions and memory amounts. Unfortunately I only know the info given.

So I come asking what I should recommend to him and maybe look for over in FS/FT. His PSU is a 450w, think its a SeaSonic so that should be non-issue, I'm not sure of his gaming resolution but he plays Heroes Of Newerth and other assorted non-FPS games, looking mainly at Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 for future titles he'd like to run at nice settings.

All help is appreciated. :)
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
I had an 8800GTS 320 and I upgraded to a 4890. I would go for at least a GTX260 or 4870 used. I wouldn't bother with a 4850. I sold my 8800GTS 320 for $65. You may want to tell him to sell the 8800GTS 320 as well (even $40 is better than collecting dust). Now if you can add that $40, you are already into 5770 territory and GTX260 216 or 4870 used :)
 
B

Borealis7

Platinum Member
Oct 19, 2006
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he needs to ask himself, whats more important?

GF...or GeForce?

we all know the answer to that. ;)
 
D

digitaldurandal

Golden Member
Dec 3, 2009
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5750 is a waste of money for him. Not even a real upgrade. Terrible advice IMO. Also the 5750 is even 150$ right now, you can get a sapphire 5770 for 150$.

For 100$ to be an upgrade he must purchase used. 4870 is the way to go if you can get one for that price. It supports a better directx than he currently has, and is faster.

That being said my advice would be for him to wait until Nvidia launches. He has already waited this long right? Then he can probably get a 5770 for maybe 125 or less once price wars start up again.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
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digitaldurandal said:
5750 is a waste of money for him. Not even a real upgrade. Terrible advice IMO. Also the 5750 is even 150$ right now, you can get a sapphire 5770 for 150$.

For 100$ to be an upgrade he must purchase used. 4870 is the way to go if you can get one for that price. It supports a better directx than he currently has, and is faster.

That being said my advice would be for him to wait until Nvidia launches. He has already waited this long right? Then he can probably get a 5770 for maybe 125 or less once price wars start up again.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I went from a 8800gt (faster then his gts 320) to a gtx 260 to a 5750 in a span of 2 months. The 5750 (especialy overclocked) is much faster then my 8800gt. The 5750's 1gb of memory alone helps when playing more modern games.

The 8800gt is 20% faster then the gts 320.
The 5750 is 20% faster then the 8800gt. (I have mine at a 20% overclock also)
Now the 100$ 4850 is 2/5% percent slower then the 135$ 5750.

So like I said the 4850 is the best deal at 100$ and about 40% faster then the 8800gts 320.
Sell the 8800gts for 35$.
Thats 65$ for 40% more performance.
How can you beat that?
 
crisium

crisium

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2001
2,643
615
136
Starcraft 2 isn't gonna be out for a while. Diablo 3 not until 2011 at the earliest. Wait. If you are lucky you can find a 4870 512MB used for $100, but if he waits prices will always fall.

4850 over an 8800GTS 320MB is an upgrade. There's no doubt of this. Whenever 320MB is not enough it really shows.

http://tinyurl.com/yd2rsgn

But I'd either wait, or try to find a 4870 512mb used. If he has no games right now that need the extra performance than prices will certainly drop when Fermi comes. Including the used market, because people will be selling their GTX 260, 4870s, etc for a Fermi.
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
To me thought a 4850 isn't too much of an upgrade from an 8800GTS. Tell him to save up some money for a bigger jump.
 
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blanketyblank

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2007
1,149
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4890 is totally out of budget. 4850 falls in budget nicely especially used.
Yes going from an 8800 GTS 320 to a 4850 is actually a very nice upgrade. I've gone from a 320-> 8800 GTS 512 -> 4850 - > 5770.
The 4850 can play almost every game fine at 1920 x 1080 with high settings.
I was very happy with the 4850, but with a $100 bill me later promo the 5770 was tough to resist.
 
S

Shilohen

Member
Jul 29, 2009
194
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0
Borealis7 said:
he needs to ask himself, whats more important?

GF...or GeForce?

we all know the answer to that. ;)
Click to expand...

Hmmm, let see...

GeForce cannot really cheat on you, rarely let you down and is always willing to play video games with you. If the GeForce does let you down, you can always send it back and get a new one, sometimes better, quite fast. When a GF let you down, somehow the manufacturer rarely wants to RMA it and very often offer really bad post break customer support... Tough choice, tough choice... :hmm:

:D
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Shilohen said:
Hmmm, let see...

GeForce cannot really cheat on you, rarely let you down and is always willing to play video games with you. If the GeForce does let you down, you can always send it back and get a new one, sometimes better, quite fast. When a GF let you down, somehow the manufacturer rarely wants to RMA it and very often offer really bad post break customer support... Tough choice, tough choice... :hmm:

:D
Click to expand...

You forgot the most important thing, GeForce is infinitely cheaper than GF.
 
S

SanDiegoPC

Senior member
Jul 14, 2006
460
0
0
Hey Zeus said:
As much as i like the 4 series cards. Buying one is a waste now that the 5 series is out. Go with a 5750 and OC the shit out of it
Click to expand...

Yep I agree! I'm waiting too....I have the Superclocked version of the 8800GT 512 but it's old. Got it originally for my last build, the OC quad 6600. It's fine for now but will get replaced with a better card when they come out.

NO not interested in a lateral move and buying the 4 series card would be just that.
 
skillyho

skillyho

Golden Member
Nov 6, 2005
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0
76
Although it seems you already have a solution, I'd also advise holding off until the new gen stuff gets a little more moderately priced. It seems like he doesn't like buying new parts every 6 months like others on AT, so saving and spending a little more on something newer/faster may be a better avenue....that's my plan with this 9800GT anyway....
 
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