Help me replace dead 8800 GTS 512

[mikemcc]

Hi Folks,

I just built my new rig 2 days ago and passed my old one (the first one in my sig) down to my 13-year-old. He's really excited, but when we set it up, the MSI 8800 GTS 512 was fried. Now he's crestfallen because he has to wait for a new video card. I'd like to get something close to the same performance as the 8800, if it's possible to do it on a budget. (I just got done spending a bunch on my system and I don't want my wife to start screaming at me!) Do any of the following seem reasonable?

Gigabyte GTX550TI -- $110
XFX 6770 -- $95
Powercolor 6790 -- $110

These are all from Newegg and I didn't provide the links because I know that many of you will know right away which of these would be suitable. I'd also welcome any other suggestions for up to maybe $130. BTW, this will be for a 27" 1080p Viewsonic that I also gave him. He plays games like BF2 and Crysis and some other things that I haven't heard of. He also likes MS Flight Simulator a lot.

I really appreciate your help, and I know he'll be thankful as well!

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Bake your old video card.

Any of those cards will be faster than the 8800 gts and are all great cards.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Those will all have substantially better performance than a 8800GTS.
BF2 and Crysis seem to like AMD, so I'd get either the 6770 or 6790. 6790 is around 10% faster than 6770, so up to you whether it's worth the extra $15.

 

[TheAdvocate]

Those will all have substantially better performance than a 8800GTS.
BF2 and Crysis seem to like AMD, so I'd get either the 6770 or 6790. 6790 is around 10% faster than 6770, so up to you whether it's worth the extra $15.

Can we please install a no fanboi rule when dispensing advice? No, the Radeon's don't perform better...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4221/nvidias-gtx-550-ti-coming-up-short-at-150/10

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4221/nvidias-gtx-550-ti-coming-up-short-at-150/5

It's a mix. In general, the progression seems to be (leaving out the dual chip cards):

GTX 580 -> 6970 -> GTX 570 -> 6950 -> GTX 560ti -> 6870, and alternating more or less like that on down the line... and that's only at stock reference clocks. I.E. a non reference manufactaurer OC'd 560Ti at 900-1000 + overclocked memory is significantly faster than a reference board, and a 6950 can usually be relatively easily OC'd to close to 6970 performance, etc.

If you want a card for a specific game, check the benchmarks. Otherwise, just buy a current gen card in the approx price/performance range you're looking for. Most of this squabbling/anxiety is over 5-10fps that you wont notice. In the real world, either the card can run a generation of games (fairly) smoothly or it can't. You have to skip a generation (or two) in GPUs before you see the kind of performance gains that these fanboi's obsession would suggest - such as when I finally upgrade my 9800GT to something current. Now, that's going to be an instantly noticeable real world difference.

 

[tviceman]

Here is a gts450 for $60 after MIR, which will perform about 50-75% better than the 8800GTS 512. http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/585...gts-450-fermi-1gb-ddr5-pci-express-video-card.

EDIT: Or you can go with a gtx460 for $100 which will beat everything listed so far: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162058

 

[skipsneeky2]

Find a cheap 5770.

 

[mikemcc]

Thanks for the help, everyone! I ended up going with a 6790 this time. I think it will be great for my boy, and he'll be back to playing with that MS Flight Simulater. Or I can PWN him in BFBC2!

 

[houe]

Or I can PWN him in BFBC2!

You let you boy play bfbc2?!?

 

[frozentundra123456]

You let you boy play bfbc2?!?

He's 13, what is so bad about bfbc2, or are you not being serious??

Also, the system the OP gave his son is better than mine. Wow, I need a new comp!!

 

[dpk33]

Try removing the fan on your 8800gts and bake it. It might make it function again. Plus, right now isn't the best time for an upgrade as new cards are coming out within the next few months.

 

[bryanW1995]

He's 13, what is so bad about bfbc2, or are you not being serious??

Also, the system the OP gave his son is better than mine. Wow, I need a new comp!!

Thanks guys, now I want a son to play bfbc2 with me! Should I adopt or just knock up my wife again? Is this the right forum for this question???

 

[Plimogz]

Thanks guys, now I want a son to play bfbc2 with me! Should I adopt or just knock up my wife again? Is this the right forum for this question???

Suggest adoption. Else by time kid is old enough, EA EULA will likely require you hand him over to play game.