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Help with a budget upgrade!

Gillbot

Gillbot

Lifer
I'm currently running a 7300GS 512MB PCIe x16 video card. It can play supreme commander but most of my settings are turned down to gain speed. I'd like to upgrade so I can actually see some detail when I play. I've lost touch with the current line of NV cards and it's hard to find a good cross comparison to see what I might actually gain with each type of card. I'd like to stay under $100 but get the most for that $100, even if I need to get it from the FS/FT section.

EDIT: I forgot that TWO outputs are a must. One Analog + One Digital is OK!
 
Most new cards come with a digital to analog converter that you can plug into the back of the card. Also, what is your budget? I would recommend the upcoming 8800gt 512mb for around $250. I might even be upgrading to it and I have a gts 320mb 🙂
 
Originally posted by: math20
Most new cards come with a digital to analog converter that you can plug into the back of the card. Also, what is your budget? I would recommend the upcoming 8800gt 512mb for around $250. I might even be upgrading to it and I have a gts 320mb 🙂
Click to expand...

Or you could read my OP.....

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I'd like to stay under $100 but get the most for that $100, even if I need to get it from the FS/FT section.
Click to expand...
I can use Dual DVI or Dual Analog as both of my screens have both HD15 and DVI inputs. I'm just not out searching for a specific dual DVI card as they tend to be costly.
 
For about $100 or less, you can get a NV 7600gt or 8600gt. Also Ati's 2600xt is a good choice for that price. Any of the above mentioned cards would be a big upgrade over a 7300gs. However, beware of manufacturers cutting costs by using older ddr2 memory on some budget cards, these will perform slower than the cards using ddr3 memory. If you go to the FS forum, you can get an even faster card, like a 7900gs for under $100.
 
I've had good luck with open-box thus far. Plus I can add a fan later if need be to a passively cooled card. I really don't run much intensive 3d so I don't think it would be that big of a deal.
 
Passive or active doesn't really matter but cost does. I'm just looking to get the most out of my next upgrade.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I'm currently running a 7300GS 512MB PCIe x16 video card. It can play supreme commander but most of my settings are turned down to gain speed. I'd like to upgrade so I can actually see some detail when I play. I've lost touch with the current line of NV cards and it's hard to find a good cross comparison to see what I might actually gain with each type of card. I'd like to stay under $100 but get the most for that $100, even if I need to get it from the FS/FT section.

EDIT: I forgot that TWO outputs are a must. One Analog + One Digital is OK!
Click to expand...

What CPU are you running? What is the rest of your system? Especially your gaming resolution? --LCD or CRT?
--and please note SC *needs* a strong, preferably DualCore CPU for good frame rates.

Finally, are you counting selling your 7300GS or is $100 firm?

... one more thing ... nvidia only? i sold my x1950p/512m on FS/T back in June for $125 ... that would be a very decent upgrade.

EDIT: ... and if they are showing you 8600GTS ... here is 2600xt with Valve's Orange box [3 good new Games and a couple of others that MSRP for $50 - thru 10/31] for $100.83 shipped. 😛

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...E16814103038&ref=lmcd1

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...105484&highlight_key=y

but i think i'd still go for a quality used 1950pro/xt if it were the same price
 
I've never been a big ATi fan but i'm willing to recosider. I've had VERY bad luck in the past with their drivers and BSOD's, etc. I'm primarily leaning toward Nvidia because they are familiar and I like their twinview setup. I'm not planning on reselling my 7300GS as I probably won't get but $10-20 out of it.

Current system specs are 2GB DDR400, A64 x2 3800+ socket 939, the 7300GS 512MB and twin 19" Westy LCD's though I only run one in sup com @ 1024x768 with most settings off, low or medium. The game runs well unless I get too large of a map or too many units but the detail level sucks.

EDIT: Just placed an order at newegg for the A64 x2 4200+ 939 chip so that'll give me a little bit more cpu power.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I've never been a big ATi fan but i'm willing to recosider. I've had VERY bad luck in the past with their drivers and BSOD's, etc. I'm primarily leaning toward Nvidia because they are familiar and I like their twinview setup. I'm not planning on reselling my 7300GS as I probably won't get but $10-20 out of it.

Current system specs are 2GB DDR400, A64 x2 3800+ socket 939, the 7300GS 512MB and twin 19" Westy LCD's though I only run one in sup com @ 1024x768 with most settings off, low or medium. The game runs well unless I get too large of a map or too many units but the detail level sucks.

EDIT: Just placed an order at newegg for the A64 x2 4200+ 939 chip so that'll give me a little bit more cpu power.
Click to expand...

how long ago?
😕

AMD has equaled nvidia's drivers for the past 3 years [although i also prefer their CP]. You are pretty much looking at 7800GT/X or x1950p/xt for best DX9 bang-for-buck. Perhaps this thread may help:

1950pro 512mb ($130) vs 7950gt ($190) vs 1950xt ($208)
 
I see many more 7800 series cards for sale as opposed to the 1950's so i'm thinking the 7800 might be the best bet for ease and cost.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I see many more 7800 series cards for sale as opposed to the 1950's so i'm thinking the 7800 might be the best bet for ease and cost.
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it's because 7800 owners are dissatisfied with their performance compared to x1950xt owners.
😀 ---i had a overclocked 7800GS OC in March ... my stock x1950p/512M ran circles around it, performance-wise. Look at the GT or GTX ... or 7900.


either GPU series will be a significant upgrade over your 7300 series ... narrow it down and maybe post your candidate choices and we can take a look
--and you might be able to save a few bucks by eschewing your new CPU and OC'ing your current x2 3800 to x2 4400 speeds ... seems easily doable and you can spend more money on what counts - your GPU.
 
I don't OC, it usually causes headaches with some of the work apps I run. While i'd like to go for the x1950xt and get the most performance, the prices are just too high for me to justify the expenditure. Especially since it's for one game, sup com. 😉

I mean if that logic worked, I might as well get the latest and greatest now and call it done but i'm just too cheap. I'm having a hard enough time letting go of the $100 for the current discussion let alone more for a higher card that will be obsolete in a week anyway.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I don't OC, it usually causes headaches with some of the work apps I run. While i'd like to go for the x1950xt and get the most performance, the prices are just too high for me to justify the expenditure. Especially since it's for one game, sup com. 😉

I mean if that logic worked, I might as well get the latest and greatest now and call it done but i'm just too cheap. I'm having a hard enough time letting go of the $100 for the current discussion let alone more for a higher card that will be obsolete in a week anyway.
Click to expand...

No worries nor need to justify anything but to yourself. i am also talking about a *100% stable* OC - easily doable. Anyway, the x1950pro would be the current bang-for-buck card in the AMD lineup and will not be obsolete next week 😛
--List your candidates for purchase and we can compare them with you.
 
You definately have opened my eyes to the 1950 cards. I would say so far (from what i'm seeing in the FS/FT's) that my main choices are:

7900GT ~100 shipped
7800GT ~105 shipped
7800GTX ~110 shipped <- I'm leaning towards this one if the user PM's me back
7900GS ~90 shipped
Sapphire X1950PRO Ultimate ~135 shipped

All of these have been pulled from the various FS/FT forums, that's why I didn't post links. I don't want anyone bashing them for pricing or anything.
I was also considering an 8500GT for about $70-80 or 8600GT for $100 from Newegg

I don't see many of the ATi flavored cards listed FS so that's why they aren't in the list. If you see any good examples, i'd be glad click a link and check them out! I'd really like to stay under $100 but if you can prove your case on a truly better ATi card for a few $ more, I can be swayed to spend a little more.
 
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2111487&enterthread=y

Gillbot, pick the 7900GS card up for $89 as fast as you can. That is a fantastic price for a brand new card.

It will eat the 8600GT for breakfast and is on par or faster than an 8600GTS in most games.

It will be light years ahead of your 7300 card. I had the 7900GS before the card i have now and it played all my games including supreme commander without a hitch.
 
Ok ... check the benches out for SC

http://au.gamespot.com/features/6166198/p-6.html
[note the CPU performance]

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=620&p=8
anything less than a Radeon X1950 Pro is going to make life difficult when playing on the larger maps with more than 2 players. In fact, using the low quality settings at 1280x1204 saw the X1950 Pro render just 24fps on average.
Click to expand...

finally tips for optimizing SC on your rig:

http://forums.gaspowered.com/viewforum.php?f=9

you want to make life difficult? ... get something less then a x1950p.
😕

PM sent ... i see x1950p as low as $115


here - brand new:

SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

$129 w/ free shipping ... i am certain you can find a used one much cheaper 😛
 
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=620&p=2

looking at 7900GS ... it is just a tiny bit behind the pro at 12x10 with details low ... might be a great deal for $89 if the seller checks out - nice find! daveybrat
:thumbsup:

That chart is also pretty specific for the OP ... it shows how your CPU scales with each card ... For SC, i'd OC my CPU and probably run 11x8 if i had your rig on my CRT; it looks like it would be very playable. 😉

... and interesting note:
As a result, when using the 5000+ the 8800 GTX was just 4fps faster than the X1950XTX, which is something we do not see all that often. The AMD Athlon64 X2 3800+ looks as though it will be useless for gaming with Supreme Commander and while this is partly true, it's not the whole truth. In our test the 3800+ was useless as it failed to even come close to delivering acceptable performance with the 8800 GTX. However, much of the single player campaign worked fine with this processor. Furthermore, 2 player skirmish battles worked rather well. It was only the larger 4 and 8 player battles that hurt this processor.
Click to expand...
 
So if one could find the 7900GS & X1950Pro for around the same price (which has already been posted...at least within $20 of each other), which would be the better buy for 1.) CRT monitor & 2.) LCD monitor?
Is one more overclockable than the other?
I'm assuming the OP isn't interested in dual-booting w/Linux.
 
No dual boot for me and from what most people are telling me, they would opt for the 7900GS so that's what i'm holding out for. My main problem is i'm a cheap bastard so most of the good deals are gone before I pull the trigger. I'll find one sooner or later though.
 
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