I'm fricking stuck in the upgrade-swamp>=(

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kallamamran

kallamamran

Junior Member
Jun 7, 2010
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Yepp... For weeks and weeks I have been stuck in the difficult Graphicscard-upgrade-situation...
As soon as I think I know what I should get, something new comes out or something happens which makes everyone think something else is the shit ='(
I'm tired trying to find out from the experts what option is the best since they change their mind with every benchmark or leave one important thing out! Now I turn my face your way!

I want to upgrade my graphics card because it's just not good enough to play the latest games. It can be done, but since I'm playing on a 42" LCD-TV I need high resolution and this means two things...

1. Framerate gets to low =(

2. The GFX-card sounds like a damn hairdryer =(

The reason Im stuck is because I would want a GFX-card that doesn't sound so much, one with PhysX, with DX11-support and that is alot faster than my current one (8800GT - Latest one).
Reading alot on the internet about the soundlevels of todays card I realize that I can forget about reasonable soundlevels =(
I've also found out that there are alot of fast cards out there, BUT, and this is the main reason I'm stuck...

When experts are running benchmarks they only show the FPS at different quality-options (Medium, high and so on). I can't find any benchmark showing if PhysX is active or not!? Benchmarks with PhysX on/off would be interesting.
What I mean is.... I don't want to buy a GFX-card that runs a game at 80FPS over another card that runs the same game with PhysX in 65FPS.

Sooo...

Now I look at Radeon HD 5850 or 5870 because they are not as expensive as 5970, BUT they don't have PhysX and PhysX do make a BIG visual difference when used properly.
Because if this I look at (At most) GTX 470 which support PhysX...

Arrrrgh... I'm going crazy!

Maybe PhysX is not that big a deal!??! Help me out of this swamp please!!!
 
Patrick Wolf

Patrick Wolf

Platinum Member
Jan 5, 2005
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Benchmarks don't enable PhysX. If they do they'll make note. And just one nvidia card to run the game + physx isn't recommened. Two cards is best, the 2nd card is used for physx duty.

The question is: do you have any specific games in mind where physx is actually decent? http://physxinfo.com/

I assume you're at 1920x1080 w/ the HDTV.
 
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T

tviceman

Diamond Member
Mar 25, 2008
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Hardware based Physx is used only in a handful of games - Mirror's Edge, Batman AA, Darkest of Days, Cryostasis, and Dark Void are the most prominent titles. The only announced upcoming games that uses physx (that I'm aware of) is Mafia II and it does look pretty shnazzy, but if you're not playing those games then physx isn't really that big of a deal.

Insofar as noise concerns, the gtx400 series is louder than the 5800 series. If noise is your top concern, either go with a 5800 series card now or wait for custom gtx400 cards. If performance is your top concern and noise is still a big concern, wait for custom gtx400 cards.
 
kallamamran

kallamamran

Junior Member
Jun 7, 2010
14
0
0
Hi again...

Thanks for your replies...

Patrick Wolf:
I don't want to run two cards because of the noise/heat and that I don't want to upgrade my PSU (again). Running 700W today.

My main thoughts regarding the PhysX enabled games for the moment is Batman: Arkham Asylum, Mirror's Edge, but for the future I suppose there will be more games supporting PhysX. I want to be ready! =)
Maffia II is a good example of what's to come. (Thanks for the reminder tviceman)

Yes. It's 1920x1080 that is the desired resolution. A resolution I'm not exactly spoiled with at my 8800GT =( Dirt 2 actually runs fine at 1920x1080 at full details, but that's it and there's not much PhysX going on in that game =)
My dream is to be able to antialias that resolution as well ;)

Tviceman:
Thanks for your note about speed vs. sound in Nvidia and ATI. I will take it into consideration. I believe I maaaaaybe could sacrifice PhysX in favour for "low" noiselevel and high FPS, but I don't know... It depends on the FPS. You know... The land below 30FPS is not such a nice land to be in =(

Best regards // Kallamamran
 
kallamamran

kallamamran

Junior Member
Jun 7, 2010
14
0
0
Lonyo said:
Important question: What CPU do you have?
Click to expand...

I'm running a Q6600. Have had thoughts about upgrading, but it's so overclockable I just can't find a reason to spend money at that right now. When it bottleneck I will think about it!
 
K

Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,505
2,250
136
If you have more than one slot you could just use your current card for physx couldn't you.

You could go green or red team and still do it....With the nvidia beta drivers no hacking involved.
 
MJinZ

MJinZ

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2009
8,192
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I'm getting a GTX 480 (or next version), have a GTX 260... and have had plenty of PhysX cards in the past.

Needless to say, PhysX is NEVER a consideration for the purchase, because, it is completely useless as no worthwhile games use it.
 
Avalon

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
7,571
178
106
If you think you might miss Physx, get a GTX470. If you think you won't, get a Radeon 5850. It's as simple as that.
 
kallamamran

kallamamran

Junior Member
Jun 7, 2010
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Kenmitch: No. I only have one slot. SLI wasn't all that good when I bought this card so I never thought I'd use it. Might have been stupid looking back at it, but this is also the exact thing I want to avoid with PhysX. I don't want to look back at my buy in a few months and think; "Man I should have got the PhysX-one"

MJinZ: So... With the statement that PhysX never shoudl be a consideration for a purchase. How do you motivate your choice of GTX 480 or next version when Radeon have faster cards?
 
MJinZ

MJinZ

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2009
8,192
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kallamamran said:
Kenmitch: No. I only have one slot. SLI wasn't all that good when I bought this card so I never thought I'd use it. Might have been stupid looking back at it, but this is also the exact thing I want to avoid with PhysX. I don't want to look back at my buy in a few months and think; "Man I should have got the PhysX-one"

MJinZ: So... With the statement that PhysX never shoudl be a consideration for a purchase. How do you motivate your choice of GTX 480 or next version when Radeon have faster cards?
Click to expand...

You mean the next Radeon cards vs GTX 480?

Well, the obvious answer is the next generation will ALWAYS be faster... so you get what suits your purposes now and use it.

If you don't play games that can take advantage of it, then don't bother. I know I'm not getting anything to upgrade my GTX 260 until Starcraft 2 and/or Diablo 3 come out.
 
kallamamran

kallamamran

Junior Member
Jun 7, 2010
14
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0
No I didn't mean the next generation. I meant the existing cards. Isn't the 5970 the fastest card and even the 5870 is better than the GTX 480 sometimes... I might be wrong, but I think I recall reading this somewhere earlier today =)
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
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kallamamran

kallamamran

Junior Member
Jun 7, 2010
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Pulling my hair... HD 5870 or GTX 470... That's where I am right now... Aaaaargh!

happy medium: I expect that card to be very expensive. Don't you? =)
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
kallamamran said:
Pulling my hair... HD 5870 or GTX 470... That's where I am right now... Aaaaargh!

happy medium: I expect that card to be very expensive. Don't you? =)
Click to expand...

425$? would be my guess.

I wouldn't buy a card for physx just yet.

I'd go with a 5870 over a gtx 470 if I were buying for today.

How much are they where you shop?
 
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RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
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With a stock Q6600, even a 5850 will be more than enough. In fact, ATI cards of this generation generally are bottlenecked a lot less than the GTX400 series are at 1920x1080 4AA: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/cpus-and-games-2010_4.html#sect1

Based on those benchmarks, it's pretty clear that at your resolution a 5870 isn't worth $100 over the 5850 with such a slow CPU (nowdays). Overclock that Q6600 to 3.4ghz, and then a 5870 is better match.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
RussianSensation said:
With a stock Q6600, even a 5850 will be more than enough. In fact, ATI cards of this generation generally are bottlenecked a lot less than the GTX400 series are at 1920x1080 4AA: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/cpus-and-games-2010_4.html#sect1

Based on those benchmarks, it's pretty clear that at your resolution a 5870 isn't worth $100 over the 5850 with such a slow CPU (nowdays). Overclock that Q6600 to 3.4ghz, and then a 5870 is better match.
Click to expand...

I think he lives in Sweden. The prices are much different.

Kallamaran can you link us to your online place where you shop?
 
Qbah

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
10
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Get a GTX470. You want PhysX, then that should be your choice. Performance difference between a HD5870 is hardly something to write about. The green card is a bit louder and sucks more power, but you stress PhysX so that should be your choice. If you can find one with a custom cooler, it may be quieter and run cooler (will still suck the same power though).

But, again, PhysX = GTX470.
 
L

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Well, here are some prices from the only Swedish webshop I know (to give you an indication of prices since European and US prices are not that similar).

HD5850: 2600SEK
HD5870: 3600SEK
GTX470: 3600SEK
GTX480: 5200SEK
(All from Komplett.se and rounded to nice numbers)

Given the price difference and the fact he will be a bit CPU bottlenecked (especially on minimums) then an HD5850 looks like a good value prospect.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Lonyo said:
Well, here are some prices from the only Swedish webshop I know (to give you an indication of prices since European and US prices are not that similar).

HD5850: 2600SEK
HD5870: 3600SEK
GTX470: 3600SEK
GTX480: 5200SEK
(All from Komplett.se and rounded to nice numbers)

Given the price difference and the fact he will be a bit CPU bottlenecked (especially on minimums) then an HD5850 looks like a good value prospect.
Click to expand...

At those prices I'd go for a 5850 also.
 
biostud

biostud

Lifer
Feb 27, 2003
19,731
6,808
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remember that physX nabled games also run fine and looks good without physX. You just miss some eyecandy, in those very few games.
 
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