Need a little upgrade help!!!

[McRipper]

What should I do?

I'm looking to upgrade my GPU but I'm wondering what's going to be the best bang for the buck. My budget is about $350.

I'm currently gaming with a 9800gtx and I'm wondering if I should get another one of those and SLI or just get a 260gtx or something comparable. If I SLI, then I'll have to get a SLI MB, so there in lies the question if I should get a new motherboard and another 9800gtx, or just go with a better single card. Is there a big difference in performance from a SLI 9800gtx and a 260gtx. I'm not Nvidia crazy either so if there is an ATI card that's just as good or better, please recommend. I don't know much about ATI cards.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JPB]

GTX260 Core 216

 

[McRipper]

So go with this over the SLI?

 

[krnmastersgt]

SLI and CF both do really well WHEN they scale well. However single cards perform the same relatively for most games. And is an upgrade really necessary for you? If your monitor resolution is 1680x1050 or higher I'd go for the 260, if it's lower (or maybe 1680x1050 exactly) then I would think 1 GTX would be enough to get moderate to high framerates for the majority of today's titles. But maybe that's just me?

 

[thegimp03]

What games do you play and what kind of monitor/resolution do you use?

 

[McRipper]

To krnmastersgt and thegimp03:

I use a 22" @1680x1050. I play mostly FPS(Crysis, Crysis Warhead, STALKER, Call of Duty, etc.) and some strategy(World in Conflict, CoH) and will be getting Far Cry 2, Mass Effect, and Fallout 3 very soon. I really want to be able to maximize my performance for these games. Crysis ran pretty good for me, but there were a couple areas where it really lagged. I'm sure I'm not the only person whose experienced lag with Crysis. I want to be able to run these games the way they are meant to be run.

 

[thegimp03]

Check out this review:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2249413&enterthread=y

I'd say go with the GTX 260 Core 216. Look in the hot deals section before you buy too. I'm pretty sure I saw a hot deal earlier for the card.

It looks like the new drivers coming out (don't know when?) for it improve performance to be better than that of the HD 4870 1gb on 4/6 of the benchmarks.

 

[JPB]

I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

 

[JPB]

I have a EVGA 9800GTX right now, and when the refresh of the GTX280 hits, I plan on stepping up to it.

I have 70 days left. Come on Nvidia, get'em out

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: McRipper
To krnmastersgt and thegimp03:

I use a 22" @1680x1050. I play mostly FPS(Crysis, Crysis Warhead, STALKER, Call of Duty, etc.) and some strategy(World in Conflict, CoH) and will be getting Far Cry 2, Mass Effect, and Fallout 3 very soon. I really want to be able to maximize my performance for these games. Crysis ran pretty good for me, but there were a couple areas where it really lagged. I'm sure I'm not the only person whose experienced lag with Crysis. I want to be able to run these games the way they are meant to be run.

While you do want the games to be run the way they were meant to, I don't think that'd justify spending money on an upgrade just for 1 game. Your call I suppose, I believed the 9800 GTX to be able to play almost any fps out there at 1680x1050, provided you didn't crank all the settings up. But if you do need an upgrade, I'd go for the GTX260 over SLI-ing the 9800's since you need to buy a board capable of it as well.

 

[McRipper]

Originally posted by: thegimp03
Check out this review:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2249413&enterthread=y

I'd say go with the GTX 260 Core 216. Look in the hot deals section before you buy too. I'm pretty sure I saw a hot deal earlier for the card.

It looks like the new drivers coming out (don't know when?) for it improve performance to be better than that of the HD 4870 1gb on 4/6 of the benchmarks.

That's good info. Thanks alot gimp!!

 

[McRipper]

Originally posted by: JPB
I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

No, it's a Zotac. What's a step-up? Are you saying that if you have an EVGA or BRG card, you can upgrade for free?

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB
I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

No, it's a Zotac. What's a step-up? Are you saying that if you have an EVGA or BRG card, you can upgrade for free?

Not free, but not for the cost of a new card either. Usually between $50-$150 depending on the level of the step-up you're undergoing.

 

[McRipper]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt

Originally posted by: McRipper
To krnmastersgt and thegimp03:

I use a 22" @1680x1050. I play mostly FPS(Crysis, Crysis Warhead, STALKER, Call of Duty, etc.) and some strategy(World in Conflict, CoH) and will be getting Far Cry 2, Mass Effect, and Fallout 3 very soon. I really want to be able to maximize my performance for these games. Crysis ran pretty good for me, but there were a couple areas where it really lagged. I'm sure I'm not the only person whose experienced lag with Crysis. I want to be able to run these games the way they are meant to be run.

While you do want the games to be run the way they were meant to, I don't think that'd justify spending money on an upgrade just for 1 game. Your call I suppose, I believed the 9800 GTX to be able to play almost any fps out there at 1680x1050, provided you didn't crank all the settings up. But if you do need an upgrade, I'd go for the GTX260 over SLI-ing the 9800's since you need to buy a board capable of it as well.

Thanks for the info. I'll admit, I don't really need an upgrade, just kind of want one. Maybe I'll hold off, I tend to impulse buy and sometimes need someone to bring me to reality.

 

[JPB]

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB
I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

No, it's a Zotac. What's a step-up? Are you saying that if you have an EVGA or BRG card, you can upgrade for free?

Well, right now on EVGA's site, the vanilla GTX260 is $299. I paid $150 for my EVGA 9800GTX. So I would mail them my card and only pay the difference for the GTX260. Which would be $150. Which is good because some people arnt able to purchase high end cards, but buying EVGA or BFG cards gives you the option of a high end card further down the road which makes it more affordable. EVGA gives you 90 days to do this. I think BFG gives you 100 days.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: JPB

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB
I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

No, it's a Zotac. What's a step-up? Are you saying that if you have an EVGA or BRG card, you can upgrade for free?

Well, right now on EVGA's site, the vanilla GTX260 is $299. I paid $150 for my EVGA 9800GTX. So I would mail them my card and only pay the difference for the GTX260. Which would be $150. Which is good because some people arnt able to purchase high end cards, but buying EVGA or BFG cards gives you the option of a high end card further down the road which makes it more affordable. EVGA gives you 90 days to do this. I think BFG gives you 100 days.

The vanilla 260 is $300? There's a 260 core 216 on newegg for $229 amir, $269 before it. What's EVGA's price on the 216?

 

[McRipper]

Originally posted by: JPB

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB
I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

No, it's a Zotac. What's a step-up? Are you saying that if you have an EVGA or BRG card, you can upgrade for free?

Well, right now on EVGA's site, the vanilla GTX260 is $299. I paid $150 for my EVGA 9800GTX. So I would mail them my card and only pay the difference for the GTX260. Which would be $150. Which is good because some people arnt able to purchase high end cards, but buying EVGA or BFG cards gives you the option of a high end card further down the road which makes it more affordable. EVGA gives you 90 days to do this. I think BFG gives you 100 days.

They give you 90 days to do this from when? How do you initiate this program? Do you automatically get this just by buying an EVGA or BFG card, or do you have to apply for it?

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB
I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

No, it's a Zotac. What's a step-up? Are you saying that if you have an EVGA or BRG card, you can upgrade for free?

Well, right now on EVGA's site, the vanilla GTX260 is $299. I paid $150 for my EVGA 9800GTX. So I would mail them my card and only pay the difference for the GTX260. Which would be $150. Which is good because some people arnt able to purchase high end cards, but buying EVGA or BFG cards gives you the option of a high end card further down the road which makes it more affordable. EVGA gives you 90 days to do this. I think BFG gives you 100 days.

They give you 90 days to do this from when? How do you initiate this program? Do you automatically get this just by buying an EVGA or BFG card, or do you have to apply for it?

From the date of purchase. You have to register the card with them to be eligible for the program. http://www.evga.com/stepup/ Is the link for the program, you can read for the terms and conditions if you have more questions about it.

 

[McRipper]

T

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB

Originally posted by: McRipper

Originally posted by: JPB
I will admit, in some games SLI scales very well. But in others, a single GTX260 Core 216 would probably outrun it. I would go with the single card solution.

Is your GTX now an EVGA or BFG ? If it is, is there any time left on your step-up ?

No, it's a Zotac. What's a step-up? Are you saying that if you have an EVGA or BRG card, you can upgrade for free?

Well, right now on EVGA's site, the vanilla GTX260 is $299. I paid $150 for my EVGA 9800GTX. So I would mail them my card and only pay the difference for the GTX260. Which would be $150. Which is good because some people arnt able to purchase high end cards, but buying EVGA or BFG cards gives you the option of a high end card further down the road which makes it more affordable. EVGA gives you 90 days to do this. I think BFG gives you 100 days.

They give you 90 days to do this from when? How do you initiate this program? Do you automatically get this just by buying an EVGA or BFG card, or do you have to apply for it?

From the date of purchase. You have to register the card with them to be eligible for the program. http://www.evga.com/stepup/ Is the link for the program, you can read for the terms and conditions if you have more questions about it.

Thanks alot!! I never knew this existed. I really appreciate the info/advice.

 

[JPB]

Yea, it starts from when you purchase and register the card. Just purchase -> register the card -> stepup within the time limit.

Yea, its $299 on EVGA site right now. The Core 216 is $299 for the cheapest one, and $449 for the most expensive one. I know Newegg is cheaper, but like I said, even though they are charging more than etailers, it is easier to get the higher performing card further down the road when affordable.

I do agree though however, they are still highly priced on the EVGA site.

 

[JPB]

EVGA pricing list

Yea McRipper...that is why EVGA is so recommended. Step-up and warranty cannot be beat. Keep that in mind in case you purchase a GTX Core 216

EDIT: I also believe you can step-up from EVGA motherboards to newer models as well.

 

[thegimp03]

You should also find benchmarks comparing the 216 and 9800 GTX and decide if the performance increase is worth ~$250.

You might be better off just waiting until a new card comes out. The GTX280/260 have been on shelves now for quite awhile and something new might be due.

I've never done the step-up program myself, but I've read about it in the past. I can tell that some of the drawbacks to it might be if Nvidia doesn't come out with a new card in 90 days, that you'd have to pay the difference between what EVGA is charging you and your original card and EVGA site prices are usually higher than other online retailers. So this means you will probably spend more in the end to buy a 216 now and then step-up to a new card in 90 days than to wait and buy a new card.

I would also consider what happens if AMD/ATI comes out with a card in the meantime that blows the doors off Nvidia's next-gen. AMD/ATI has been a lot more competitive with this round of cards than past ones, and all this is going to help the consumer because prices will be driven down.

 

[MTDEW]

Thanks for the info. I'll admit, I don't really need an upgrade, just kind of want one. Maybe I'll hold off, I tend to impulse buy and sometimes need someone to bring me to reality.

LOL, welcome to anandtech, we do this all the time here too.
Your best bet is to stay away from the video forum here, otherwise you always see a cool new card and somehow justify yourself into thinking you need it.

Only thing you can be sure of is once you do get a new card ati/nvidia will announce a better card and you'll wish you had waited, and you start the same process all over again.

Its a legitimate addiction around here, we all understand.
GL

With all that said , my opinion is dont go sli, get the single fastest card you can afford with MORE than 512mb of memory to "futureproof" somewhat.
GTX260 core 216 or the 4870 1gb.

 

[McRipper]

To everyone who has posted:

Thank you very much for all the help!! I really do appreciate it. I've gotten some very good info from here and this will make my decision pretty easy when I decide what i'm going to do. Thanks again.

P.S. When I do decide what I'm going to do, I'll post on here what I purchased so you guys can see what you helped me buy.