Need a video card and don't feel like reading all night

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G

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,230
5,765
136
So here's the deal. Yet another ATI card has burned out, think this is number four in as many years. So I need a new video card, and I think it's time to go green. I play BF2 and would like something that can run that with everything maxed out, beyond that I don't much care.
The other issue is it has to be something I can find at fry's. I have a proposal and a complete set of plans that I have to submit Monday morning, I NEED MY COMPUTER NOW.

Thank in advance for any suggestions.
 
gigahertz20

gigahertz20

Golden Member
Apr 30, 2007
1,118
2
81
Take a look at this article just recently released

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3588


The best card for the money is a Radeon 4890 that can be found around $170 after rebate on Newegg. If you go to fry's you are going to be paying around $240 or so for a 4890.

You must just have bad luck when it comes to video cards, I have never had any of my computer compents fail on me and I've been through several upgrades. You sure your power supply or something is not causing these video cards to fail prematurely?

 
N

NXIL

Senior member
Apr 14, 2005
774
0
0
Price range?

Resolution i.e. small, medium, large monitor?

And, you are in luck: from today's main page, as G$ said:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3588

Video card burnout: are you overclocking them? If not: are they overheating due to poor case circulation, dust bunnies, etc? Or, do you have a $12 power supply?

 
Keysplayr

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
How much you want to spend Greenman? Consider you'll pay more for Brick and mortar stores like best buy. But if you need to get that proprosal out by Monday, you have little choice. Give me budget man!! ;)
 
V

vj8usa

Senior member
Dec 19, 2005
975
0
0
For just BF2, you won't need a very powerful video card. Frys should have 4850s for around $100, which is probably your best bet. If you can manage to find a temporary replacement card for the short term though, Dell's got an EVGA GTX 260 216 for $130 AR shipped.
 
S

s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
9,427
16
81
Stick to the big 3 lifetime warranty companies and you'll be happier...
 
TheMeanestGuest

TheMeanestGuest

Member
Jan 24, 2009
125
0
0
Well, since you're just playing BF2 (PR by any chance?) I'd just go with a 4850 or a 9800GTX + (/GTS 250).

Be sure to pick up the XFX of the 4850 version if it's there as you get a lifetime warranty in case it burns out on you again (for NV go with EVGA/BFG/XFX).
 
R

ronnn

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
3,918
0
71
If you have really burned out 4 vid cards in 4 years - there is a problem and its likely not the vid card.
 
G

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,230
5,765
136
Thank you gentlemen.
Should have given you more info, sorry.

Res is 1920x1080, don't want to spend more than $200.
I don't know why the damn things burn out. I have a pretty good case, Antec P100 I think, and all I remember about the PSU is that it was one everyone in the power supply section was drooling over a couple years back. And I do blow out the dust bunny's every couple months.

I pretty much lost interest in computers a year and a half ago (bought a Harley, wayyyy more fun). There is only one game I even remotely like, and benchmarks never were all that interesting to me, so now I just want the damn thing to work.

Looks like I'll go with the 4850, Fry's has them for around $150.

Thank you all again, I really do appreciate your help.
 
TheMeanestGuest

TheMeanestGuest

Member
Jan 24, 2009
125
0
0
Remember, he has to have it before Monday, so it has to be from Fry's.

Also, he doesn't really need a better card even for that resolution, since Battlefield 2 is all he plays and that doesn't support resolution any higher than some weird 11xx by 7something (I don't know, I just put it on 1024 x 768).
 
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,274
41
91
He's only playing BF2.

A 9600GT or 9800GT will be more than enough to max that game out, even at that res.

Originally posted by: TheMeanestGuest
Remember, he has to have it before Monday, so it has to be from Fry's.

Also, he doesn't really need a better card even for that resolution, since Battlefield 2 is all he plays and that doesn't support resolution any higher than some weird 11xx by 7something (I don't know, I just put it on 1024 x 768).
Click to expand...
Eh BF2 supports higher resolutions than that. I know, at the very least, it can go up to 1600x1200.
 
TheMeanestGuest

TheMeanestGuest

Member
Jan 24, 2009
125
0
0
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
He's only playing BF2.

A 9600GT or 9800GT will be more than enough to max that game out, even at that res.

Originally posted by: TheMeanestGuest
Remember, he has to have it before Monday, so it has to be from Fry's.

Also, he doesn't really need a better card even for that resolution, since Battlefield 2 is all he plays and that doesn't support resolution any higher than some weird 11xx by 7something (I don't know, I just put it on 1024 x 768).
Click to expand...
Eh BF2 supports higher resolutions than that. I know, at the very least, it can go up to 1600x1200.
Click to expand...

Are you sure? None of my friends or I ever get an option higher than the weird 11xx ones.

Maybe it just hates newer monitors.

Edit: I decided to look it up, it doesn't function properly with widescreen monitors for some reason.

 
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,274
41
91
I think they fixed widescreen support in the 1.4 patch, but earlier version of the game did not have widescreen support. You had to manually set the resolution with launch options.

And I have ran BF2 at 1280x1024 and 1600x1200.
 
C

Candymancan21

Senior member
Jun 8, 2009
278
3
81
4850 is more then enough for BF2 at that resolution. I would get 4850 or 4870, you can get them for like $130 or less. BF2 isnt exactly demanding guys.., a 7800GT can handle that game
 
T

Tempered81

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
6,374
1
81
Originally posted by: Greenman

Looks like I'll go with the 4850, Fry's has them for around $150.
Click to expand...

check hotdeals section and you can get two for $150 + free hdmi cables.
 
C

Candymancan21

Senior member
Jun 8, 2009
278
3
81
Originally posted by: Greenman
Thank you gentlemen.
Should have given you more info, sorry.

Res is 1920x1080, don't want to spend more than $200.
I don't know why the damn things burn out. I have a pretty good case, Antec P100 I think, and all I remember about the PSU is that it was one everyone in the power supply section was drooling over a couple years back. And I do blow out the dust bunny's every couple months.

I pretty much lost interest in computers a year and a half ago (bought a Harley, wayyyy more fun). There is only one game I even remotely like, and benchmarks never were all that interesting to me, so now I just want the damn thing to work.

Looks like I'll go with the 4850, Fry's has them for around $150.

Thank you all again, I really do appreciate your help.
Click to expand...


$150 for 1 4850 is kinda much unless its a 1GB card. You can get them on newegg.com for like $90 for 512mb, and $120 for 1GB
 
G

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,230
5,765
136
Ended up getting the 4850 with a gig of memory, $160 at fry's. Yes, I paid to much, but compared to losing a 6 month project it was a steal.

Thanks again.
 
F

faxon

Platinum Member
May 23, 2008
2,109
1
81
what i would do is order the 2, then return the one once they arrive. gotta love frys return policy. 30 days on video cards afaik
 
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