Need advice on a new card please

[Corbin]

Okay, I've currently got an MX 440 in my comp that someone gave to me. I really want to upgrade to something nicer, but I have no idea what. I don't currently play a whole lot of games that really need a good card (City of Heroes is what I play most at the time and it doesn't need hardly anything), but I'd like to be able to play things like Farcry at max. I don't have a big preference between Radeon or nVidia, my only main thing is that I stay under about $225. Any suggestions on some good deals? I can supply the rest of my computer's specs if needed...

 

[Sonic587]

Radeon 9800 pro 256-bit

 

[Corbin]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-286&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-247&depa=0

Which seems like a better deal? Or, if neither of those, which of the ones on http://www.newegg.com/app/searchProductResult.asp?DEPA=0&bop=and&submit=Go&description=9800pro&Range=1&InnerCata=48 ?

 

[Sonix7]

take a look at the video card/memory price guide right here in anandtech and use the real time feature to get the best deal possible

 

[Sonic587]

Either one is fine. However, I think ATI's RMA/return policies are better than Powercolor's. I haven't heard of anyone putting up with BS from ATI.

 

[Corbin]

Okay, thanks for the help. Another question: Sometimes, just for the hell of it, I hook my computer up with S-video to the 58" HDTV I have. Although you can read the text on it if you squint, the display is rather blurry. Will getting the 9800Pro make this much better, or is it more an issue of the size of the TV?

 

[Gurck]

When you say "Far Cry at max", what exactly do you mean? I doubt even an x800 or 6800 ultra could play it at 16x12 with all the detail settings on very high and aa/af turned up. A 4600 (or an overclocked 4200) can play Far Cry in 10x7 with all the settings on very high, no aa/af... If the only game you can't play on your mx440 is Far Cry and, as you said, you don't game much.. you might be better off getting a used ti 4x00and saving some cash. And for the second question, I believe you're limited by TV resolution, not the video card.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Corbin
Okay, thanks for the help. Another question: Sometimes, just for the hell of it, I hook my computer up with S-video to the 58" HDTV I have. Although you can read the text on it if you squint, the display is rather blurry. Will getting the 9800Pro make this much better, or is it more an issue of the size of the TV?

It's gonna look like crap on a 58" TV with S-Video no matter what kind of card you have.

Now, with a 9800Pro, you can get the HDTV component out cables from ATI (at least I'm pretty sure they work with that card). Those would actually look decent on an HDTV.

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: Gurck
When you say "Far Cry at max", what exactly do you mean? I doubt even an x800 or 6800 ultra could play it at 16x12 with all the detail settings on very high and aa/af turned up. A 4600 (or an overclocked 4200) can play Far Cry in 10x7 with all the settings on very high, no aa/af... If the only game you can't play on your mx440 is Far Cry and, as you said, you don't game much.. you might be better off getting a used ti 4x00and saving some cash. And for the second question, I believe you're limited by TV resolution, not the video card.

I agree with this guy. Also, on the front page is an article that determines the value of video cards. Read the conclusion. It says it all.

 

[Corbin]

I don't currently game much because I'm limited by my card. I didn't want to pick up any high-gfx titles (such as Far Cry) until I purchased a card that could do a better job of running them. My logic is that if I pick up a high end card now, I'll be able to play any games I buy in the next year or two at pretty high settings. Whereas, if I stick with my MX440, I won't be able to run hardly anything that I buy in the future at high settings.

 

[Corbin]

Bumpage...