Need vid card that will last until comp overhaul

[zylander]

Current system specs;

DFI LP nF4 Ultra-D
Athlon 64 3000+
OCZ dual channel 2gb PC3200
GeForce 6600GT

Everything is at stock speeds, no ocing here.


I just ordered the Dell 2405FPW wide scrren and Im looking for a video card setup that will run games like Oblivion, planetside, quake 4 ect. at above average settings at 1920x1200 res. I would prefere not to go SLI, Id like to stick with just a single card. I plan on upgrading everything when the G80 GPUs, nF5 chipsets and vista comes out. What would be a good vid card that will last me until then? At first I only wanted NV, which is what Ive always used, but Ill go with ATI if its cheaper.

 

[TheRyuu]

For single GPU config's (for now at least) I'd (almost always) recommend the X1900XT(X).

I'd also recommend some third party cooling too cause the stock cooler is rather noisy and load temps can get pretty high if the fan isn't all the way up. But don't take it the wrong way, the stock cooler will still do it's job.

If your not doing any overclocking, and you want the fastest thing on the market, it'll be the X1900XTX. But you can also get the XT version and do a little OCing, if you wanted too.

 

[zylander]

Ill deffinitely OC what ever I get, which makes the x1900xt or 7900gt good platforms to start with right? As for the stock cooler on the XT, you say its pretty loud, but it will do the job right? Noise doesnt really bother me. But if I OC the card will the stock cooler still hold up, or should I buy an aftermarket one for OCing?


The main reason I am currently turned away from SLI right now is that I was under hte impression that my current CPU and mobo wouldnt be the best for SLI correct?

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

You can't run SLI on the Ultra-D, unless you mod something. And I can't understand why you have an Ultra-D and a 3000+ and don't OC at all!

 

[zylander]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
You can't run SLI on the Ultra-D, unless you mod something. And I can't understand why you have an Ultra-D and a 3000+ and don't OC at all!

hehe, I know I should OC the hell out of it, I had planed to after I put everything together, but Ive never done any over clocking before and I never got around to researching it.


But I do know that you need to mod the Ultra-D chipset to run SLI. I also thought that I dont have a strong enough CPU in order to really take advantage of SLI.

 

[Munky]

Well, if you plan on running Oblivion at that resolution, plan on getting a x1900xt(x), a 7900gtx, or a heavily volt modded and OC'd 7900gt. The Ati cards run Oblivion better, though, so the fastest single card in Oblivion would be the x1900xtx.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: zylander

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
You can't run SLI on the Ultra-D, unless you mod something. And I can't understand why you have an Ultra-D and a 3000+ and don't OC at all!

hehe, I know I should OC the hell out of it, I had planed to after I put everything together, but Ive never done any over clocking before and I never got around to researching it.


But I do know that you need to mod the Ultra-D chipset to run SLI. I also thought that I dont have a strong enough CPU in order to really take advantage of SLI.

You would if you OC'd it... seriously.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG

Originally posted by: zylander

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
You can't run SLI on the Ultra-D, unless you mod something. And I can't understand why you have an Ultra-D and a 3000+ and don't OC at all!

hehe, I know I should OC the hell out of it, I had planed to after I put everything together, but Ive never done any over clocking before and I never got around to researching it.


But I do know that you need to mod the Ultra-D chipset to run SLI. I also thought that I dont have a strong enough CPU in order to really take advantage of SLI.

You would if you OC'd it... seriously.

yeah, 3000+ (venice) overclocks like a rabid beast. in most games, though, CPU bottleneck is above acceptable FPS. but anyway, at this point, you probably want to buy a new card. If you want to run Oblivion at your resolution and still get acceptable framerates, there's really only a few options for you: X1800XT ($249 or lower at NewEgg), or the 7900GT. Both run Oblivion fairly well. however, to get 30+ FPS, you'd probably need to turn down the IQ a bunch (low AA, AF).

 

[zylander]

Im not looking to MAX out the settings in oblivion, Im currently playing it on below average settings and it doesnt really bother me, so ANYTHING higher will be enough for me. I was thinking of getting a 7900gt and then adding on an NV-5 cooler and then OCing it, but now Im not sure. I was hoping I wouldnt have to go with an x1900xt(x) or gtx, but now it looks like I might have to.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: zylander
Im not looking to MAX out the settings in oblivion, Im currently playing it on below average settings and it doesnt really bother me, so ANYTHING higher will be enough for me. I was thinking of getting a 7900gt and then adding on an NV-5 cooler and then OCing it, but now Im not sure. I was hoping I wouldnt have to go with an x1900xt(x) or gtx, but now it looks like I might have to.

We're talking about 1920*1200 res? then yeah you might have to. But frankly if you run 1680*1050 and scale it up, you would get smoother frames, it wouldn't look that much worse, and you could run Ultra High Q, with HDR, very smooth with X1800 or 7900GT with a little tweaking

 

[akshayt]

Why not run at 1024*768 maxed out

anyway go with a 1900XT

 

[akshayt]

1900XT might be able to do 1280*1024 maxed provided you oc cpu and you might want to have 2 gb ram as well.

 

[zylander]

I have 2gb of ram and Im working on OCing the cpu right now, just having some trouble since Im such a noob at it.

 

[Sniper82]

Check out my o/c in my sig. If you need any help just AIM SniperWoW or PM me. Is your 3000+ and Winchester(spelling)? You can get another 400-600mhz out of that CPU no problem.