new computer build

[imported_AndyE12]

looking to build a new mid range gamer going to be hooked up to a 42 inch lcd 1080p - my main problem is the video card. here is what i have so far.

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR10664GK - Retail

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-04 - OEM

so now the video card -

my choices -
SAPPHIRE 100270SR Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102809


EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 - $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130434

GeForce GTX 280 1GB $325
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130365

from everything i have read the 4850x2 kills them all and at a great price but there also seems to be negative press. any recommendations would be helpful.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Firstly, it's a multi-gpu card which means it has Crossfire which means you'll get mircostutter, not sure how sensitive your eyes might be to that but you WILL get it. Secondly, the 4850X2 is 2 weak cards sandwiched together, which does not equal 1 powerful card.

I'm gonna guess that the information you looked at with the 4850X2 trouncing a GTX260 and a 280 was at 1680x1050 or lower, anything higher than that and the limited bandwidth is going to choke up the card and you'll get measly framerates. That, and like one of the reviews said, that card has 4 DVI ports, which means it doesn't vent the hot air out the back, instead it'll be circulating in your case relying on other fans to pull the air out.

I'd have to recommend you go with the 260 or 280 or the 4870 because the 4850X2 is going to be ridiculously underpowered at 1080p (1920x1200).

 

[imported_AndyE12]

all of the review sites i saw were at 1080p res or 2560x1600 and showed it beating 280's by a large margin
here is one http://www.overclock3d.net/rev...b_pcie_graphics_card/7

the downfall seems to be the noise
also one more question - is it worth it to spend the extra 200 and build a i7 920 system for the extra cpu power for everyday stuff

 

[Denithor]

Xbitlabs - 4850X2 kicks ass!

...but it's noisy as hell also as you pointed out. So it really depends on whether noise or performance is more important to you. If you can live with it, that's your performance/$ king right now. Or - buy the UD3P board & a pair of 4850s and crossfire them separately instead of on a single card (just make sure you get the 1GB models, you're going to need the larger memory buffer at 1080p).

Regarding i7: no, $200 is not worth it for a hotter system that consumes more power for everyday uses or even gaming in general.

You would be better off spending an extra $40 to get a Q9400 (2.66GHz, 6MB cache) ($224) or about $90 extra to grab a Q9550 (2.83GHz, 12MB cache) ($274). BTW, if you didn't know - the prices on C2Q just dropped today. Go get one!