New monitor - new videocard?

[TheMeanestGuest]

Alright. So recently I finally decided it was well past time to replace my ancient 1024 x 768 NEC CRT. I picked up a 1600 x 900 20" LG LCD that I am immensely satisfied with.

My problem is that now at times my performance is somewhat flaky. My system currently consists of: an AMD x2 5200+ @ 3.1 ghz, 2 GB Crucial DDR2 800, an HD 4670 and my power supply is a Coolermaster 500w with 32A on the 12v rails (pretty sure it's the Seventeam version, not the best power supply by any means, but not absolutely abysmal). I'm also on Windows XP 32 bit. The PCI-E slot is x16 1.0.

I've been considering either an HD 4870 1 GB or a GTX 260 216, but I'm honestly not sure (I'm also open to any other suggestions). Would I see the full benefit of either of these cards in my system?

The games I play regularly include: Fallout 3, CoD4, Company of Heroes, Crysis Wars, FEAR 2 and Empire: Total War (the other games I play regularly aren't worth mentioning in this context as they are either very old or not particularly demanding) Edit: I'll also definitely be playing Dragon Age this coming fall ( also Hearts of Iron 3! but that shouldn't be a problem =p )

This is the 4870 I am considering. I don't have a particular 260 in mind yet.


Here are my thoughts:

- The 4870 and 260 216 are in general quite comparable.
- The 4870 is $20 cheaper than the cheapest 260 216 (discounting MIRs, which I do not like to deal with).
- 260s often come with better game bundles, i.e. CoD: WaW. That particular 4870 does seem to have a free Stormrise combo if you sacrifice free shipping, although I can't play Stormrise until I get Windows 7 if it is any good. I've also heard Stormrise is not very good.
- The 4870 has a lifetime warranty, although I would most likely only be considering a 260 from an NV partner with a similar warranty.
- I think if I'm being honest with myself I do have a slight bias towards ATi.
- ???

Alternatively, I could just wait until the next generation of cards are out to upgrade. What does everyone else think?

 

[dhorn]

I personally am a big fan of the 4850's. The offer plenty of performance for a great price ($80-90 sometimes). You may not get free games, but it's a hard to beat price. And if you know what you're doing, you can volt mod them to run at higher performance than the 4870 (or so I've been told). I have always been Nvidia, but these ATI cards are a lot more appealing now.

 

[toyota]

at 1680 the 4850 is still a good buy for under 100 bucks. even overclocked your cpu wouldnt get 100% of what a 4870 could do at 1680 anyway. an X2 cpu at 3.1 is still no faster than a current Core 2 E8xxx would be at 2.2 so I would stick to a 4850 if I were you.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

4870

 

[TheMeanestGuest]

I hadn't really considered a 4850 since I felt, perhaps wrongly, that it isn't enough of an upgrade over a 4670. I'll have to take that into consideration.

Would my processor really bottleneck a 4870 or 260 to the level of not offering improved performance over a 4850?

Edit: I feel like regardless of what card I choose to buy the DX11 ones will come out what will feel like a week later, and then I will be a sad panda. Maybe I should just wait.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: TheMeanestGuest
I hadn't really considered a 4850 since I felt, perhaps wrongly, that it isn't enough of an upgrade over a 4670. I'll have to take that into consideration.

Would my processor really bottleneck a 4870 or 260 to the level of not offering improved performance over a 4850?

have you even looked at benchmarks? a 4850 will blow away a 4670 especially at 1600 or higher res. yes your cpu would not let you get all a 4870 or gtx260 could deliver at 1600x900 though. at 1600x900 and with your cpu I would go no higher than a 4850. I think you would be quite pleased with that setup.

DX11 cards might not be out for 3-5 months so no point in waiting if you want to play games now. plus a 4850 can be picked up for 100 bucks. if you really need a card now there is no reason to wait considering what kind of performance you can get for the money.

 

[TheMeanestGuest]

Hmm, perhaps it's time to upgrade my processor as well then. I did just get it last summer, but I only chose an X2 over a Core 2 because of my budget, as well as the fact that I received a free AM2 mobo from a friend who bought it accidentally.

Although I think a new mobo/proc/card combo might be more than I'd like to spend, which lends credence to the 4850 argument.

Although, I have heard that the Phenom 2s (as well as the Athlon 2 that is out) do work on my mobo even though they aren't officially supported (M2N SLI Deluxe). But I'm not sure I'd want to risk that.

Quite the conundrum.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: TheMeanestGuest
Hmm, perhaps it's time to upgrade my processor as well then. I did just get it last summer, but I only chose an X2 over a Core 2 because of my budget, as well as the fact that I received a free AM2 mobo from a friend who bought it accidentally.

Although I think a new mobo/proc/card combo might be more than I'd like to spend, which lends credence to the 4850 argument.

Although, I have heard that the Phenom 2s (as well as the Athlon 2 that is out) do work on my mobo even though they aren't officially supported (M2N SLI Deluxe). But I'm not sure I'd want to risk that.

Quite the conundrum.

well I would just get a 4850 now. that will give a very good gaming experience based on the rest of your setup. then I would wait until that setup isnt getting it done and reevaluate a new build at that time.

 

[Candymancan21]

4870 1gb, i upgraded from my 4850 to a 4890 and im glad i did. The 4850 is to slow especially for crysis.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: Candymancan21
4870 1gb, i upgraded from my 4850 to a 4890 and im glad i did. The 4850 is to slow especially for crysis.

please READ the thread. we all know a 4890 or a 4780 is faster than a 4850. at 1600 and with his cpu he wont get much more out of anything faster than a 4850.