New Video Card - Will I be bottlenecked?

[7earitup]

Hello everyone -

My 8800GT as been giving me problems as of recently. I cannot run any drivers with it that are newer than the 191.07s. Therefore I am looking at buying a new video card.

First, let it be said that I am not looking to upgrade any other component of my computer at this time - I just want to upgrade the video card (in the near future)

My current specs:

E6750 @ 3.2GHZ CPU
6GB DDR2 800 RAM
GIGABYTE P35-DS3L MOBO
8800GT VID
2 x 160 GB HDs
700W OCZ GamerXstream PSU
SB Audigy 2 ZS

My monitor is a 24" 2405FPW Dell @ 1920x1200. I would of course like to game in this native resolution.

I have been looking at this card a lot recently: ATI 5850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102886

I have been burned by ATI many times but that amount of power for that price is hard to beat. I suspect this price will go down even further once the new NVIDIA cards settle in a bit.

So the question is, will my current specs seriously bottleneck a card like the 5850?

Also, are there any other suggestions for a good "bang for your buck" card in the 200-300 dollar range?


Thanks so much!

 

[zerocool84]

Well you haven't said what rez you play at. Currently the 5850 is the best bang for the buck of the high end cards but you could get away with something not as fast that's cheaper.

 

[7earitup]

Well you haven't said what rez you play at. Currently the 5850 is the best bang for the buck of the high end cards but you could get away with something not as fast that's cheaper.

I added the resolution (1920x1200) to my OP.

 

[zerocool84]

I added the resolution (1920x1200) to my OP.

Oh then definitely the 5850.

 

[bryanW1995]

you cpu is fine for a 5850. also, since the 5850 is the only card in the $200-300 range, I think that your decision has kind of been made for you.

 

[toyota]

you certainly wont get all a 5850 can do in the more cpu intensive games but really that card is your only choice for 1920 gaming in that price range.

 

[MarcVenice]

you certainly wont get all a 5850 can do in the more cpu intensive games but really that card is your only choice for 1920 gaming in that price range.

What he's trying to say is, that at very FEW moments, when your fps-counter is allready at 100+, you won't hit 125fps, because you don't have a quadcore ...

Grab a HD 5850 and you'll be set. My little brother bought one for 1920x1200, and he's playing all the new games without a hitch (Bad Company 2, Just Cause 2, etc)

 

[toyota]

What he's trying to say is, that at very FEW moments, when your fps-counter is allready at 100+, you won't hit 125fps, because you don't have a quadcore ...

Grab a HD 5850 and you'll be set. My little brother bought one for 1920x1200, and he's playing all the new games without a hitch (Bad Company 2, Just Cause 2, etc)

thats NOT what I am saying at all. its moronic to think you will be averaging 100-125 fps in the more intensive games even with a faster setup. that 3.2 cpu Core 2 will most certainly make some cpu intensive games dip in the 40s, 30s, and even 20s in many cases. those games are few and will still be playable but an i5/i7 would provide a better experience with a 5850. that being said of course he should get the 5850 since for his res and price range it makes sense.

 

[7earitup]

Well, I figured that the 5850 would last me quite a while. Once I have more money available then I can upgrade the whole computer and just throw the 5850 in that setup.

 

[AlucardX]

thats NOT what I am saying at all. its moronic to think you will be averaging 100-125 fps in the more intensive games even with a faster setup. that 3.2 cpu Core 2 will most certainly make some cpu intensive games dip in the 40s, 30s, and even 20s in many cases. those games are few and will still be playable but an i5/i7 would provide a better experience with a 5850. that being said of course he should get the 5850 since for his res and price range it makes sense.

++agreed

 

[7earitup]

thats NOT what I am saying at all. its moronic to think you will be averaging 100-125 fps in the more intensive games even with a faster setup. that 3.2 cpu Core 2 will most certainly make some cpu intensive games dip in the 40s, 30s, and even 20s in many cases. those games are few and will still be playable but an i5/i7 would provide a better experience with a 5850. that being said of course he should get the 5850 since for his res and price range it makes sense.

I realize this - I am just trying to factor out the video card at this point and I do not want to buy a 100 dollar card comparable to the 8800GT. If I am going to be spending money I want something better.

 

[toyota]

I realize this - I am just trying to factor out the video card at this point and I do not want to buy a 100 dollar card comparable to the 8800GT. If I am going to be spending money I want something better.

yeah you should most certainly go for the 5850. just remember that in some of those cpu intensive games when you are dropping in the 30fps range thats it probably not the cards fault. in most cases you will not even know though unless you are looking at the fps. I would get a 5850 myself buy I draw the line at around 200 bucks for a gpu so it might be a while.

 

[sillyfresh]

Thought I would just post my question here instead of making a new post. I ordered a new video card, ATI 4890 and I wanted to know as well if it will bottleneck me that bad. I am running a P4 630. Haven't played games for the longest so had no need to upgrade but recently started playing WoW a bit with some friends again. I play on 1280 x 1024. Wanted to hold off on upgrading cpu for a bit but if it is going to bottleneck me alot I might just upgrade sooner than later.

 

[happy medium]

Thought I would just post my question here instead of making a new post. I ordered a new video card, ATI 4890 and I wanted to know as well if it will bottleneck me that bad. I am running a P4 630. Haven't played games for the longest so had no need to upgrade but recently started playing WoW a bit with some friends again. I play on 1280 x 1024. Wanted to hold off on upgrading cpu for a bit but if it is going to bottleneck me alot I might just upgrade sooner than later.

Yes thats a really bad bottleneck, do not put that card with that cpu.
WOW has been proven to be cpu intensive.

What gpu do you have now?

 

[toyota]

Thought I would just post my question here instead of making a new post. I ordered a new video card, ATI 4890 and I wanted to know as well if it will bottleneck me that bad. I am running a P4 630. Haven't played games for the longest so had no need to upgrade but recently started playing WoW a bit with some friends again. I play on 1280 x 1024. Wanted to hold off on upgrading cpu for a bit but if it is going to bottleneck me alot I might just upgrade sooner than later.

perhaps you should have checked BEFORE you ordered a video card like that. no matter what res you play at that cpu is going to kill half or more of what the 4890 is even capable of in modern games. heck that cpu doesnt even meet the min requirements to play many newer games.

 

[happy medium]

perhaps ypu should have checked BEFORE you ordered a video card like. no matter what res you play at that cpu is going to kill half of what the 4890 is even capable of. that cpu doesnt even meet the min requirements to play many newer games.

I beat you to it Toyota....J/K

 

[sillyfresh]

yup that's what i figured. Upgrading the cpu is not an issue, just was wondering if I could hold off lol. I'm running a 6800 gt right now. What would you say would be the minimum cpu I should buy with that card? I was thinking next cpu I would purchase would be a core 2 duo 8400 or 8500?

 

[happy medium]

yup that's what i figured. Upgrading the cpu is not an issue, just was wondering if I could hold off lol. I'm running a 6800 gt right now.

A 6800gt preety much maxes your cpu.
I had a 7800gs with a P4 and I was cpu limited.

 

[tweakboy]

Grab a GTX 260 216 core 896mb for 150 to 200 dollars,, YOur CPU is fine,, gl

 

[happy medium]

yup that's what i figured. Upgrading the cpu is not an issue, just was wondering if I could hold off lol. I'm running a 6800 gt right now. What would you say would be the minimum cpu I should buy with that card? I was thinking next cpu I would purchase would be a core 2 duo 8400 or 8500?QUOTE]

Buy a i5 750 cpu. 200$ much, much faster.
No reason to get a core 2 anymore, that cpu is old and becomming obsolete fast.

Post a thread in the general hardware forums ,you will get plenty of help there.
Make sure you tell them your budget and what you do with your computer. (games ,movies,ect ect)

Mabe I'll come over and help ya some.

 

[7earitup]

Can anyone comment on this Gigabyte 5850?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125318

 

[happy medium]

Can anyone comment on this Gigabyte 5850?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125318

For 10$ less I'd get the MSI Twin frozr II with overvoltage support.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127500

 

[7earitup]

Honestly, I think I would prefer this XFX one with the double lifetime warranty. That is hard to beat for the price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150477

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Honestly, I think I would prefer this XFX one with the double lifetime warranty. That is hard to beat for the price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150477

Well its a non reference design so you can forget about overvolting it. I guess you win with the warranty and slightly lower price but you lose overclocking potential.

 

[7earitup]

At this point I just want something that I can rely on. My 8800GT has been nothing but a pain in the rear recently. I really like EVGA's warranties and would like something similar on the ATI side.