Practical advantages of Video card updates, or are we just all GEEKS?

[mjolnir2k]

in 1 year I have gone from a V5 5500 which I paid $250 for and sold for $65 to a Gainward GF2 Ti450 which I paid $125 for and sold for $70 to a GF2 Ti500 Golden Sample which I got a sweet deal on (which is why I even bothered switching from my GF2 ti450)

Now of course i am thinking of upgrading to a GF3 ti200 or ti500 (not even thinking about the GF4 cards yet, too much $$)

So is there any real reason that we all keep upgrading these cards. Sure i get better scores in 3dMark2001...but can I REALLY see any difference in the actual GAMES I play? I am usually running 800x600 res anyway. Is all this upgrading done to be the king of the 3dmark hill?

so what's the point?


ps. Game I play...Empire Earth (are there any other worthwhile?)

 

[JOSEPHLB]

You're probably right..

There are many "geeks" that will justify upgrading from an old "Geforce 3 Ti 500" to the new GF4 Ti 4600 based on 3DMARK 2001 alone...

Then, of course, after they make that purchase.. they'll flock to the forums and newsgroups complaining about how their 3DMark score only went from 8000 to 10,000 and still bitch about it, and wonder why it will not hit 11,000 ; 12,000 ; etc...

 

[Mavrick007]

For the use that you have, there isn't any practical use for a new fancy smancy card. There are people who want the best and will pay for it, but if you don't have the use, why waste your money. Get it later when prices have gone down. Some people want to get the best fps that they can on any current and prepare for the new games soon to be released, but if you are comfortable with your card now, don't upgrade.

 

[Boogak]

If you're still playing games on 15" monitors at 800x600, all the newest video cards are overkill for you. People with 21"+ monitors are the ones that need the extra fillrate so they can play in decent resolutions on their big screen monitors. I know the War3 beta at 1280x960 with 2x FSAA looks absolutely gorgeous on my 21" Trinitron. When I tried dropping it down to 1024x768 2x FSAA, everything looked to blurry and not very sharp.

 

[mrVW]

If you actually USE your computer for work, where it actually impacts your income

DualHead/nView/Twinview can not be beat. Two 17" monitors side by side is way more productive in Windows / Linux / Whatever than some large 25" monitor... and much more economical.

If you are actually creating/writing things - it is a big difference. Spending $2000 on my my two flat screen LCD's plus a dual-DVI video card is a good investment.... I'm way more productive.

 

[rbV5]

Looks like your "upgrades" have been somewhat sideways (similar performing cards).

 

[WA261]

if you have the $ its no biggie

 

[BFG10K]

So is there any real reason that we all keep upgrading these cards.

So we can run games faster and at higher levels of eye candy.

Sure i get better scores in 3dMark2001...but can I REALLY see any difference in the actual GAMES I play?

If you don't know why you're upgrading it probably means you shouldn't be doing so in the first place.

I am usually running 800x600 res anyway.

Try 1600 x 1200 and prepare to be blown away.

Is all this upgrading done to be the king of the 3dmark hill?

I NEVER run 3DMark.