Spend my $200 now or wait til Christmas?

[Barfo]

So, I really want to upgrade my 4850 and I have $200 (max $250) to spend. To tell the truth, I don't really need the upgrade, though it'd be nice to crank some settings up (I play at 1080p), so I can definitely wait a few months if I can be certain that I can get a much better deal around Christmas than now. I have my eyes on the 460 1 GB and the 5850 (if it comes down in price by then).

So what do you say, are prices coming down by the end of the year or should I just order a 460 now?

 

[Madcatatlas]

Spend it now on a GTX460 1g factory overclocked version. a 460 will be around the gtx285 lvl of performance if you compare it to the generation of cards of which you have one.

Dont hit me if im off 5%-10% though, i could be.

a nice card in any case.

 

[tincart]

The 460 1GB is a good buy at current prices and should give you good improvements over the 4850.

It is unclear whether or not ATi will be bringing out new graphics chips for the Christmas season. If they are, they will probably have very positive effects on prices of 58xx series cards.

Prices might fall anyways in order to compete with nV more effectively but there's no guarantee of that either.

Best buy now: 460 1GB
Best buy at Christmas: ???

 

[tigersty1e]

I would wait and see where the GTX 470 prices settle.

They have been falling and I've seen them go for $240 AR.

 

[Madcatatlas]

I would wait and see where the GTX 470 prices settle.

They have been falling and I've seen them go for $240 AR.

I would recommend 460 over the 470 or the 480.

The 460 is on a whole different level in terms of power efficience, heat and noise.

If you are considering the 470 or the 480, i would recommend a 5870 or just waiting til christmas

 

[Athadeus]

Get the 460 now. I doubt you'll see the 470 as low as it was again soon, and your PSU might not be up to the task of powering one of those anyways.

 

[nitromullet]

I would wait and see where the GTX 470 prices settle.

They have been falling and I've seen them go for $240 AR.

Really? Where?

The best I can find is this Asus for $270 AMIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-372-_-Product

 

[GaiaHunter]

Do you feel the need as in "this game runs so slow it isn't fun" or is more the upgrade hitch.

If it is the first buy. If it is the second hold.

 

[Barfo]

Do you feel the need as in "this game runs so slow it isn't fun" or is more the upgrade hitch.

If it is the first buy. If it is the second hold.

Definitely the second.

 

[TygGer]

I would recommend 460 over the 470 or the 480.

The 460 is on a whole different level in terms of power efficience, heat and noise.

If you are considering the 470 or the 480, i would recommend a 5870 or just waiting til christmas

Say if the price for the 470 is similar to the 460, would you still go with the 460?

 

[tigersty1e]

Really? Where?

The best I can find is this Asus for $270 AMIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-372-_-Product

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...XKG_jd_xitdu5Q

$30 Coupon (say4753)

 

[OCGuy]

460 is a great buy. You can always play the waiting game, but in the end it means you dont have any new toys!

 

[tigersty1e]

I would recommend 460 over the 470 or the 480.

The 460 is on a whole different level in terms of power efficience, heat and noise.

If you are considering the 470 or the 480, i would recommend a 5870 or just waiting til christmas

eh, what? what are you on? your recommendations don't make sense at all.

The 470 can be found for $240 AR and the 5870 is found for $380.

460 for $230 vs the 470 for $240... that's a no brainer.

 

[bryanW1995]

Really? Where?

The best I can find is this Asus for $270 AMIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-372-_-Product

newegg had an msi unit for $239.99 AR shipped a couple weeks ago.


@OP: wait. BF deals are just a few months away. they will have great deals even if nothing new is out by then. if something new IS out by then, then you should get even better bargains.

 

[BD231]

The 460 is a great card but you would get more muscle out of two 4850's in xfire at less than half the cost.

 

[darkewaffle]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...XKG_jd_xitdu5Q

Galaxy 470 for 239.99 shipped AR + Coupon SAY4753 if that's what you're looking for

 

[nyker96]

I think AmD supposedly has some type of new card out toward end of the year. maybe it'll be something worth waiting for. but no specifics as to what the card will perform like. if you buying now 460/1gb is an excellent choice indeed.

 

[PingviN]

If you don't really need the upgrade, hold onto your money and see what Souther Island brings to the playground.

 

[nitromullet]

newegg had an msi unit for $239.99 AR shipped a couple weeks ago.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...XKG_jd_xitdu5Q

Galaxy 470 for 239.99 shipped AR + Coupon SAY4753 if that's what you're looking for

Thanks, but these are both dead deals. Newegg isn't offering the MSI card for that much now, and the coupon code is dead.

 

[lambchops511]

I'd say get a GTX 460 and OC it. best value/perf per $ you can spend.

how many times in your life do you get to buy and enjoy a new vcard =P

 

[nitromullet]

I personally wouldn't buy a $200 card now if I was running a 4850. Not a big enough jump IMO. it sounds like $200 is quite a bit of cash for to spend on a video card, so in your shoes I'd make it more worth your while. See what Southern Islands brings to the table. If the Southern Islands cards themselves don't sell in the price range you are willing to pay, it will most likely force prices down on all current cards.

Granted, I love that new card smell as much as anyone... Plus, I know sometimes you just gotta scratch that upgrade itch.

 

[Nintendesert]

I would wait at this point. Hold onto the money, add a little bit more to it each paycheck and then when the new ATI chips hit, make a purchase then. Might not even be one of those, but you'll be able to get a good deal on some of the more expensive higher end stuff that's out now.

Since performance isn't hurting you right now, no sense in rushing into a purchase that won't gain you much.

 

[RussianSensation]

460 for $230 vs the 470 for $240... that's a no brainer.

Ya exactly! The 460 needs an overclock to 800-850mhz just to match a stock 470. The 470 is around 7% slower on average than the 5870 but costs $150 less....it's impossible to recommend the 5870.

OP, you said you don't really need the upgrade. As a result, I would just wait longer - SI will bring even better cards on the market and with it maybe a GTX475/485, etc.

 

[nenforcer]

Since you currently have a 4850 which is decent enough I would wait until Christmas if you can.

The 460 1GB is currently the card to get between $200 - $230 but I think things may change dramatically if AMD releases Southern Islands (HD 6000) cards before Christmas.
However, its possible they made ride out 2010 with HD 5000 and unload HD 6000 in Q1 2011.

If you absolutely must purchase something now like someone else suggested you could get another HD 4850 for cheap and Crossfire them since your motherboard supports it.

 

[solofly]

The 460 is a great card but you would get more muscle out of two 4850's in xfire at less than half the cost.

Stay away from ati's crossfire configs...