suggestions for gpu upgrade

[plastick]

So I came into some money and figure I could get a better video card. I have about $300-$400.

Currently I have two GeForce 9800 GTX+ SLI but I'm not very happy with their performance. It's good for the games I play, but I know it could be a lot better. I mostly play MW2, Battlefield, and SC2. I can't really max out the settings in these games without noticeable drop in performance. Also, I do some misc 3D modeling/rendering from time to time.

I'm not a big hardware guy and I don't care about overclocking... usually I just read reviews and get something on newegg, but I usually end up paying a lot for something, then the price goes way down as usual. I figure I could get something used that was great a maybe year ago and still have it out-perform my two 9800's.

Any recommendations are appreciated.

My system:
Acer X223Wbd 22"
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz
EVGA E758 - X58 Motherboard
2 x GeForce 9800 GTX+ SLI
6GB Corsair Dominator
Antec TPQ-850 850W PSU

 

[cusideabelincoln]

In that price you can go with two GTX 560s or a single GTX 570. Both options are definitely faster than 9800GTX SLI. You might be running into VRAM limitations if you have the 512MB versions of the 9800GTX.

You can check the used market if you wish, in which case you can keep an eye out for a GTX 480, GTX 470 SLI, GTX 460 SLI.

 

[plastick]

In that price you can go with two GTX 560s or a single GTX 570. Both options are definitely faster than 9800GTX SLI.

Thanks. I had been looking at the 570..

 

[bryanW1995]

With a 22" monitor, anything over a gtx 560ti is overkill. I'd grab one of those now, they've been spotted recently for ~ $185 AR. I know that it's way below your budget, but that single card will still be better than your current setup.

I couldn't find an exact comparison, but 9800gx2 is ~ gtx 285 performance, so here's a decent view at Anandtech Bench. Obviously if you still want more after getting the gtx 560ti then sli would be killer with that card.

 

[happy medium]

It seems 2 9800gtx+ (same as 2 gts250's) will easily best a gtx285.
They should be about gtx460 performance depending on sli scaling. I don't think a gtx560ti is much of a upgrade, I'd go for a gtx570.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/graphics/display/gf-gts250-sli_8.html#sect1

 

[Jhatfie]

Since that monitor is only 1680x1050, there are plenty of cards and configurations that would offer great performance.

For under $200, a GTX 560 TI ($190) or HD 6870 ($145) would do well
For at or under $300, a 1GB ($220) or 2GB HD6950 ($245) or GTX570 ($275) or HD6870's ($290) in crossfire <----- Cards in this range should offer some additioanal headroom and are what I would recommend.
For at or under $400, GTX580 or GTX560 TI's in SLI

At that resolution I see no reason to run a multi card setup at the moment. Do you plan on upgrading your monitor at some point soon?

 

[happy medium]

For under $200, a GTX 560 TI ($190) or HD 6870 ($145) would do well

There are not much of a upgrade from 2 gts250's in sli.

 

[Jhatfie]

There are not much of a upgrade from 2 gts250's in sli.

GTX9800's was a while ago, so I am having a hard time graphing their power compared to modern cards. I assume it is only 512MB RAM and they are not DX11, so both those items are huge limitations. Isn't a 560 TI or HD 6870 just about the same as a HD5870 in performance? A 5870 is just a bit slower than a GTX295, which is essentially slightly faster than SLI'd GTX260's right? I am pretty sure the 260 is a fair bit faster than the 9800 GTX.

My memory is fuzzy though, so I may be off

 

[happy medium]

GTX9800's was a while ago, so I am having a hard time graphing their power compared to modern cards. I assume it is only 512MB RAM and they are not DX11, so both those items are huge limitations. Isn't a 560 TI or HD 6870 just about the same as a HD5870 in performance? A 5870 is just a bit slower than a GTX295, which is essentially slightly faster than SLI'd GTX260's right? I am pretty sure the 260 is a fair bit faster than the 9800 GTX.

My memory is fuzzy though, so I may be off

I just make it simple 2 gts250 cards are about = to a gtx460, mabe a tad slower. gts250= 9800gtx+
Is going from a gtx460 to a gtx560ti a good upgrade. mabe 25&#37; faster?

If he is willing to overclock the gtx560ti, I would say go for it.
The safe bet is just grab a gtx570.

plasick?

 

[Jhatfie]

I just make it simple 2 gts250 cards are about = to a gtx460, mabe a tad slower. gts250= 9800gtx+
Is going from a gtx460 to a gtx560ti a good upgrade. mabe 25% faster?

If he is willing to overclock the gtx560ti, I would say go for it.
The safe bet is just grab a gtx570.

plasick?

Shoot, I do upgrades all the time for 25% or less improvement. lol

 

[RussianSensation]

2x HD6870s in CF for $320. You can mix and match brands. Newegg has some for $150-160 after rebates.

25&#37; Better performance than a GTX580 for $100 less. If you prefer NV, 2xGTX560s in SLI for a similar price, also faster than a GTX580.

GTX9800's was a while ago, so I am having a hard time graphing their power compared to modern cards.

9800GTX+ ~ GTS 250 1GB ~ HD4850 1GB/HD5750

Here is a quick review.

 

[happy medium]

2x HD6870s in CF for $320. You can mix and match brands. Newegg has some for $150-160 after rebates.

Better performance than a GTX580 for $100 less. If you prefer NV, 2xGTX560s in SLI for a similar price.

Crossfire/sli for a single 22" monitor? Russian? I know you know better.

 

[RussianSensation]

Crossfire/sli for a single 22" monitor? Russian? I know you know better.

He said he wasn't happy with 2x 9800GTX+. Those cards are prob. as fast as an HD5850 already. So I figured he wants very high fps / mins.

Let's take a look at the games plastick mentioned, specifically @ 1680x1050 4AA

MW2

HD4850 ~ 9800GTX+ = 60 fps!
That means 2x 9800GTX+ will give you > 90 fps easily.

Starcraft II

9800GT = 35 fps
That means 2x 9800GTX+ will likely produce > 60 fps here.

BF:BC2

HD4850 ~ 9800GTX+ = 38 fps
That means 2x 9800GTX+ should exceed 50 fps in this game.

So clearly, for the most part, his setup is fast enough already, yet he feels it isn't fast enough. Either he has 512mb cards, his SLI is not working properly OR perhaps he desires 60 fps min, 120+ fps avg. If he isn't happy with 30 fps min / 50-60 fps averages, then HD6870 CF/GTX560 SLI upgrade will satisfy his needs and provide double the performance. A single GTX570 isn't really going to do that.

 

[happy medium]

He said he wasn't happy with 2x 9800GTXs. Those cards are prob. as fast as an HD5850 already. So I figured if he wants a serious upgrade (perhaps he likes playing with 60 fps min, 100+ fps avg.), then HD6870 CF/GTX560 SLI fits his needs.

I did a little research and 2 9800gtx+'s = about a gtx 460 768, give or take.
A single gtx570 would be quite a nice upgrade, especially at 1600x1050.

 

[plastick]

He said he wasn't happy with 2x 9800GTX+. Those cards are prob. as fast as an HD5850 already. So I figured he wants very high fps / mins.

Let's take a look at the games plastick mentioned, specifically @ 1680x1050 4AA

MW2

HD4850 ~ 9800GTX+ = 60 fps!
That means 2x 9800GTX+ will give you > 90 fps easily.

Starcraft II

9800GT = 35 fps
That means 2x 9800GTX+ will likely produce > 60 fps here.

BF:BC2

HD4850 ~ 9800GTX+ = 38 fps
That means 2x 9800GTX+ should exceed 50 fps in this game.

So clearly, for the most part, his setup is fast enough already, yet he feels it isn't fast enough. Either he has 512mb cards, his SLI is not working properly OR perhaps he desires 60 fps min, 120+ fps avg. If he isn't happy with 30 fps min / 50-60 fps averages, then HD6870 CF/GTX560 SLI upgrade will satisfy his needs and provide double the performance. A single GTX570 isn't really going to do that.

Wow. this is the first time at this forum that I have ever seen an image in a post.

And you're probably right about me not having the settings correct with my SLI... I'm not an idiot when it comes to setting this stuff up, but perhaps I fudged something up.

 

[toyota]

Wow. this is the first time at this forum that I have ever seen an image in a post.

And you're probably right about me not having the settings correct with my SLI... I'm not an idiot when it comes to setting this stuff up, but perhaps I fudged something up.

8 years here and you have never seen an image in a post???

so are your cards 512mb or 1gb models?

 

[plastick]

so are your cards 512mb or 1gb models?

One is an EVGA and the other is PNY and they are both 512mb

 

[Termie]

One is an EVGA and the other is PNY and they are both 512mb

Bingo, it's the memory limitation, pure and simple. You have plenty of gpu horsepower in those cards already, but they can't harness it. Honestly, one hd6870, currently $150 on newegg for a xfx model with a lifetime warranty, will suit you just fine. You can always get another down the road if you feel the need.

 

[bryanW1995]

GTX9800's was a while ago, so I am having a hard time graphing their power compared to modern cards. I assume it is only 512MB RAM and they are not DX11, so both those items are huge limitations. Isn't a 560 TI or HD 6870 just about the same as a HD5870 in performance? A 5870 is just a bit slower than a GTX295, which is essentially slightly faster than SLI'd GTX260's right? I am pretty sure the 260 is a fair bit faster than the 9800 GTX.

My memory is fuzzy though, so I may be off

I just make it simple 2 gts250 cards are about = to a gtx460, mabe a tad slower. gts250= 9800gtx+
Is going from a gtx460 to a gtx560ti a good upgrade. mabe 25&#37; faster?

If he is willing to overclock the gtx560ti, I would say go for it.
The safe bet is just grab a gtx570.

plasick?

2x9800gtx is around gtx 285 or gtx 460 performance level. gtx 560 ti will be a good improvement, and that card is particularly outstanding at lower resolutions like 1680x1050. The difference from gtx 560ti to gtx 570 at 2560x1600 is quite noticeable, but at 1680x1050 he'll probably just be throwing his money away.

Bingo, it's the memory limitation, pure and simple. You have plenty of gpu horsepower in those cards already, but they can't harness it. Honestly, one hd6870, currently $150 on newegg for a xfx model with a lifetime warranty, will suit you just fine. You can always get another down the road if you feel the need.

I'd probably go with the extra $35 or so and get the gtx 560 ti in this case, but either card is clearly going to be an upgrade over the 512mb limitation on his current rig.