• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

suggestions for gpu upgrade

plastick

plastick

Golden Member
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
 
Last edited:
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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?
 
Last edited:
happy medium said:
There are not much of a upgrade from 2 gts250's in sli.
Click to expand...

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
 
Jhatfie said:
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
Click to expand...

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?
 
happy medium said:
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?
Click to expand...

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

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

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

Here is a quick review.
 
Last edited:
happy medium said:
Crossfire/sli for a single 22" monitor? Russian? I know you know better.🙂
Click to expand...

😛

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
MW2_AA4_01.png

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

Starcraft II
Ultra_1680.png

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

BF:BC2
High_01.png

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.
 
Last edited:
RussianSensation said:
😛 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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
RussianSensation said:
😛

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
MW2_AA4_01.png

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

Starcraft II
Ultra_1680.png

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

BF:BC2
High_01.png

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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
plastick said:
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.
Click to expand...
8 years here and you have never seen an image in a post??? 😵

so are your cards 512mb or 1gb models?
 
plastick said:
One is an EVGA and the other is PNY and they are both 512mb
Click to expand...

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.
 
Jhatfie said:
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
Click to expand...

happy medium said:
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?
Click to expand...



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.

Termie said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top