Here is the back story, please skip down to the question (in bold) if you don't care to know the history.
About 15 months ago I made a post asking what I should upgrade next (http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2097990). I always do a piece by piece upgrade rather then a whole new system since I don't have a ton of money to spend at one time (for my PC, that is). It was down to a new Monitor, Video Card, or Operating System. Boy, a lot has happened in that time.
I up buying a new monitor and O/S. I can't remember which came first. I got a 24" HP IPS monitor (ZR24W). I love the monitor. Good screen size and wonderful colors. I also have upgraded from Win XP Pro to Win7 Home Premium. At the same time I bought the O/S, I got a 96GB SSD. I still play BFBC2 and it still plays well. I don't run the highest settings, but it is more then fine for me. I do remember seeing more details since in BFBC2 since the upgrades. I don't know if it was from the upgrade from DX9 or if it was going from a TN panel to a IPS. I remember being stunned at how much better the smoke looked (during the loading screen on Panama Canal).
Recently, I upgraded from 2x2GB to 2x4GB of ram. I know that for what I do with my PC it won't make a big difference, but I also know that for current ram prices it was probably worth the $35 or so. The odd thing is that my pings seem to have lowered. Maybe it was that I had the modem and router unplugged for a while, when I had pulled out my PC to install the ram. If not, the only reason could be the more memory (everything else stayed the same)
OK, here is the question:
Now I'd like help in choosing what video card to get. I am still nobodies fanboy. I'll go with ATI or Nvidia depending which offers me the best product at the best price. But, I am also looking for a good warranty. It might matter a little bit less given that some companies have gone under lately (ie: BFG and someone else who used to offer a lifetime warranty). I think that limits me to a XFX or EVGA card (does EVGA still offer a 'real' lifetime warranty?)
Here are my PC specifications:
Windows 7 Home Premium
Asus M4A79XTD EVO mobo (using onboard audio now)
AMD Phenom II BE 555 (unlocked to quad core + O/C'd to 3.6Ghz)
Contac 29 heatsink with 120mm fan
2x4gb of Gskill ram (can't use the other 2 memory slots due to my CPU heatsink)
OCZ modxstream pro 700w PSU
96GB Kingston SSD
BFG 8800GTS 640MB
HP ZR24W 1920x1200 IPS Monitor
I don't have a 'hard' budget in place. I'd like to spend around $200, but I could go higher if things are worth it.
I surf the web (including car and PC forums), I game a bit (currently BFBC2), and I occasionally watch movies on my PC. I am thinking that I *might* want a ATI card because that would leave the possibility of Crossfire open for later on? But recently I remember reading somewhere that Nvidia is offering SLI on AMD motherboards (I have no idea if it is accurate or if it will work on my motherboard). In case it matters, I bought an 'upgrade' version of Win7. I believe that means that I am locked into using that O/S on my current Mobo.
I am considering buying BF3 (I might tell my family to get it for me for X-Mas). If I wasn't considering that, I probably wouldn't be considering upgrading my Video Card. That 8800GTS still does everything I ask of it. Would waiting another month or two make a difference? I honestly don't know what memory size I'll need on the new card. I don't know if going from 1gb to a 2gb card would make a difference for my PC and what I plan to use on it.
I apologize for such a long post. I tried to be complete and accurate. I also tried to make skipping the back story optional. I would greatly appreciate suggestions and advice on what is considered a good choice for me.
For what it is worth, I just saw a XFX 1Gb 6950 card on Newegg for $210 shipped ($180 AMIR). I'd think that is close to the best that ATI is offering at the moment. Again, I don't know if I'd want more then 1gb, if the 'extra' Compute Cores, Stream Processors + Texture Units are worth the price premium, etc...
One other thing I've been wondering about:
Should I consider getting a used card? I've heard that people were buying tons of video cards for bitcoin mining. I assume that any of those cards would have been run 24/7. *If* I could find a used one for sale *that still has a lifetime warranty* is there any reason I shouldn't get it? IIRC, XFX offers a 'double lifetime warranty' which *I believe* means that it is a lifetime warranty that is transferable once.
-Thanks, Ken
About 15 months ago I made a post asking what I should upgrade next (http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2097990). I always do a piece by piece upgrade rather then a whole new system since I don't have a ton of money to spend at one time (for my PC, that is). It was down to a new Monitor, Video Card, or Operating System. Boy, a lot has happened in that time.
I up buying a new monitor and O/S. I can't remember which came first. I got a 24" HP IPS monitor (ZR24W). I love the monitor. Good screen size and wonderful colors. I also have upgraded from Win XP Pro to Win7 Home Premium. At the same time I bought the O/S, I got a 96GB SSD. I still play BFBC2 and it still plays well. I don't run the highest settings, but it is more then fine for me. I do remember seeing more details since in BFBC2 since the upgrades. I don't know if it was from the upgrade from DX9 or if it was going from a TN panel to a IPS. I remember being stunned at how much better the smoke looked (during the loading screen on Panama Canal).
Recently, I upgraded from 2x2GB to 2x4GB of ram. I know that for what I do with my PC it won't make a big difference, but I also know that for current ram prices it was probably worth the $35 or so. The odd thing is that my pings seem to have lowered. Maybe it was that I had the modem and router unplugged for a while, when I had pulled out my PC to install the ram. If not, the only reason could be the more memory (everything else stayed the same)
OK, here is the question:
Now I'd like help in choosing what video card to get. I am still nobodies fanboy. I'll go with ATI or Nvidia depending which offers me the best product at the best price. But, I am also looking for a good warranty. It might matter a little bit less given that some companies have gone under lately (ie: BFG and someone else who used to offer a lifetime warranty). I think that limits me to a XFX or EVGA card (does EVGA still offer a 'real' lifetime warranty?)
Here are my PC specifications:
Windows 7 Home Premium
Asus M4A79XTD EVO mobo (using onboard audio now)
AMD Phenom II BE 555 (unlocked to quad core + O/C'd to 3.6Ghz)
Contac 29 heatsink with 120mm fan
2x4gb of Gskill ram (can't use the other 2 memory slots due to my CPU heatsink)
OCZ modxstream pro 700w PSU
96GB Kingston SSD
BFG 8800GTS 640MB
HP ZR24W 1920x1200 IPS Monitor
I don't have a 'hard' budget in place. I'd like to spend around $200, but I could go higher if things are worth it.
I surf the web (including car and PC forums), I game a bit (currently BFBC2), and I occasionally watch movies on my PC. I am thinking that I *might* want a ATI card because that would leave the possibility of Crossfire open for later on? But recently I remember reading somewhere that Nvidia is offering SLI on AMD motherboards (I have no idea if it is accurate or if it will work on my motherboard). In case it matters, I bought an 'upgrade' version of Win7. I believe that means that I am locked into using that O/S on my current Mobo.
I am considering buying BF3 (I might tell my family to get it for me for X-Mas). If I wasn't considering that, I probably wouldn't be considering upgrading my Video Card. That 8800GTS still does everything I ask of it. Would waiting another month or two make a difference? I honestly don't know what memory size I'll need on the new card. I don't know if going from 1gb to a 2gb card would make a difference for my PC and what I plan to use on it.
I apologize for such a long post. I tried to be complete and accurate. I also tried to make skipping the back story optional. I would greatly appreciate suggestions and advice on what is considered a good choice for me.
For what it is worth, I just saw a XFX 1Gb 6950 card on Newegg for $210 shipped ($180 AMIR). I'd think that is close to the best that ATI is offering at the moment. Again, I don't know if I'd want more then 1gb, if the 'extra' Compute Cores, Stream Processors + Texture Units are worth the price premium, etc...
One other thing I've been wondering about:
Should I consider getting a used card? I've heard that people were buying tons of video cards for bitcoin mining. I assume that any of those cards would have been run 24/7. *If* I could find a used one for sale *that still has a lifetime warranty* is there any reason I shouldn't get it? IIRC, XFX offers a 'double lifetime warranty' which *I believe* means that it is a lifetime warranty that is transferable once.
-Thanks, Ken
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