Upgrade From 9600GT

[geokilla]

So it's about time I start considering upgrading my 9600GT to something more powerful as it's the weakest component in my computer, besides the HDD. I'm deciding between a GTX 260, GTS 450, GTX 460, and ATI 5770. Naturally, the ATI 5770 does not seem to be a logical choice as I am a folder.

I'm more of a casual gamer and the only game I've played lately is SC2. I have a bunch of other games I got and I either never played them.

My budget would be around $140 and lower, of course the lower the better. I game at 1280X1024, but I might be able to move up to a higher resolution and bigger monitor come Christmas time.

The two cards that I found at a good price brand new are,

ASUS GTX 460 768MB DirectCU TOP for $115AR

MSI GTX 460 1024MB Cyclone for $160AR

I plan to upgrade my monitor down the road to a HD monitor, but that could be anywhere from a couple months to couple years.

 

[bryanW1995]

don't know where the deal is right now, but since BF there has been a $90 AR deal on galaxy gtx 460 768 cards. current MIR is good until 5/1, you should check hot deals or slickdeals.net to find it. that cooler on the asus is nice, but those cards OC just with stock cooling.

 

[-Slacker-]

At 12x10 a gtx 460 768mb should be able to plow through anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat (maybe even the upcoming BF3).

But if you're planning to upgrade your monitor anytime soon, then I recommend something like a hd 6850

I'd go with this asus

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-419-_-Product

or this HIS, because it's a reference model:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-348-_-Product

 

[FalseChristian]

If you're planning to upgrade your LCD you'll want a GTX 460 1GB.

 

[Termie]

At your resolution, and your budget, and with your interest in folding, the GTX460-768 is absolutely unmatched right now. If you can't find the $90 deal, the $115 deal is still pretty good, as it has a better cooler.

 

[Vette73]

You can get a full 1gig 460 for $146
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127551

No need to get the 768 version as it would only save $20 or so factoring in shipping.

Some 5850's have come down but still higher than $140.
You can get the 5850 for $169 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125318

 

[geokilla]

All the sites you gave are American. I'm Canadian.

The deals don't show up in the direct link because on NCIX, you sometimes to have click the dead via the weekly specials site first.

I do plan to upgrade my monitor, but I dunno when. Could be in a couple months to a couple years as I know for a fact I'm going to get an earful with this GPU upgrade >.>

 

[Vette73]

There is newegg.ca

But instead of looking at sites and cards look at the chips and find the best price...

460 1gig. Has full cores for the 460 and 256bit memory (Top of the line 460 has both full memory and cores for the 460 series.)
460 768meg. Has full cores of 460 but lowwer memory 192bit (Better at lowwer resolution)
460se 1gig. Has less cores but full 256bit memory. (Better at higher resolution)
450 1gig. has 192 core and only 128bit memory.

For ATI the 5770 is faster than the 450 and cheap but will not really fight the 460 cards. The 5850 has been coming down in price and is a great card. Not sure if it has dropped enouhg in CA for you though.

 

[bryanW1995]

All the sites you gave are American. I'm Canadian.

The deals don't show up in the direct link because on NCIX, you sometimes to have click the dead via the weekly specials site first.

I do plan to upgrade my monitor, but I dunno when. Could be in a couple months to a couple years as I know for a fact I'm going to get an earful with this GPU upgrade >.>

right now gtx 460 768 is within about 10% of the 1gb card up to 1680x1050. If you're not going higher than that then the 768 card is fine, otherwise grab a 1gb card or maybe 6850.

 

[geokilla]

All monitors are 1080P now, which means if I get a new monitor, then the GTX 460 1GB would be a better buy. But as I said, I dunno when my monitor upgrade is. I know I'm going to get an earful with this GPU upgrade.

 

[SickBeast]

TBH I find that the 768mb 460 is fine at 1920x1200. There's the odd game where I will have to reduce the AA a bit, but overall I've found it very fast at that resolution.

It's not worth $40 extra for 256mb of vram and a few shaders, trust me. If you're going to spend $40 more, there are better options out there.

 

[geokilla]

I ended up buying the ASUS GTX 460 for $133AR tax included. Paid $163 up front.

@Sick. What games are fine at 1920X1200? There's so much texture and stuff going on where all the reviews I've seen, at that resolution the 1GB of VRAM makes a huge difference.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Congrats on the new card man. Should be like night and day compared to that old 9600GT.

 

[geokilla]

Congrats on the new card man. Should be like night and day compared to that old 9600GT.

Was looking forward to it, till I spotted this.

Right so I ordered the ASUS GTX 460 768MB for $163 - $30 MIR taxes included, but now I see this deal. I think I'll cancel my ASUS order and pick up the Palit GTX 470 instead. I wonder how loud it is though... I know it's faster than the GTX 460, plus there's no rebates involved!

http://www.vuugo.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pc=NE5TX470F09DA-P1025&cf=PCI+Express+2.0

 

[qliveur]

If you can get a GTX 470 that cheap, I'd jump on it.