Upgrade question

Dorkenstein

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2004
3,554
0
0
I am desperate for a new GPU and I was debating waiting for a 4870x2 but I don't think I can wait long enough for them to stay in stock and for the gouging to stop.

I have a 22" CRT Diamondtron, what card would allow me to play at 16x12 (or higher) res with all the eye candy turned on in a recent graphics heavy game?

If it's less than a 4870x2 I would love to know so I can buy one. Thank you very much, I appreciate your help.
 

sgrinavi

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2007
4,537
0
76
A single 4870 would do fine at that res for nearly anything you throw at it.

The x2s are due out any day; it can't hurt to wait a couple more days.
 

Dorkenstein

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2004
3,554
0
0
Do you think it's likely to get one on launch day for close to MSRP without hovering over the inventory page at Newegg all day? Thanks for replying.
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
10,460
0
0
Originally posted by: Dorkenstein
Do you think it's likely to get one on launch day for close to MSRP without hovering over the inventory page at Newegg all day? Thanks for replying.

I used to have that monitor and IIRC 19X12 at 75Hz is the highest resolution you can do with it.

Given that criteria, a 4870X2 is largely overkill for you. Personally I would get a 9800GX2 for half the price if you want a dual GPU card, or a GTX2XX/HD4870.

I doubt there will be much gouging on the 4870X2, which is supposed to launch tomorrow, and will be the fastest card available.

Any of the cards I mentioned will give you good fps/IQ at 19X12, only other considerations are PhysX (NVIDIA) and DX10.1, Tesseltor (ATi).
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
2,971
126
Originally posted by: nRollo

I used to have that monitor and IIRC 19X12 at 75Hz is the highest resolution you can do with it.
That doesn't sound right at all. What was the model number?

1920x1200 is not even a CRT resolution since it's 16:10, plus most quality CRTs 21" or bigger can do 2048x1536.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
At 16x12, a 4870 or GTX 260 will performance very well. However, the 4870X2 is supposed to launch tomorrow<?>. I'd at least wait until the end of the week before making a purchasing decision.
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
10,460
0
0
Originally posted by: BFG10K
Originally posted by: nRollo

I used to have that monitor and IIRC 19X12 at 75Hz is the highest resolution you can do with it.
That doesn't sound right at all. What was the model number?

1920x1200 is not even a CRT resolution since it's 16:10, plus most quality CRTs 21" or bigger can do 2048x1536.

http://softwaregrabber.stores.yahoo.net/37141.html

My bad- it was 19X14 @76Hz. (you'll have to pardon me, been years since I've thought of things in 4:3) Should be the same as what he has, I believe.

In any case, my original advice stands:

Even 19X14 is pushing it on that monitor for eyestrain, and he did mention "less so I can buy it". A 4870X2 is not needed to run 19X14 for anything, IMO. Crysis would be the closest, and a 4870X2 isn't what you want for Crysis.

About the only argument you could make would be the 8XAA, and I guess a guy looking to spend less isn't going to think that incremental increase merits double the cost. Guy who doesn't care about money- sure- will be the fastest single card tomorrow at games that scale.
 

Creig

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,171
13
81
Originally posted by: BFG10K
Originally posted by: nRollo

I used to have that monitor and IIRC 19X12 at 75Hz is the highest resolution you can do with it.
That doesn't sound right at all. What was the model number?

1920x1200 is not even a CRT resolution since it's 16:10, plus most quality CRTs 21" or bigger can do 2048x1536.

Actually, 1920x1200 is a CRT resolution. There just probably aren't many CRTs that are capable of displaying it. I have an HP A7217A which is a 24" 16:10 CRT and I prefer using 1920x1200 as long as my framerates stay high enough. If not, I just drop it down to 1680x1050 and keep gaming with no loss of clarity unlike an LCD.
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
2,971
126
Originally posted by: Creig

There just probably aren't many CRTs that are capable of displaying it.
Any CRT that can display 1920x1440 or better can also display 1920x1200, but that isn?t the point.

The point is that on a 4:3 CRT there isn't much point since you?ll get black bars, unless you stretch it back to 4:3, which then distorts the image.
 

Creig

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,171
13
81
True. I guess I meant there are CRT monitors that can display full-screen 16:10 @ 1920x1200 without any black bars.
 

daveybrat

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jan 31, 2000
5,735
949
126
I'd play most games at 1600x1200 if i were you so that you can set the refresh rate to 85 or 100hz. An ATI 4870 or Geforce GTX260 should be fine for you.