Upgrading from 8800GT?

[de8212]

I've been dragging my feet for a while about upgrading my Evga 8800GT for a while now. I really don't game a ton but I do play the COD series of games. 8800GT does OK but I know it can get better. So what would a decent upgrade be less than $200?

Also, I want to make sure if will fit in my case. Case is in sig.

 

[wuliheron]

You can get a radeon 5850 for maybe a little over $200.oo right now. Its a bit overkill for COD, but the best bang fer yer buck at the high end of your budget. At the low end I wouldn't get anything less then a gtx460 or radeon 5770.

In general, for a gaming card you want to spend well over a hundred bucks and go for the best bang fer yer buck. That doesn't leave a lot of choices in your case.

 

[Skurge]

What resolution do you run at?

Well, good cards under $200 include. (in order of performance)
HD5770 for $100 AR
GTX460 768 for $130 AR
GTX460 1GB for 160 AR
HD6850 for $160 AR
HD5850 for $180 AR
HD6870 for $200 AR

Those are the only ones you should be looking at IMO.
The longest card there, the 6870, is just under 10". It should fit in your case.

 

[BD231]

If you're not much of an overclocker a 6850 or 6870 is probably best. Stock cooling on most GTX 460's is crap so that's something to watch out for. When overclocked a GTX 460 will quickly overload almost any stock coolers thermal capacity.

Add that to lower CPU overhead, pretty even price points/performance and you've got yourself an easy choice in the 6850/6870.

 

[happy medium]

Stock cooling on most GTX 460's is crap so that's something to watch out for. When overclocked a GTX 460 will quickly overload almost any stock coolers thermal capacity.

This has got to be the biggest load of crap I ever read on this forum.

 

[RavenSEAL]

This has got to be the biggest load of crap I ever read on this forum.

It isn't, some GTX460s have crap cooling.

 

[Termie]

This has got to be the biggest load of crap I ever read on this forum.

It isn't, some GTX460s have crap cooling.

Most GTX460s run pretty cool, actually, even when overclocked. I think there were a few non-reference models put out that didn't run as cool (Galaxy, Zotac, EVGA EE), but I haven't heard of them overheating to the point of failure with reasonable overclocks.

All that being said, the HD6850 is probably the best value right now. For instance, here's one for $150 after rebate: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131374. You can get GTX460-768 models for less, but the HD6850 is significantly faster.

By the way, Happy Medium, when did you score the GTX460? Congrats - I know you were thinking about it for a while. What kind of improvement did you get over your 5750?

 

[happy medium]

What kind of improvement did you get over your 5750?

Thanks,
~2x the performance. I paid 85$ for my 5750 and 170$ for the gtx460, so I got what I wanted, 2x the performance for 2x the price.

 

[3DVagabond]

It isn't, some GTX460s have crap cooling.

This is true. While the GPU temps are fine, I've read that the VRM's can overheat and die. This is even some of the factory O/C'd cards!

If you can stand reading with Google Translate, here's an article.

http://translate.google.com/transla...809-5/comparatif-14-geforce-gtx-460-1-go.html

 

[happy medium]

This is true. While the GPU temps are fine, I've read that the VRM's can overheat and die. This is even some of the factory O/C'd cards!

If you can stand reading with Google Translate, here's an article.

http://translate.google.com/transla...809-5/comparatif-14-geforce-gtx-460-1-go.html

More misinformation................it was a palit card that all that fuss was about.

They updated there review and............quote......

"With the results updated to the final product, our recommendation stands at it is. The Palit GTX 460 Sonic Platinum edition remains a very lovely product which we can recommend very much. Thanks go out to the end-users who have been reporting their results and opinions here at Guru3D.com and and of course thanks to Palit for working with us, listening to us and to finalize a product that we can recommend wholeheartedly."

http://www.guru3d.com/news/updated-palit-gtx-460-sonic-platinum-results/

 

[s44]

It isn't, some GTX460s have crap cooling.

But not the reference coolers.

 

[de8212]

Wow, alot to think about.


I should have mentioned I have a 24" Dell Ultrasharp so 1920 X 1200 is the resolution.

I have always gone Nvidia, nothing against ATI though. Just always thought Nvidia had the lead on the hardware as well as driver support. I will do some research on ATI before I make a decision, especially if I get more bang for the buck at my price range.

 

[3DVagabond]

More misinformation................it was a palit card that all that fuss was about.

They updated there review and............quote......

"With the results updated to the final product, our recommendation stands at it is. The Palit GTX 460 Sonic Platinum edition remains a very lovely product which we can recommend very much. Thanks go out to the end-users who have been reporting their results and opinions here at Guru3D.com and and of course thanks to Palit for working with us, listening to us and to finalize a product that we can recommend wholeheartedly."

http://www.guru3d.com/news/updated-palit-gtx-460-sonic-platinum-results/

Please read the link before you accuse people of spreading misinformation. The specific page I linked to talks about the "EVGA FTW" and "The Beast from Point of View". No mention of the Palit. Also, it's not from Guru3D. If there is an update to the review I linked to, you haven't provided it.

In the link you provided there's no mention, that I saw, of the retail Palits having VRM heatsinks installed. They do state that they couldn't measure VRM temps, though. Only thing they mention is an updated BIOS that makes the card run quieter and hotter. Hardly addresses the problems in the review I provided.

 

[BD231]

This has got to be the biggest load of crap I ever read on this forum.

Unbeknownst to you it's not. I have one of the more extravagant coolers/vrm sinks in the Gigabyte GTX 460 OC and the stock cooler simply was not capeable of keeping that card cool at 1.50/1.087v in furmark or games that fully load the GPU. The temp would never stabilize in furmark and while gaming, even with the fans on full blast I could not leave my fingers on the heat pipe's.

Personally I don't like my hardware running that hot. At stock it's a different story but I'm just letting the OP know if he's an overclocker he might be a little disappointed with stock cooling like I was.

Bought an after market cooler and temps have been manageable ever since.

 

[notty22]

The gtx 460's are very cool running if not the coolest running 2-6 pin cards. Most run in 50's low 60's , some of the EE models run up to high 60's. That is not hot.
The heat pipes carry heat away from the gpu core/plate to the aluminum fins, which are blown by the fans.
Theres probably a dozen+ reviews showing them as cool ,stable running cards.
The 560's kicked the voltages up a notch, some of those come with ram cooling where most 460's and 6850's don't.
from gtx 560 review :

 

[3DVagabond]

The gtx 460's are very cool running if not the coolest running 2-6 pin cards. Most run in 50's low 60's , some of the EE models run up to high 60's. That is not hot.
The heat pipes carry heat away from the gpu core/plate to the aluminum fins, which are blown by the fans.
Theres probably a dozen+ reviews showing them as cool ,stable running cards.
The 560's kicked the voltages up a notch, some of those come with ram cooling where most 460's and 6850's don't.
from gtx 560 review :

That doesn't address the VRM's, especially when O/C'd. I don't think anyone is questioning the effectiveness of the HSF in cooling the GPU.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

That doesn't address the VRM's, especially when O/C'd. I don't think anyone is questioning the effectiveness of the HSF in cooling the GPU.

One is arguing A, the other is defending B - on two separate planes. Either a misunderstanding or a strawman.

 

[3DVagabond]

One is arguing A, the other is defending B - on two separate planes. Either a misunderstanding or a strawman.

Maybe I misunderstood the original post that said 460's had crap cooling? If anyone is saying that the 460 GPU isn't properly cooled, I'll disagree with them. They were the 1st Fermi arch. cards that didn't run hot. As well as having reasonable power consumption. There have been reports of poorly cooled VRM's though that appear to have merit.

 

[BD231]

Here's a video on my gigabyte gtx 460 OC cooler that was not sufficient for overclocking the gtx 460 ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFUdyciaz-c

Everyone told me this was one of the better coolers on the GTX 460's but as you can see you're already at 70c stock load temps which will burn you to the touch. Adding a slight amount of voltage completely overloaded the cooler in the video above which nobody told me was going to happen.

They just posted a colored graph and told me it was a cool running chip ....

Fortunately I only paid 140 for my gtx 1gb so buying an added cooler to get my overclock stable was not so bad. Still would have been nice to know before I bought the card, I might have considered something else.

 

[3DVagabond]

Here's a video on my gigabyte gtx 460 OC cooler that was not sufficient for overclocking the gtx 460 ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFUdyciaz-c

Everyone told me this was one of the better coolers on the GTX 460's but as you can see you're already at 70c stock load temps which will burn you to the touch. Adding a slight amount of voltage completely overloaded the cooler in the video above which nobody told me was going to happen.

They just posted a colored graph and told me it was a cool running chip ....

Fortunately I only paid 140 for my gtx 1gb so buying an added cooler to get my overclock stable was not so bad. Still would have been nice to know before I bought the card, I might have considered something else.

Well, in all honesty, 70c isn't so bad for modern cards (not great, for sure). Sure is a lot better than many out there (90c+ for the original 480). Doesn't mean there isn't merit to aftermarket coolers. Both on the temp and noise fronts. At least your gigabyte has better power regulation.

 

[-Slacker-]

Wow, alot to think about.


I should have mentioned I have a 24" Dell Ultrasharp so 1920 X 1200 is the resolution.

I have always gone Nvidia, nothing against ATI though. Just always thought Nvidia had the lead on the hardware as well as driver support. I will do some research on ATI before I make a decision, especially if I get more bang for the buck at my price range.

If it's 19x12, then a gtx460/6850 card won't be enough, at least they won't be if you want to bump up the video settings in the newest games.

I recommend a hd 6870, it's $200 AR. For 19x12, you shouldn't go lower than that.

The lead in driver support is a non issue now in 2011, AMD got their crap together and are making drivers that are on the same level of quality with those of nvidia.

Hardware wise, it was never an issue, both companies generally make reliable products -it's a matter of what's the best bang for the buck within your budget, and, within $200, the hd 6870 is the most power you can get and also the most suited for your monitor.

 

[notty22]

That doesn't address the VRM's, especially when O/C'd. I don't think anyone is questioning the effectiveness of the HSF in cooling the GPU.

First off, where is the VRM cooling cited as being a problem.
This was the first incorrect post challenged.

Originally Posted by BD231
Stock cooling on most GTX 460's is crap so that's something to watch out for. When overclocked a GTX 460 will quickly overload almost any stock coolers thermal capacity.

VRM problems can be googled, and they effect some model lineups more than others. Nothing is inordinate with 460's. Many reference blower cooler setups can suffer from 'hot' VRM's. EE type coolers don't benefit from air turbulence/movement the reference style fan cooling gives on many gtx 460's.

 

[RavenSEAL]

But not the reference coolers.

Which is why i said...SOME.

 

[3DVagabond]

First off, where is the VRM cooling cited as being a problem.
This was the first incorrect post challenged.

Originally Posted by BD231
Stock cooling on most GTX 460's is crap so that's something to watch out for. When overclocked a GTX 460 will quickly overload almost any stock coolers thermal capacity.

VRM problems can be googled, and they effect some model lineups more than others. Nothing is inordinate with 460's. Many reference blower cooler setups can suffer from 'hot' VRM's. EE type coolers don't benefit from air turbulence/movement the reference style fan cooling gives on many gtx 460's.

Are you saying that there are no problems with the VRM's overheating on stock cooling when O/C'd? Or, are you saying that the post stating cooling on GTX 460's being crap wasn't referring to the VRM's?

 

[notty22]

Are you saying that there are no problems with the VRM's overheating on stock cooling when O/C'd? Or, are you saying that the post stating cooling on GTX 460's being crap wasn't referring to the VRM's?

Pretty sure its clear what I wrote. There are a tremendous amount of unknown variables with any overclocking, especially when where generalizing any gtx 460.
You interjected VRM cooling from left field. Others brought up general cooling without links/data. Then overclocking was brought up in another ' what if ' ' what if' scenario that has nothing to do with the ops questions.