Upgrading from an 8800GT -- My eternal turmoil

[angry hampster]

I've had my 8800GT for well over a year now, and now that I've gotten a 1080p monitor, I've found its limitations. Here's what I've been thinking:

1GB HD4850 -- The egg's got one one sale for $145AR with a very good cooler.
512mb HD4870 -- $159AR
1GB HD4870 -- $199 AR or $215 for one with heatpipes.


I didn't list the 512mb 4850 because frankly I don't think it's a worthwhile upgrade from an 8800GT. I play FPS games daily at 1920x1200. I will be overclocking, and maybe voltmodding. Does the 1GB 4850 overclock well? When is the next series of cards coming out from ATI?


Also, I didn't include nVidia cards because they're not very competitive at this price point. I'm trying to stay under $200, and under $175 would be great.

edit: sorry the rest of my system is:
Gigabyte P35-DS3L
E6420 @ 3.00 GHz
6GB DDR2 800
WD 320gb HDD

 

[conlan]

1GB HD4870 -- $199 AR or $215 for one with heatpipes.

@ 19 x 12 that would be my choice.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: conlan

1GB HD4870 -- $199 AR or $215 for one with heatpipes.

@ 19 x 12 that would be my choice.

Any clue how these overclock? Just trying to get the best bang for my buck, and I've read that the 4850 can outclock the 4870 sometimes.

 

[james1701]

Its not much longer until the new cards are released. If your 8800GT still works well, I would just wait. There is not enough performance increase to justify a new card IMO. I run a 24" monitor, and that card. There is nothing it will not run acceptably. Crysis plays good on high.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: angry hampster

Originally posted by: conlan

1GB HD4870 -- $199 AR or $215 for one with heatpipes.

@ 19 x 12 that would be my choice.

Any clue how these overclock? Just trying to get the best bang for my buck, and I've read that the 4850 can outclock the 4870 sometimes.

I doubt it - the 4850s use the same cores but are typically built on lower quality boards that won't support as clean/high of volts as the 4870 cards.

Right now the 1GB 4870 for ~$200 is the sweet spot for price/performance.

 

[nOOky]

1 gig 4870 with aftermarket cooling

 

[dguy6789]

+1 vote for the 4870 1GB.

 

[yh125d]

Another vote for 4870 1gb. Anything less won't be very much of an upgrade, not worth the trouble imo. The 8800GT is already such a good card as it is

 

[cubeless]

and the 1gb 4870 is $185 ar at ne right now...

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: cubeless
and the 1gb 4870 is $185 ar at ne right now...

What?! Link me please?

edit: NVM found it in hot deals. Very very tempting.. I may still wait a couple weeks though and see what kinda tax return I can get.

 

[TidusZ]

Originally posted by: james1701
Its not much longer until the new cards are released. If your 8800GT still works well, I would just wait. There is not enough performance increase to justify a new card IMO. I run a 24" monitor, and that card. There is nothing it will not run acceptably. Crysis plays good on high.

I agreed with everything you were saying, up until the crysis part. I had my 8800gt in this rig for 2 weeks while I was trading up, and Crysis Warhead on enthusiast 1920x1200 wasn't playable by my standards. But ya, crysis isn't exactly the game worth upgrading for.

 

[pugh]

Originally posted by: james1701
Its not much longer until the new cards are released. If your 8800GT still works well, I would just wait. There is not enough performance increase to justify a new card IMO. I run a 24" monitor, and that card. There is nothing it will not run acceptably. Crysis plays good on high.

I'm with you on this. I will be holding out on any new video card upgrades. I have two 8800gt in SLI and it plays all I need it too play.