Video Card Recommendation

[Gunslinger08]

I'm looking for a new card. I currently have a 7900 GT which is starting to show signs of aging when playing newer games. I generally play games a few months after they come out at 1680x1050. I may upgrade to a 1080p television for gaming sometime in the future, so I'd like to be prepared for that. Any suggestions?

 

[happy medium]

How much you wanna spend and which games are you playing or plan on playing.

 

[Syntax Error]

For a price range around ~$150: HD 3850.

For a price range around ~$250: 8800GT (could be had for less)

For a price range around $300+: 8800GTS 512MB or wait for 9-series.

 

[Chunkee]

i am kind of in the same boat. I just got my new CPU, wolfdale 8400 and have 4gb of memory, and want to run vista64bit...i have a 7950 OC that runs COD4 okay at lower settings and is not real smooth...I just got bioshock, and stalker and still would not mind playing UT 2004. Maybe I should just stick with XP ..?

8800gt seems like a good card, but expensive right now... will the 3850 do okay?

 

[MarcVenice]

Expensive ? I paid more for my 8800gts 320mb in juli or so, which gets outperformed by the 8800gt 512mb. You can also get the HD3870, it might be 10% slower then the 8800gt, but it's often also 10% cheaper, or more.

 

[RussianSensation]

$240 8800GT 512mb is a great card on Newegg.

However, if you can hold out until GF9, it might be worth it. All things considered GF8 is more than 1 year old tech now. Your card is still decent. If you can sell it and ease the cost of the upgrade, then it's more justifiable.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
i am kind of in the same boat. I just got my new CPU, wolfdale 8400 and have 4gb of memory, and want to run vista64bit...i have a 7950 OC that runs COD4 okay at lower settings and is not real smooth...I just got bioshock, and stalker and still would not mind playing UT 2004. Maybe I should just stick with XP ..?

8800gt seems like a good card, but expensive right now... will the 3850 do okay?

Operating system doesn't seem to make much of a difference, if at all, in 3d gaming. I switched to Vista U32 earlier this month from Xp Pro and didn't notice any slowdowns. Some games may run quicker due to Vista's precaching.

I also second RussianSensation's mention of EVGA's $240 8800GT:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130318

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
i am kind of in the same boat. I just got my new CPU, wolfdale 8400 and have 4gb of memory, and want to run vista64bit...i have a 7950 OC that runs COD4 okay at lower settings and is not real smooth...I just got bioshock, and stalker and still would not mind playing UT 2004. Maybe I should just stick with XP ..?

8800gt seems like a good card, but expensive right now... will the 3850 do okay?

I'd hang tight if I were you. you're only 1 generation behind.

I've noticed Vista gaming was slower.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: angry hampster

Originally posted by: Chunkee
i am kind of in the same boat. I just got my new CPU, wolfdale 8400 and have 4gb of memory, and want to run vista64bit...i have a 7950 OC that runs COD4 okay at lower settings and is not real smooth...I just got bioshock, and stalker and still would not mind playing UT 2004. Maybe I should just stick with XP ..?

8800gt seems like a good card, but expensive right now... will the 3850 do okay?

Operating system doesn't seem to make much of a difference, if at all, in 3d gaming. I switched to Vista U32 earlier this month from Xp Pro and didn't notice any slowdowns. Some games may run quicker due to Vista's precaching.

I also second RussianSensation's mention of EVGA's $240 8800GT:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130318

Benchies prove otherwise, and this is common knowledge; unless you have other benchies we are not aware of that show vista = xp. Show me Crysis at 36fps in Vista like we know XP can do.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Benchies prove otherwise, and this is common knowledge; unless you have other benchies we are not aware of that show vista = xp. Show me Crysis at 36fps in Vista like we know XP can do.

Here's Crysis in DX10 at 36 and 44fps, with AA, on a 3 Way SLi rig:

http://www.hothardware.com/art...rmance_Preview/?page=7

 

[DerekWilson]

we are seeing near parity between xp and vista with the latest updates. we will certainly explore this when the service pack comes out.