Video Card Upgrade Advice

[DarkTXKnight]

Ok, I was thinking it's time to upgrade my video card to something that will do reasonably well in my rig. Im not looking to upgrade for another 2 years since when I play games I generally play after theyve been out awhile and don't have anything making me replace the entire system yet. I just want somehting that will handle the goodies of today (HL2 and BF2) and won't be immediately obsoleted tomorrow since Id like to alos do Q4 etc. Here is what I have :

XP2500+ OC'ed to 2.2 Ghz
1.5 GB Dual Channel PC3200 RAM
NF2 MB
BFG 5950U

I have been looking at the 6600GT and really wanting to spend less than 200 is possible. There is also the 6800 but Im not sure if in the real world it makes that much of a difference to justify the price, especially since I won't be able to use this card in another PC. Im looking for a reasonable holdover

Thanks!!

 

[imported_Kensai]

6800NU unlocked and overclocked.

 

[Kyanzes]

- MSI K8N NEO4 Platinum
- 7800GTX
- and move your RAM to this mobo

Also make sure you wait a day or two until the new ATI benchmarks get released.

As for the CPU I would go with the cheapest, probably a 3K.

 

[DarkTXKnight]

Is it hard to O\C this card???? I dont want to O\C if I need buy a room chiller

 

[DarkTXKnight]

Thanks Kyanzes, but Id rather not stray from the Nvidia camp, besides Im not interested in buying anything else other than a new video card. When Im allowed to build another computer it will be complete hence why whatever I buy for this will not be moved.

 

[Kyanzes]

I would really save up for the stuff I mentioned. Sell your current mobo and CPU and buy these new components. I mean if you really want to be 2-year-proof then you have to buy some good stuff. You said you have a 5950U. That must have been expensive too when you have bought it back then. It required some investment for you to be able to hold out until now. Your comp requires some investment again.

Edit:

If you really wish to stay with AGP & NVIDIA then you really should wait until the AGP 7800GT/GTX cards hit the market.

 

[DarkTXKnight]

Maybe I misspoke. I do not want to be absolute 2 years with all the bells and whistles proof. That's just silly and there will be so much going on that it would be pointless. What Im talking about is being able to play the current DX9 games and a couple of new titles decently - really Q4 is the only thing Im looking forward to in the near future. I have good hardware that is getting me by just nicely now and I wanted to give a little bump to what I have for awhile longer. When I upgrade my machines I am going to a new platform altogether (something dual core, lots of ram etc) and will be spending major money. Even if I sold what I had it wouldnt cover the cost of getting what I'll want so it will really be an incremental upgrade. Thats why Id rather spend just a little to get a better card. I only have time to play games 1~2x a week as it is

 

[DarkTXKnight]

so the 6800NU or vanilla would really be my best bet then?

 

[Lyfer]

Originally posted by: DarkTXKnight
so the 6800NU or vanilla would really be my best bet then?

Yup. Unless you plan on moving to PCI-E, cuz the Sapphire X800 GT02 is a relabled X850XT (which runs $330+) which fvcking owns any card in the $200ish category.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: DarkTXKnight
so the 6800NU or vanilla would really be my best bet then?

For a nvidia card under $200 yes . . . the best <$200 overall, no.

 

[blckgrffn]

6800, no doubt... push your budget a little and get a 6800GT, you won't regret it, especially for games like Q4.

Nat

 

[Powermoloch]

Since your planning to play Open GL games. Nvidia is your best bet :thumbsup:

 

[DarkTXKnight]

I would try to push the budget a little, but im pushing it as it is with the wife as far as she's concerned, I just bought a video card (1.5 yrs sgo) Besides the type of playing I do not everything has to be ultra pretty but i dont want it to be dog slow either.

 

[DarkTXKnight]

1Dark1Sharigan1
if you can pint me in the direction of this magical card and it's significantly cheaper than the 6800nu or GT, I might consider it..... which card would you be speaking of anyway?

 

[evilbix]

I have the 6800nu and I don't regret it at all. Great car, although mine didn't completely unlock. I still recommend it though, good bang for the buck. I have a p4 2.56ghz and this card basically maxes out my cpu in pretty much every relatively new game while keeping a more than acceptable framerate. I'd say go with the 6800nu and overclock if you feel the need to have some more performance.