Video Card upgrade

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Gothgar

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
1
0
Currently Running this system
e8400 @ 3.6GHZ
4GB DDR2 800 Corsair RAM
Sapphire 4850 1GB

I want to do a cheap upgrade. Was considering just a graphics card upgrade, but I don't want to get something that I can't take advantage of because of my CPU.

I'd like to not spend more than 200 dollars. So I think a new CPU/mobo is probably out, I'd also have to get more RAM.

Any suggestions? Not sprung on AMD cards, had an 8800gt before the 4850 and loved it, so I will go nVidia or AMD.
 
R

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
8,661
3
0
HD 6870 is easily the best bang for the buck and can be had for $150~ after rebate. Wonderful GPU IMO, you can't get ANYTHING better for that price.
 
Gothgar

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
1
0
RavenSEAL said:
HD 6870 is easily the best bang for the buck and can be had for $150~ after rebate. Wonderful GPU IMO, you can't get ANYTHING better for that price.
Click to expand...

I wont be limited significantly by my processor with a card like that?

I wasn't too sure if I'd be buying "too" much card if I got that. It is what I was looking at though.
 
Gothgar

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
1
0
happy medium said:
What resolution? More importantly what games are you looking to play?
Click to expand...

Probably going to get Skyrim here shortly. I currently play LoL (which runs fine on what I have) planning on playing SWTOR, which ran shitty on my current set up. (Though I was down a stick of RAM, running only 2gigs, should be back up to 4 shortly)

1680x1050 resolution.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Gothgar said:
Probably going to get Skyrim here shortly. I currently play LoL (which runs fine on what I have) planning on playing SWTOR, which ran shitty on my current set up. (Though I was down a stick of RAM, running only 2gigs, should be back up to 4 shortly)

1680x1050 resolution.
Click to expand...

Grab that Zotac gtx4601gb on Newegg for 120$AR and give it a little overclock.
Thats the best I would suggest with a dual core cpu at this time.
 
toyota

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
0
when you get a card good enough to easily max Skyrim, you will find your cpu is not really enough to handle those settings at 60fps though. most every game will be playable but don't expect to average anywhere near 60fps in some newer games.
 
Gothgar

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
1
0
I think I will go with a 6870, in a few months I will do Processor/mobo and RAM
 
Termie

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
7,949
48
91
www.techbuyersguru.com
RavenSEAL said:
HD 6870 is easily the best bang for the buck and can be had for $150~ after rebate. Wonderful GPU IMO, you can't get ANYTHING better for that price.
Click to expand...

Raven, what you're not mentioning to the OP is that you ditched your e8500 once you saw how badly it was bottlenecking your old 6850! ;)

happy medium said:
Grab that Zotac gtx4601gb on Newegg for 120$AR and give it a little overclock.
Thats the best I would suggest with a dual core cpu at this time.
Click to expand...

Not a bad suggestion, at $128AR/shipping: http://216.52.208.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500202

Awfully close, though, to the faster HD6870, which is $150AR/FS and comes with Dirt3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150561

toyota said:
when you get a card good enough to easily max Skyrim, you will find your cpu is not really enough to handle those settings at 60fps though. most every game will be playable but don't expect to average anywhere near 60fps in some newer games.
Click to expand...

Well, generally I agree with you, but Skyrim isn't exactly the reason to upgrade: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/skyrim-performance-benchmark,3074-9.html.

Skyrim cannot use more than two cores. His CPU is plenty to support upwards of 40fps, which should be fine in this title. He could only do better by going with Sandy Bridge, which is way above his total budget. Sounds like he'll deal with that in the future, anyway, and it would be a wise investment to take advantage of a HD6870 in other games.
 
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GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
81
HD6870 is a good choice for other reasons, as well.

Once you've upgraded your GPU to a 6870, when the time comes to upgrade your CPU/Mobo, you'll still have a great video card. If you go with anything less, you'll basically have to replace it again when you upgrade your CPU!
 
toyota

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
0
Termie said:
What the heck? When did you get those and how did you ever decide to go red???

And you're not maxed until you have an SSD and another 4GB of ram. :)
Click to expand...
he had a 5750 for a long time and then had the gtx460 for a few months.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
toyota said:
he had a 5750 for a long time and then had the gtx460 for a few months.
Click to expand...

I actually had the gtx460 for 10 months, I think...
a 5750 for mabe a year before that.

Termie, I'm not wasting money on more expensive ddr2 memory with this system.
A ssd sounds nice but again too expensive for this older but still capable rig.

I just upped the overclock 400 mhz and threw in 2 6870's and she done till Intel's next tock cycle after Ivy Bridge.
There is nothing this puppy still cant run well. :thumbsup:

I will be shopping for a new system this time next year unless Toyota's system becomes faster than mine. :) :)
 
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Termie

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
7,949
48
91
www.techbuyersguru.com
happy medium said:
I actually had the gtx460 for 10 months, I think...
a 5750 for mabe a year before that.

Termie, I'm not wasting money on more expensive ddr2 memory with this system.
A ssd sounds nice but again too expensive for this older but still capable rig.

I just upped the overclock 400 mhz and threw in 2 6870's and she done till Intel's next tock cycle after Ivy Bridge.
There is nothing this puppy still cant run well. :thumbsup:

I will be shopping for a new system this time next year unless Toyota's system becomes faster than mine. :) :)
Click to expand...

No doubt, nice system despite her age. And those 6870s are an impressive bargain: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150563

Admit it though...you would have gone 460SLI if you could have SLI'd on that MB.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Termie said:
Admit it though...you would have gone 460SLI if you could have SLI'd on that MB.
Click to expand...

If they made 2gb gtx460 HAWK cards I would have gone that way,if the price was right. MY board has the x58 hack and can do sli.:)
I got 2gb 6870's and sold 2 copies of Dirt 3 for 30$, so make that 340$AR!

That gtx460 Hawk card was kick-ass though dude. :)
 
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toyota

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
0
we need to compare some gaming benchmarks. technically you should be faster but I bet I can almost match you in some cases. :sneaky:
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
toyota said:
we need to compare some gaming benchmarks. technically you should be faster but I bet I can almost match you in some cases. :sneaky:
Click to expand...

I would guess if we cranked up the settings I would start to pull away. 2 6870 2gb's at 980 core should beat a gtx 580 by more than 20% easily.

Cpu demanding games you should win with that 2500k. bastage! :)
 
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toyota

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
0
happy medium said:
I would guess if we cranked up the settings I would start to pull away. 2 6870 2gb's at 980 core should beat a gtx 580 by more than 20% easily.

Cpu demanding games you should win with that 2500k. bastage! :)
Click to expand...
I do not think my cpu would really help over your Q9550 at 4.0 though. I did oc my cpu to 4.2 and it made no difference except for a few spots in Fallout 3 NV. of course I knew that my gtx570 was the main limitation but I was just curious to see.

anyway if you get bored and want to run some of the built in game benchmarks PM and let me know.
 
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