Video cards??

[kinktheride]

Hey guys. Im upgrading my system soon towards the summer. Im unsure which way to go. My current system

AMD 64 3000+
ASUS A8N SLI-DELUXE
EVGA 6600GT
WD 80GB HD
1GB corsair

I want a new video card and processor. Im pretty sure im either going X2 4200 or 64 4000+, but these latest video cards stump me. I have no idea which way to go. I dont know if i should stay with NVIDIA and get a 7800GT or 7900GT, or go with ATI's X1900XT. SO i would appreciate it if you guys would help me out with the better way to go in the long run.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

7900GT for $300 will probably be one of your best bets though an X1900XT for $450 wouldnt' be bad either.

 

[SpeedZealot369]

Ok, first what kind of monitor do you have? Do you overclock your cpu? There's really no need to upgrade your cpu for gaming with those cards since once you pass a certain resolution (i think its 12x7) cpu doesnt play part anymore.
I would just get a 7900gt and oc it mad (maybe get an aftermarket cooler) The 7900gt is really just un underclocked version of the gtx (less the 256mb) so they oc like madd.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

-Budget
-Reason for upgrading
-Are you willing to overclock

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: kinktheride
Im upgrading my system soon towards the summer

Any ideas and pricing thrown your way now can change in a week. Ask again when you're actually ready to buy.

For example, if you order in the next 2 minutes, you can get a GREAT deal on an XTX from Newegg ($450 after rebate). There's also a $290 GT at ZZF.

BUT, by the time you're actually buying, I would expect all of these "great" deals to be much better.

If you're mainly using this system for gaming, I'd suggest you don't go with a 4000+, and instead use that money toward the best video card you can buy that has the features you care about, and performs best in the games (or type of games) you play most.

 

[kinktheride]

I have a big clunker. Fairly new KDS monitor. Max settings i believe are 1280x1024. I havent overclocked because i have a stock Cpu cooler and im looking into a zalman cpu fan. Right now the bottleneck in my system ive been told is my cpu and my video card could use an update. I just want a better processor for gaming and a video card that i wont have to upgrade for a while. and i might possibly go SLI with 7900s.

 

[kinktheride]

Well im saving right now and Im looking at this computer upgrading extravaganza to begin during the summer. My budget will probably be around $700-$800, which is all I will probably be willing to spend. This computer is mostly for gaming seeing as how my rig isnt at the top of its game anymore.

By the way any other suggestions on possible cpus besides the 4000+? is X2 worth it for gaming?

 

[SpeedZealot369]

For that money this is what I would do.

get a sony 900FW from ebay for $400

get a 7900gt

 

[kinktheride]

Are you sure man? I dont think i need a flat screen right now. Will probably get one down the road. Im looking into also upgrading my CPU and getting into overclocking.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: kinktheride
is X2 worth it for gaming?

That's a tough one to answer. I don't have an X2, so I can't comment on "feel". Some have suggested that they "feel" the game is smoother now that they upgraded. There's even been a few games that have been patched for dual-core support... however, in the case of COD2, there is no performance gain. Quake4, on the other hand, some some healthy gains at 1280x1024 and lower. But zilch at 1600x1200.

Again, these are simply benchmarks. Sometimes they don't tell the whole story. My benchmarks in BF2 at 1600x1200 4xAA 8xAF didn't change at all when I upgraded from 1GB to 2GB ram. Yet, the "feel" changed *dramatically* (no stuttering, load times increased, etc).

If you're gonna have $800 to upgrade in a few months, I would sell off the 6600gt for ~80, grab a monitor for $400 (that's not a flat panel on ebay, btw... it's CRT), and then grab the 1900XT for $450. You'll still have $ left over, and be in gaming heaven at 1920x1200 resolution.

 

[kinktheride]

Deadseasquirrel thanks. That COD 2 benchmark really stunned me. By reading that i noticed that the investing in cpu's doesnt really pay off. Its the video card that really gets the bang for your buck.

Ive come down to 2 decisions,
X1900XT
or
7900GTX

 

[Kromis]

If your gonna play D3D (Direct 3D) games, go with ATi. D3D favors ATi. (e.g. F.E.A.R, Half-Life 2 and its mods, Call of Duty 2 I think,etc...)

If your gonna play OpenGL games, go with nVIDIA. OpenGL favors nVIDIA. (e.g. Quake 4, Doom 3, umm..some others, etc...)

 

[feraltoad]

If you want to O/C you have a great cost/benefit chip already. I run my A64 3000+ at 9(multi) x 250(HTT)= 2250 mhz. A stock 3500+ runs at 2.2 ghz! You will probably be fine with the stock cooler you have for a small bump like that (I was but a guy gave me a FREE Zalman cooler). Yeah, people go on 2 much about CPU limiting-heard of AA or AF?


O about the monitor. I got a HP f2105 and I have been really happy with it. 21 inch widescreen in CS:Source is ungodly in WS and everything else scales to its correct ratio and looks great(the monitor will increase size of 1024x760 to fill the correct aspect ratio of monitor or you can just do a 1:1 ratio). Check out a Dell 2005fpw I've seen those going for $450 or so (some people do complain about back light leaks tho so look around and decide that's y i got the HP). I did have a KDS 19 inch. I don't think LCD monitors are for super picky people, and yet I am am fairly picky imo, anyway what I mean to say is don't totally discount a new monitor. Cuz mine put me on a whole new satisfaction level with my pc.

Also don't forget a good set of speakers! logitech z5500s are supreme (wld also support the digital sound on ur board-has optical right?), and the 5300s sound great, (I have them and they certainly won't break the bank-but no optical/digital input).

As for the Card...yeah me too I have a 6600gt and it won't drive games like I want.
What I really want to know is how the future games (next 1.5 years) will run. Is it likely a new game will pop out in the next 1.5 years that will rob me of AA and AF @1680x1050 if I go with a 7900 or a 1900? I can't decide either. If I go with NV I also don't know whether to shoot for a GTX or be happy with a GT. No sli for me tho only 1 pcie slot so not an option for later . I would just get an XT 50mhz bump too puny for XTX esp. since I can prolly at least get 25 mhz easily. Also, will a 1900 be too loud? I remember NV got lambasted for using a loud dual slot cooler but now noone seems to give a hoot for a gaming pc; noise is now mentioned as a factor only with a HTPC which use low to midrange cards anyways.

 

[SpeedZealot369]

What size is your monitor? If you have a 19" crt I would just stick with that and get a good video card, but if you have 17" I would really consider upgrading. I love my 19" and some people don't realize how important monitors are- its what you'll be looking at!

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: kinktheride
Deadseasquirrel thanks. That COD 2 benchmark really stunned me. By reading that i noticed that the investing in cpu's doesnt really pay off. Its the video card that really gets the bang for your buck.

Ive come down to 2 decisions,
X1900XT
or
7900GTX

That's a matter of personal preference. I would get whichever's less expensive since they're really close in performance. I have to say that the $300 price range looks AWESOME right now - either a 7900GT which SHOULD oc really well with aftermarket cooling, or the new X1800XT 256. Either one would be really great for the $$. Looks like you want to go higher end right now tho

I also think your next CPU should be a dual-core. I just love my DC Opteron If you want faster single-core - just OC your current CPU and wait for AM2!

 

[Luckyboy1]

The smart people... and I don't qualify... but the smart people put off upgrades as long as reasonably possible. What is the latest and greatest and the way technology will advance today is just so much dated material tomorrow. So, I have to ask, what applications and programming do you hope to run with the new unit or run better than what you have now and as far as "better" goes, explain exactly what better is.

After all, this isn't about me. It's about your needs and your wife's money!

 

[v8envy]

Comment from the peanut gallery. xbit did a cpu scaling article, and a 3000+ is a bit of a problem for some current games. Gains over a 3200+ or 3500+ to be safe are minimal, but a 3000+ could cost as much as 5-10 frames/sec even at 1280x1024 in some games.

So, if you are willing to do a 10 to 20% overclock on your 3000+, you'll be okay. Definitely don't get an X2 4800+ right now, put off the cpu upgrade until M2 cpus are reasonable. And then think about getting a socket 939 for cheap instead. =)

I expect a price war, since both NV and ATI have nearly identical performing products at the same price points. Everyone with even a smidgeon of a clue has determined the real deciding factor in a buying decision right now is the price. If that ain't grounds for a price war, nothing is.

Be ready to buy if a hot deal comes.