yet another recommend a video card for me thread.

[nageov3t]

so, I've been running a geforce 9800 GTX+ since god knows when.

my gaming needs are pretty simple, usually just World of Warcraft and maybe occasionally some Sims 3 or random older games (Baldur's Gate, etc), but I recently installed Star Wars: The Old Republic and I've noticed a lot of frame rate issues whenever I hit high pop areas unless I cut my graphics settings back.

I'm currently playing at 1920x1080 on my main monitor (I've also got a secondary 19" screen running at 1280x1024 that I just use for web browsing) and have a bunch of the graphic settings turned off, but I'd love to buy a card that would help me play the game at high.

any suggestions? the ~$200 range is about my ideal, but I wouldn't mind going a bit over for a card that will last me another couple years if the performance boost is worth it.


otherwise, my system is an intel i7 2.6ghz proc w/ 6gb ram

 

[Denithor]

GTX 460 1GB, HD 6870, GTX 560 Ti, HD 6950 1GB, HD 6950 2GB

In order of increasing price & performance. Any will be a significant improvement over your current 9800GTX+. Sweet spot somewhere around GTX 560 Ti and HD 6950 1GB (also that's right around your $200 mark).

 

[T_Yamamoto]

GTX 460 1GB, HD 6870, GTX 560 Ti, HD 6950 1GB, HD 6950 2GB

In order of increasing price & performance. Any will be a significant improvement over your current 9800GTX+. Sweet spot somewhere around GTX 560 Ti and HD 6950 1GB (also that's right around your $200 mark).

or get a 6870 and wait for the 7xxx series to come out

then sell your 6870 and buy a 7xxx card

 

[GaiaHunter]

You can't get much better than the suggestions already given.

If you want to go to $300 you might be able to get some deal on a GTX570 or 6970. The value of these cards over the 6950/GTX560 ti is debatable though.

6970 $300 after rebate
GTX570$290 after rebate.

 

[nyker96]

560ti or 6950/1gb.

 

[nageov3t]

for a $30 difference, is there much of an upgrade from the 6950 1gb to the 6950 2gb?

I run dual monitors, but I don't stretch the resolution across them (can't, even, since I run them each at different resolutions)

 

[nageov3t]

for a $30 difference, is there much of an upgrade from the 6950 1gb to the 6950 2gb?

I run dual monitors, but I don't stretch the resolution across them (can't, even, since I run them each at different resolutions)

with a $20 rebate, the price difference is only $10... think I might pull the trigger on the 6950 2gb when I get home from work tonight.

HD6950 1 GB ($239.99)

vs

HD 6950 2 GB ($249.99 after MiR)

 

[Stuka87]

There isnt any real performance difference until you get either to very large resolutions/eyefinity, or you are running CrossFire. For a single card config, there isn't much of a difference. But for 10 bucks, why not?

 

[NIGELG]

Overclock your CPU and get a gtx 560TI or a 6870 OR MAYBE A 6950.

 

[Termie]

with a $20 rebate, the price difference is only $10... think I might pull the trigger on the 6950 2gb when I get home from work tonight.

HD6950 1 GB ($239.99)

vs

HD 6950 2 GB ($249.99 after MiR)

Unless you have a strong reason to buy from Amazon (tax perhaps), buy an HD6950 from Superbiiz, like this nice Sapphire dual-fan model for $230AR/Code:

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-6950_3R

The current coupon code is for $20 off: CHEERS

While you can get a 1GB model for slightly less ($215), the $15 extra is well worth it. New games are increasingly using more than 1GB, and the 2GB model will therefore work much better in crossfire and will retain its resale value for much longer.

BTW, I assume you have a non-overclocked i7-920. Please confirm that and your power supply before buying.

 

[aphelion02]

^Does that card come with dual bios? Can anyone confirm if it will unlock?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

sapphire ones are dual bios...right?

 

[Termie]

^Does that card come with dual bios? Can anyone confirm if it will unlock?

sapphire ones are dual bios...right?

It's dual bios: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/41..._dirt_3_edition_video_card_review/index2.html

Remember, however, that the shader unlock only nets about 3%, so it's not critical to getting good performance out of the card.

Good deal on a nice card with both Dirt3 and Deus Ex included.

 

[nageov3t]

Unless you have a strong reason to buy from Amazon (tax perhaps), buy an HD6950 from Superbiiz, like this nice Sapphire dual-fan model for $230AR/Code:

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-6950_3R

The current coupon code is for $20 off: CHEERS

While you can get a 1GB model for slightly less ($215), the $15 extra is well worth it. New games are increasingly using more than 1GB, and the 2GB model will therefore work much better in crossfire and will retain its resale value for much longer.

BTW, I assume you have a non-overclocked i7-920. Please confirm that and your power supply before buying.

nice find :thumbsup:

amazon's chief selling point is that I've got free 2-day Prime shipping and $300 in gift cards from Christmas.