I'm considering getting a new video card...suggestions?

[zekrahminator]

Well, most of you here know that my X850XT rocks out loud, and was $75 shipped until someone picked up my HD 2600XT for $100. However...I'm starting to think that it's time for an upgrade. Let's say I have....$200 to spend on stuff. I have the X850XT in my system, and the ThermalTake TR2 PurePower 430W thing, with 18A on the 12V+ rail. I want to play all my games at respectable settings at 1440x900. My Hanns G 19" monitor has a D-Sub port, and no DVI.

Now, I'm also getting a few parts in the mail, and I have some spare parts lying around. If I were to spend $120 on Newegg, I'd have a new mobo/CPU/RAM, and could give someone a computer for Christmas. Unfortunately, I have no idea who I'd want to give it to, so...that's not a very good investment at this point.

My X850XT plays most of the games I like...on medium/low.

I could get an HD 2900 card. That would be sweet. Except for the fact that dual-DVI kinda sucks on a D-Sub monitor. And the 2900GT is an embarassment. And I'd need a power supply upgrade (AT LEAST 2x17A on the 12V+ rail to run an HD 2900, according to AMD). So in the long run, that would cost me $300.

Or, I could be missing something. Perhaps an X1950XT would do me service?

I dunno guys, what do you think I should do?

[wazzledoozle]

Hd 3850. Faster than the X1950XT.

Won't need a PSU upgrade either.

[hat]

Seconded.

[von kain]

sti hd3850 or if you like a 8600gts in that range of money is up to you

[zekrahminator]

Eh, I'd rather not go with HD 3k series...there's three bazillion issues with Crysis and Crysis is basically what'd push me to buy a new card :p.

Besides, with games like Stalker, Bioshock, and Crysis...512MB of VRAM would be nice. $200 gets me a new X1950XT, and I know I could get one for less if I browsed the BSTG section (maybe even get one with a cooler pre-installed).

Again though, might have to get a new PSU to run everything stable...

[wazzledoozle]

I havent heard of any HD 3xxx issues with Crysis? I've heard they run it quite well, better than the X1950 series.

Anyways, it's not like things arent going to get fixed with future drivers, especially on their newest card and the most important PC game this year.

And if you really want 512 vram, then pony up for a HD 3870. Still wont need a new PSU.

[zekrahminator]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=44905


Me like :).

[Ben Clarke]

If you insist on ATi, get X1950. If not, GeForce 8800GT(S). I dunno how much cards are over there.

[zekrahminator]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=43704


$100 = 512MB X1950Pro with Zalman VF-700 pre-installed.

[JrRacinFan]

Hands down zek. HD 3850.

[niko084]

HD3850... Dusts 1950's... 8600GTS doesn't stand a chance!

Best part is they use soooo little power.

[zekrahminator]

The $100 X1950Pro has an added advantage...I'd still have the funds to buy the $120 PC-building kit, and I'd have TWO PC's that can play Crysis. And then I can have LAN battles with whoever gets the PC.... :D.

A Merry Christmas for all, I think I'll take the 512MB X1950.

[DaMulta]

HD3870 Zek

[sneekypeet]

hey zek i found these lookin for one myself....just thought Id pass it along.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-900204CU-Radeon-HD3870-512MB-GDDR4-PCIe-900204_W0QQitemZ110196792327QQihZ001QQcategoryZ376 2QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[Cold Storm]

IF you feel that the x1950 is the best choice then go with it.. the only thing I can say is that if you have the money to go with the HD3xxx then it would probably be best. But, because you feel that they don't have the support with the card that you want then get the X1950 and wait till you can afford the newer graphic cards.
the HIS is pretty nice.:rockout:

[AsRock]

Another vote for the HD3870

[Cold Storm]

Zek, I believe that you need to make a poll... or if you can take the counts, then go for it! lol

[FatForester]

Go for the card that'll give you the most in the long run... which is what most people are tryin' to help ya do. The 1950 seems like a good deal now, but all you're gonna end up doing is upgrading again pretty soon. My votes for the 3850 / 3870.

[DaMulta]

Hd3870 is like 2 19xx cards.

[JC316]

3850 all the way.

[niko084]

Eh honestly if you are going to buy a 1950.... You may as well get a 2600xt, equally as fast in Crysis and draws less power... People say its not as good because it gets slower with AA... Thats nice my 2600xt looks better then my 1950pro with no AA vs 4x AA...

[Paulieg]

I'm offering a 8600gts w/a gigabyte cyclops cooler in the buy/sell section. It OC's awesome, and stays nice and cool. It benches better than the 1900xt or 2600. Nice price on it too.

[Ninkobwi]

you're crazy if you buy a 1950xt for 200$. 3870 is the only way to go for 219$

[niko084]

I'm offering a 8600gts w/a gigabyte cyclops cooler in the buy/sell section. It OC's awesome, and stays nice and cool. It benches better than the 1900xt or 2600. Nice price on it too.

Indeed the 8600gts beast the 1900xt and 2600's dx9...

Loses to a 2600xt dx10 at least the GDDR4 ones.

[newtekie1]

I have 2 of the dual slot 256MB ICEQ3 x1950Pros you posted in the first link Zek. They are great cards.

The 512MB one is also nice, but doesn't clock as high as I would expect. Also, be careful with it. It doesn't have the chip on it required for crossfire, if you are looking for that as an option in the future.

If you like the looks of the x1950Pro, and it will fit your needs, then go for it Zek.

Though I have my two 7900GTs for sale also...;)

[zekrahminator]

Eh honestly if you are going to buy a 1950.... You may as well get a 2600xt, equally as fast in Crysis and draws less power... People say its not as good because it gets slower with AA... Thats nice my 2600xt looks better then my 1950pro with no AA vs 4x AA...

My 2600XT with 256MB of GDDR4 was awfully laggy in BioShock. I don't care how pretty it is, I want it to run at playable framerates... (which brings me right back to square one, why not save the money and just keep the X850XT...)

If you can prove that my lag was because of "only" 256MB of RAM, I'll reconsider and get a $110 HD2600XT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127298R) with 512MB of VRAM.

Otherwise, my heart is set on the $100 X1950Pro with Zalman cooler pre-installed :D.

[hat]

Go for the x1950 zek.

[Chewy]

I say put out for the 3870 man, that card will serve you well for a good while its worth spending the extra few bucks on.

I forget exactly how much it costs :P keep an eye out for sales though, use a shopbot to find the best price and get newegg or someone to match it.

[zekrahminator]

$200+ and it's never in stock ;).

As I said before, I could spend $200 on something that won't even play DX10 games at a respectable speed (in DX10 mode).

Or, I could spend $100 on a DX9 card I'll be running in DX9 mode that plays DX9 games very nicely, and spend the $120 that I was going to put aside anyways on something to put my X850XT into. Two Crysis-capable computers, and then I can start LAN gaming :D.

[Chewy]

hopefully you wont need a new psu for your rig though.. a 512mb 1900/1950xt would be real nice and own dx9, hopefully you wont need a new psu though :P Lan gameing set-up would be nice.

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Zek,

YHPM.

[zekrahminator]

You have PM's too :D.

[niko084]

My 2600XT with 256MB of GDDR4 was awfully laggy in BioShock. I don't care how pretty it is, I want it to run at playable framerates... (which brings me right back to square one, why not save the money and just keep the X850XT...)

If you can prove that my lag was because of "only" 256MB of RAM, I'll reconsider and get a $110 HD2600XT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127298R) with 512MB of VRAM.

Otherwise, my heart is set on the $100 X1950Pro with Zalman cooler pre-installed :D.

Thats a little odd... I played Bioshock just fine on my 2600xt... :(

[zekrahminator]

Well, most scenes played at a respectable FPS. Most lag happened when I got in an intense battle, frames would dip into the twenties or teens. And, you know, if I'm going to spend a lot of money on a graphics card, it had better not do that ;).

[sneekypeet]

AthlonX2 has a 2600XT and is running Crysis well with it as he states( never saw a screenie personally) He deffinately states its very playable tho! Shoot him a PM and see what he thinks as some extra input!

[niko084]

AthlonX2 has a 2600XT and is running Crysis well with it as he states( never saw a screenie personally) He deffinately states its very playable tho! Shoot him a PM and see what he thinks as some extra input!

Ya I play crysis very well on my 2600xt in my other machine also...

Honestly for the $100 thats the way I would go...

If you want to spend up nearing $200 get a HD3850, those things rock for the price...

[strick94u]

I would go for the
Matrox 550 Pci-e 1x takes up less space:)

[JC316]

Well, most scenes played at a respectable FPS. Most lag happened when I got in an intense battle, frames would dip into the twenties or teens. And, you know, if I'm going to spend a lot of money on a graphics card, it had better not do that ;).

You mistake was a 2600XT:rolleyes:, if you would have gotten the 8600GTS, it would have been fine. I ran bioshock maxed with the GTS FINE.