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[cameltoe]

Oh. I went from an 8800 GTS to a 4870 no problems at all.

same...8800GT to a 4870 1GB no issues at all

 

[Onemic]

when is the gtx 300 expected to release?

 

[godhandiscen]

when is the gtx 300 expected to release?

Second half of this year, with the introduction of DX11.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Isn't the 260 down to like 150-160

Mine runs everything great, with the odd exception of World of Warcraft, which randomly runs like shit for no explicable reason on any machine I try it on despite being 5 years old.

 

[BravoSuperStar]

If you can, pay for a modular PSU. The Corsair 750 is strong enough to handle all that I have in the pic and maybe a little bit more, but cable management is a bitch.

Oh they're not modular? Hmmm, that does suck. Will probably end up going with a seasonic modular PS then. The prices on those Corsairs have really come down and I've heard they are very stable even under high load, but my last PC I used a modular PS and I loved it and won't go back.

 

[godhandiscen]

Oh they're not modular? Hmmm, that does suck. Will probably end up going with a seasonic modular PS then. The prices on those Corsairs have really come down and I've heard they are very stable even under high load, but my last PC I used a modular PS and I loved it and won't go back.

There are some Corsair PSU's thart are modular. I think the 800+ and 600+ versions are modular.

 

[Hazaro]

Oh they're not modular? Hmmm, that does suck. Will probably end up going with a seasonic modular PS then. The prices on those Corsairs have really come down and I've heard they are very stable even under high load, but my last PC I used a modular PS and I loved it and won't go back.

The _20W versions are Seasonic and modular.

The x50W versions are Channel Well I believe, but also very good, but not modular. Much cheaper though and comes iwth Corsairs great warranty (5 Years) and good service.

 

[Minsc]

My 8800GTX still runs newest games at 1920x1200.
How exactly your is "growing old"?

Best option for me is to wait till the end of 2009/beginning of 2010, when there will be some games that actually requires a better gpu

But it's going to be all about 60fps @ 2560x1600 soon (hell many games support this already).

Spoiler

Which is a shame, because the next generation of consoles will probably be limited to 1080p while PC gamers can enjoy 1600p and beyond, which sort of makes the next round of consoles a bit obsolete before they are even released.

 

[jett]

Hmm I'm also interested in getting a video card for my PC. The only reason I'd go for Nvidia would be for the added physx sweetness, but how many games truly support that other than Mirror's Edge?

 

[Minsc]

Hmm I'm also interested in getting a video card for my PC. The only reason I'd go for Nvidia would be for the added physx sweetness, but how many games truly support that other than Mirror's Edge?

Quite a few it seems. Though you're probably right to question the extent of the physx enhancements in some of those titles.

 

[Angry Grimace]

But it's going to be all about 60fps @ 2560x1600 soon (hell many games support this already).

Spoiler

Which is a shame, because the next generation of consoles will probably be limited to 1080p while PC gamers can enjoy 1600p and beyond, which sort of makes the next round of consoles a bit obsolete before they are even released.

I really don't foresee 2560x1600 taking over the world any time soon.

How many 2560x1600 monitors are even out there right now, and what makes you think that people are going to buy those up like dime-store hookers when most people aren't even on 1920x1200 yet?

 

[godhandiscen]

Hmm I'm also interested in getting a video card for my PC. The only reason I'd go for Nvidia would be for the added physx sweetness, but how many games truly support that other than Mirror's Edge?

Not enough to even take it into consideration. PhysX is about to fail. The future is Havok which already ported their physics engine to OpenCL.
Anandtech destroyed Nvidia for failing to get PhysX support from developers. Now they are fucked since OpenCL is opensource and actual developers use it. OpenCL works on everything, it is not restricted to PhysX.
http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3539&p=7

Nvidia claims PhysX support accross dozens of titles, but the majority of times this support is for stupid things like falling leaves in Sacred 2.

I really don't foresee 2560x1600 taking over the world any time soon.

How many 2560x1600 monitors are even out there right now, and what makes you think that people are going to buy those up like dime-store hookers when most people aren't even on 1920x1200 yet?

1080p with 4xAA is enough for me for a couple years. Anything beyond 1900x1200 hits the points of diminishing returns in visual quality at the cost of an exponential performance cost.

 

[Minsc]

I really don't foresee 2560x1600 taking over the world any time soon.

How many 2560x1600 monitors are even out there right now, and what makes you think that people are going to buy those up like dime-store hookers when most people aren't even on 1920x1200 yet?

Because apple is selling them? :lol I just forsee 2560x1600 becoming a significantly more benched and sought after resolution in the next year or two.

 

[godhandiscen]

Because apple is selling them? :lol I just forsee 2560x1600 becoming a significantly more benched and sought after resolution in the next year or two.

Your eyes fail to perceive the difference at some point. I think those uber mega resolutions are worthless. 1080p looks damn fine even in a 56 inch tv.

 

[Hazaro]

Hmm I'm also interested in getting a video card for my PC. The only reason I'd go for Nvidia would be for the added physx sweetness, but how many games truly support that other than Mirror's Edge?

You also get nHancer and the other recent tech nVidia showed to help boost the image quality and effects in some older games.

It's hard to argue with a GTX 260 at $150 though.

 

[Minsc]

Not enough to even take it into consideration. PhysX is about to fail. The future is Havok which already ported their physics engine to OpenCL.
Anandtech destroyed Nvidia for failing to get PhysX support from developers. Now they are fucked since OpenCL is opensource and actual developers use it. OpenCL works on everything, it is not restricted to PhysX.
http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3539&p=7

Nvidia claims PhysX support accross dozens of titles, but the majority of times this support is for stupid things like falling leaves in Sacred 2.

If that's true, that sucks for nVidia, that was $30M they'll probably never get back.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Because apple is selling them? :lol I just forsee 2560x1600 becoming a significantly more benched and sought after resolution in the next year or two.

Yeah but look at the diminishing returns on the 30" monitor they run; it's more than 3x as much as what I paid for to get a 24" 1920x1200 monitor.

 

[brain_stew]

I've had trouble when switching from ATi to nVidia before on the same Windows installation. Found it much less of a hassle to just reformat.

Driver cleaner.

I'd say a 4890 is your best bet right now.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

i'd say go for the 285GTX.

 

[brain_stew]

Quite a few it seems. Though you're probably right to question the extent of the physx enhancements in some of those titles.

Using the PhysX API and having well integrated GPU accelerated PhysX are two very different things. Mirror's Edge is the only game with any worthwile GPU PhysX implementation, the other half a dozen are either terrible games or terrible implementations, or more often than not, both.

Still, the GTX 260 (216) is stil the priceerformance king, so you might as well go the Nvidia route anyway.

 

[Xabora]

Wait until Nov 2009.
Then its time to upgrade your system + videocard.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Oh they're not modular? Hmmm, that does suck. Will probably end up going with a seasonic modular PS then. The prices on those Corsairs have really come down and I've heard they are very stable even under high load, but my last PC I used a modular PS and I loved it and won't go back.

I have the HX 520W version, it's been excellent, when i opened the box i just knew it was a very well built, solid piece of kit, and it is indeed modular. Very reasonable price as well.

 

[Tenks]

I have a 295 and I can say firsthand the thing eats polygons and shits them out as rainbows

 

[Cobra84]

I just forsee 2560x1600 becoming a significantly more benched and sought after resolution in the next year or two.

I hope not. 16:10 should have never existed, only 16:9.

 

[brain_stew]

Wait until Nov 2009.
Then its time to upgrade your system + videocard.

I honestly can't agree with this advice. The launch DirectX 11 cards will undoubtedly demand an unjustified price premium. You can get a ridiculous amount of GPU power for less than $250 right now and DirectX 11 won't be relevant for another 2 years at least, no point in waiting.

 

[Kintaro]

GTX 260 should be able to handle games at 1080p right? I want to upgrade my monitor after my card and don't want to run into performance trouble when I do. I want my eyes to bleed awesome.

 

[Xabora]

I honestly can't agree with this advice. The launch DirectX 11 cards will undoubtedly demand an unjustified price premium. You can get a ridiculous amount of GPU power for less than $250 right now and DirectX 11 won't be relevant for another 2 years at least, no point in waiting.

You're focusing on the wrong part.
The DX11 cards will scream with the DX10 games even more-so than now.
Since DX11 games wont really be on the market anytime soon.

 

[DangerStepp]

As a newer PC gamer, I have a hard time determining when is the appropriate time for getting a new GPU; I have a 9800GTX+ at the moment. All I know to do is observe benchmarks and whatnot.

 

[Tenks]

You're focusing on the wrong part.
The DX11 cards will scream with the DX10 games even more-so than now.
Since DX11 games wont really be on the market anytime soon.

Computer parts becoming more powerful, cheaper over time. Alert the presses

 

[brain_stew]

You're focusing on the wrong part.
The DX11 cards will scream with the DX10 games even more-so than now.
Since DX11 games wont really be on the market anytime soon.

No, I'm really not. The absolute high end parts, NEVER, offer good bang for buck, and that's all that the early DX11 parts will be restricted to. Not only that, but you will be paying an early premium for DX 11 support whether you want it or not. With a $150 card mopping up 1080p, you'll be paying a premium for performance that offers very little real term gains.

GTX 260 should be able to handle games at 1080p right? I want to upgrade my monitor after my card and don't want to run into performance trouble when I do. I want my eyes to bleed awesome.

I use mine at 1080p and its a pleasure. Be sure to OC it as well, they ahve insane amounts of headroom, I'm currently getting GTX 280 levels of performance out of mine.

 

[jett]

Not enough to even take it into consideration. PhysX is about to fail. The future is Havok which already ported their physics engine to OpenCL.
Anandtech destroyed Nvidia for failing to get PhysX support from developers. Now they are fucked since OpenCL is opensource and actual developers use it. OpenCL works on everything, it is not restricted to PhysX.
http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3539&p=7

Nvidia claims PhysX support accross dozens of titles, but the majority of times this support is for stupid things like falling leaves in Sacred 2.

1080p with 4xAA is enough for me for a couple years. Anything beyond 1900x1200 hits the points of diminishing returns in visual quality at the cost of an exponential performance cost.

Thanks for the advice. I've done some quick research and I think the HD4850 is for me. Right price, size, temp and watts consumption. I don't need an uber video card as I won't be playing in these crazy 2500 x 1400 resolutiones or whatever.

I have a question though...I just have a 450~ PSU. Is that gonna be enough?

 

[K.Jack]

As a newer PC gamer, I have a hard time determining when is the appropriate time for getting a new GPU; I have a 9800GTX+ at the moment. All I know to do is observe benchmarks and whatnot.

When you can't maintain 30fps in the games you play, at your given resolution of choice, an upgrade is in order.

 

[DangerStepp]

When you can't maintain 30fps in the games you play, at your given resolution of choice, an upgrade is in order.

All right, thanks. That's exactly what I was thinking.

Right now I get an average of 50-55 fps in Mirror's Edge with texture settings on high @ 1600 x 1080, 8xAA. However, it averaged around 25-30 fps with AA all the way up to 16xQ. I have no clue what 16xQ is other than anti-aliasing with z/color store values that offer a huge performance hit.

I think I'll hold out until next Christmas unless an extraordinarily good deal makes itself present.

 

[Kadey]

I'd say no. A 4890 is perfect for the transition period right now if you plan on making a purchase. DX11 cards are just around the corner for the super high end rending both the 4870x2 and GTX 295 from their throne.

 

[Angry Grimace]

I hope not. 16:10 should have never existed, only 16:9.

I personally like the extra space

Seems to work better when doing actual work on Acrobat, I can read two scanned pages at once.

 

[tehbear]

As much as I hate paying the premium on a GTX 295, I needed a single card that could drive three monitors. It seems like the GTX 295 is the only card up for this no? (Aside from some outrageously expensive or non-gaming workstation cards)

 

[Angry Grimace]

Thanks for the advice. I've done some quick research and I think the HD4850 is for me. Right price, size, temp and watts consumption. I don't need an uber video card as I won't be playing in these crazy 2500 x 1400 resolutiones or whatever.

I have a question though...I just have a 450~ PSU. Is that gonna be enough?

It depends what else you run in your box.

The common logic as short as a year ago was that nothing short of 800 worked for high-end gaming. The truth is, you need a lot less watts than you probably think you do. The actual system consumption on a reasonable frugal non-huge OC'd system with a 4850 probably isn't 400w.

But what other power draws you have, and what kind of efficiency your PSU is and all that is something to think about. But generally, yes you should be able to, although I'm sure someone will jump in and tell you to take whatever idea you had for wattage and double it.

 

[kodt]

My rule of thumb, never upgrade for a game that has not come out yet. Never try to "future" proof your PC. It can't be done.

Once the game is out and you see benchmarks, then upgrade, you will save money and you can make an educated decision.

 

[kodt]

The common logic as short as a year ago was that nothing short of 800 worked for high-end gaming. The truth is, you need a lot less watts than you probably think you do. The actual system consumption on a reasonable frugal non-huge OC'd system with a 4850 probably isn't 400w.

Yeah I have a Core i7, 6GB DDR3, ATI 4850 512. 1 optical drive, 2 hdd's running on a 350W PSU with no issues.

 

[BravoSuperStar]

This is a great little utility/website for calculating power usage based on your components:

Psucalculatorlite

 

[jett]

It depends what else you run in your box.

The common logic as short as a year ago was that nothing short of 800 worked for high-end gaming. The truth is, you need a lot less watts than you probably think you do. The actual system consumption on a reasonable frugal non-huge OC'd system with a 4850 probably isn't 400w.

But what other power draws you have, and what kind of efficiency your PSU is and all that is something to think about. But generally, yes you should be able to, although I'm sure someone will jump in and tell you to take whatever idea you had for wattage and double it.

Yeah I have a Core i7, 6GB DDR3, ATI 4850 512. 1 optical drive, 2 hdd's running on a 350W PSU with no issues.

Yeah I have a way lower-end PC than kodt (it's just a C2D e6320 at 1.8GHZ), so I guess I'll be just fine...thanks guys for the help.

I've also read that some nvidia cards need special connectors or whatever on the PSU, is this also true for ati?

 

[Angry Grimace]

Another reason why you don't need a huge PSU these days is because nVidia and ATi finally realized that power requirements were a huge gimp and started making an effort to not simply multiply size, heat and power requirements with every new model.

 

[Hazaro]

Yeah I have a way lower-end PC than kodt (it's just a C2D e6320 at 1.8GHZ), so I guess I'll be just fine...thanks guys for the help.

I've also read that some nvidia cards need special connectors or whatever on the PSU, is this also true for ati?

It's just a standard 6 pin PCI-E card connector, some ATi and nVidia cards have a special 8 pin one as well.

Easiest upgrade would be to overclock your processor to 2.8 or 3Ghz (2.6 if you want to be conservative) and a new graphics card, GTX 260 still has my vote.

I also can't see the benefit of the 4890 with the 4870 so close and having a 1GB version.

 

[jett]

It's just a standard 6 pin PCI-E card connector, some ATi and nVidia cards have a special 8 pin one as well.

Easiest upgrade would be to overclock your processor to 2.8 or 3Ghz (2.6 if you want to be conservative) and a new graphics card, GTX 260 still has my vote.

I also can't see the benefit of the 4890 with the 4870 so close and having a 1GB version.

Hmm, how can I overclock my cpu? I have an intel mobo , it doesn't have a "overclock" option on the bios. Sorry to sound like such a noob.

 

[BravoSuperStar]

Hmm, how can I overclock my cpu? I have an intel mobo , it doesn't have a "overclock" option on the bios. Sorry to sound like such a noob.

U can't on intel boards unless you upload another manufacturer's bios. When looking for a new mobo try Asus or Gigabyte, maybe DFI if overclocking is important.

 

[jett]

U can't on intel boards unless you upload another manufacturer's bios. When looking for a new mobo try Asus or Gigabyte, maybe DFI if overclocking is important.

man this sucks

 

[lowrider007]

U can't on intel boards unless you upload another manufacturer's bios. When looking for a new mobo try Asus or Gigabyte, maybe DFI if overclocking is important.

You can on the newer extreme series motherboards, I have the Original Intel Extreme Badaxe 1 mobo that was the first to support the core duos cpu's, mine is currently running a trusty old E6300 @ 2.8, it's not the best o/c but it's not bad for a genuine Intel board without having to re-flash the bios.

 

[BravoSuperStar]

You can on the newer extreme series motherboards, I have the Original Intel Extreme Badaxe 1 mobo that was the first to support the core duos cpu's, mines running a E6300 @ 2.8, it's not the best o/c but it's not bad for a genuine Intel board without having to re-flash the bios.

Oh ya that is true, and i'm sure the skulltrail boards OC as well.

 

[Razor554]

Im also waiting for GTX300 to come (currently 8800GTS). How much does the new Nvidia Cards cost when they are released?

 

[TOAO_Cyrus]

Quite a few it seems. Though you're probably right to question the extent of the physx enhancements in some of those titles.

Most of those just use the PhysX API without taking advantage of GPU accelerated physics. PhysX is just an interim solution, soon there will be API's that are written in OpenCL and not CUDA and will support both ATi and Nvidia. Dev's will go with that instead of using an API that only works on one vendor.