In the market for a new graphics card.....

DrummerMark19 · 08-24-2008, 04:50 PM

Hello,

I recently upgraded from a crt monitor to a 22" Samsung 2253bw monitor. It has a native resolution of 1680x1050. Problem is, my current graphics card isn't powerful enough to run games smoothly at high settings(or even med for that matter) at this resolution. I'm currently using a Geforce 8600GTS 512mb. I need something better so I can smoothly run games like COD4 on that 1680x1050 resolution on high settings. Suggestions? My price range is $250

System specs
Windows XP
Intel Q6600 Quad Core 2.40Ghz
XFX nforce 680i LT mobo
2 gb memory
thermaltake toughpower 700w psu

**wrench97** · 08-24-2008, 05:12 PM

Take a look at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130376

**Pauldo** · 08-24-2008, 06:28 PM

Hey , what about switching over to the ATI side of things in this situation.

The 4870 is supposed to go toe-to-toe with the new GTX 260 and 280's. It's right at the $250 mark with rebates at Newegg. I know it's $70 more than the 9800GTX+ but it might be worth it. Thoughts? Will it play nice with the Mobo?

I myself just switched over a month ago to the ATI 4850 after having used Nvidia for a long time and I gotta say that it runs real nice. I'm playing Cod4 at 1280x1024, all settings on high without a problem.

Pauldo

**wrench97** · 08-24-2008, 06:37 PM

I wouldn't want to fight the drivers for an ATI card on a Nvidia motherboard.

**Pauldo** · 08-24-2008, 09:48 PM

I was kinda thinking that might be a problem. I remember doing it once for an old boss of mine but it was for work, not gaming.

Oh well, that 9800GTX+ looks like a real steal.

Pauldo

**FreoHeaveho** · 08-24-2008, 11:40 PM

ATi certainly have the edge when it comes to performance/buck at the moment, but wrench is right, you may have driver issues, and ultimately, ATi drivers will always require profiles for new games to be added to the drivers - unlike nVidia. For a 22" monitor, a 8800GTS is plenty.

08-24-2008, 04:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
DrummerMark19 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Windows XP	In the market for a new graphics card..... Hello, I recently upgraded from a crt monitor to a 22" Samsung 2253bw monitor. It has a native resolution of 1680x1050. Problem is, my current graphics card isn't powerful enough to run games smoothly at high settings(or even med for that matter) at this resolution. I'm currently using a Geforce 8600GTS 512mb. I need something better so I can smoothly run games like COD4 on that 1680x1050 resolution on high settings. Suggestions? My price range is $250 System specs Windows XP Intel Q6600 Quad Core 2.40Ghz XFX nforce 680i LT mobo 2 gb memory thermaltake toughpower 700w psu

08-24-2008, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,641 OS: Win7	Re: In the market for a new graphics card..... Take a look at this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130376 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-24-2008, 06:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: In the market for a new graphics card..... Hey , what about switching over to the ATI side of things in this situation. The 4870 is supposed to go toe-to-toe with the new GTX 260 and 280's. It's right at the $250 mark with rebates at Newegg. I know it's $70 more than the 9800GTX+ but it might be worth it. Thoughts? Will it play nice with the Mobo? I myself just switched over a month ago to the ATI 4850 after having used Nvidia for a long time and I gotta say that it runs real nice. I'm playing Cod4 at 1280x1024, all settings on high without a problem. Pauldo

08-24-2008, 06:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,641 OS: Win7	Re: In the market for a new graphics card..... I wouldn't want to fight the drivers for an ATI card on a Nvidia motherboard. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-24-2008, 09:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: In the market for a new graphics card..... I was kinda thinking that might be a problem. I remember doing it once for an old boss of mine but it was for work, not gaming. Oh well, that 9800GTX+ looks like a real steal. Pauldo

08-24-2008, 11:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
FreoHeaveho TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 3,225 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64 SP2, Windows XP Professional SP3, Mac OSX Leopard My System	Re: In the market for a new graphics card..... ATi certainly have the edge when it comes to performance/buck at the moment, but wrench is right, you may have driver issues, and ultimately, ATi drivers will always require profiles for new games to be added to the drivers - unlike nVidia. For a 22" monitor, a 8800GTS is plenty. __________________ PC Wizard-VGA 2009 Charts-Power Supply Info-Multi/Single Rail PSU?-Speedfan-Driver Sweeper