Video card upgrade

wick45805 · 06-30-2009, 11:33 AM

Hi all! Well I am getting upgrade fever but I am also poor! Thinking about a video card upgrade. I have about $200 or so to spend so i am thinking either a 4870 or an GTX260. Liking the price of the 4870 right now but pretty much been a Nvidia guy for awhile. that being said i am looking for the best bang for my buck and a decent upgrade from my 8800gts. So...opinions?? There is also one problem. little concerned weather or not my 500watt power supply will do the job. It is an Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500. Does fine with my 8800gts but Im sure either one of these cards might be too much for it. Don't have the money for new power supply so should i buy a power supply fist and then wait to get the card? I'm thinking a new power supply is not going to satisfy my upgrade craving

wick45805 · 07-02-2009, 12:49 PM

Bumpity Bump..

wonderwrench · 07-02-2009, 04:47 PM

Your PSU meets the specs for either card as far as I can tell. Its a crap shoot as to which company has the best drivers at this point in time. I'd look at some reviews and see which card performs better with the games you play.
If you go ATI and are running XP you need to install net framework to be able to use ATI's control panel. Vista comes with net framework.

*zapionics<alt>* · 07-02-2009, 09:01 PM

I've been using a HD 4870 for a while now, no problems in games, both old and new. Runs quietly. Performance has been excellent at 1680x1050 resolution (my monitors native res).

I think that power supply should be fine.

wick45805 · 07-03-2009, 03:36 PM

Thanks guys! I was hoping my power supply would be ok. My native monitor resolution is also 1680x1050 . I don't see me going to a bigger monitor any time soon so the 4870 might be a good choice then.

I am kind of leading toward the EVGA GXT260 though just because I am a little more familiar with the Nvidia drivers and EVGA has been very good to me. Their customer service is top notch!! I play The Call Of Duties (Ha, I said duties) and mostly Battlefield so heck i don't know maybe I don't even need a new card? My 8800GTS handles most of the games I am playing right now fine

But i have upgrade fever!!!! Please somebody tell me what to do!!!

I'm tired if just staring at Newegg and not being able to pull the trigger !!! Sorry for babbling....

Sir Skully · 07-03-2009, 03:51 PM

Go with HD 4870 its a great card. I've been running mine for a few months no problem. I'm running the 4870 with 1gig memory.

wick45805 · 07-03-2009, 07:52 PM

Witch 4870 do you guys have? Brand wise?? So many on Newegg but I think I'm leaning toward XFX. What do ya think?

Sir Skully · 07-03-2009, 10:39 PM

Diamond brand here, XFX is most likely ok....

06-30-2009, 11:33 AM	#1
wick45805 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 251	Video card upgrade Hi all! Well I am getting upgrade fever but I am also poor! Thinking about a video card upgrade. I have about $200 or so to spend so i am thinking either a 4870 or an GTX260. Liking the price of the 4870 right now but pretty much been a Nvidia guy for awhile. that being said i am looking for the best bang for my buck and a decent upgrade from my 8800gts. So...opinions?? There is also one problem. little concerned weather or not my 500watt power supply will do the job. It is an Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500. Does fine with my 8800gts but Im sure either one of these cards might be too much for it. Don't have the money for new power supply so should i buy a power supply fist and then wait to get the card? I'm thinking a new power supply is not going to satisfy my upgrade craving __________________ Gigabyte 965p-ds3 E6600 Conroe 2gigs of Ocz gold 667 ram in dual channel Antec 500 watt true power EVGA 8800GTS
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07-02-2009, 12:49 PM	#2
wick45805 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 251	Re: Video card upgrade Bumpity Bump.. __________________ Gigabyte 965p-ds3 E6600 Conroe 2gigs of Ocz gold 667 ram in dual channel Antec 500 watt true power EVGA 8800GTS
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07-02-2009, 04:47 PM	#3
wonderwrench ABXpert Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mpls MN Posts: 1,728	Re: Video card upgrade Your PSU meets the specs for either card as far as I can tell. Its a crap shoot as to which company has the best drivers at this point in time. I'd look at some reviews and see which card performs better with the games you play. If you go ATI and are running XP you need to install net framework to be able to use ATI's control panel. Vista comes with net framework. __________________ C2Q Q6600 @ 3 GhzMSI P35 Neo2-FR bios 1.104 x 2 gig Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 ramEvga 8800GT SSC SATA HD's 1 Seagate 320 gig, 1 Samsung 320 gig LiteOn sohw-1693sPlextor PX 716aTeac FloppyOCZ 700GXSSLI PSU* Rosewill R6AR6-BK case* Windows 7 pro 64 bit Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.
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07-02-2009, 09:01 PM	#4
zapionics<alt> <unknown level> Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AUSTRALIA Posts: 3,647	Re: Video card upgrade I've been using a HD 4870 for a while now, no problems in games, both old and new. Runs quietly. Performance has been excellent at 1680x1050 resolution (my monitors native res). I think that power supply should be fine. __________________ * Please note: any advertising within this post has been placed there by the site owner and NOT by me! * "To Boldly Go..."
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07-03-2009, 03:36 PM	#5
wick45805 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 251	Re: Video card upgrade Thanks guys! I was hoping my power supply would be ok. My native monitor resolution is also 1680x1050 . I don't see me going to a bigger monitor any time soon so the 4870 might be a good choice then. I am kind of leading toward the EVGA GXT260 though just because I am a little more familiar with the Nvidia drivers and EVGA has been very good to me. Their customer service is top notch!! I play The Call Of Duties (Ha, I said duties) and mostly Battlefield so heck i don't know maybe I don't even need a new card? My 8800GTS handles most of the games I am playing right now fine But i have upgrade fever!!!! Please somebody tell me what to do!!! I'm tired if just staring at Newegg and not being able to pull the trigger !!! Sorry for babbling.... __________________ Gigabyte 965p-ds3 E6600 Conroe 2gigs of Ocz gold 667 ram in dual channel Antec 500 watt true power EVGA 8800GTS
(Offline)

07-03-2009, 03:51 PM	#6
Sir Skully ABX KNIGHT EXEMPLAR Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA-GA Posts: 28,338	Re: Video card upgrade Go with HD 4870 its a great card. I've been running mine for a few months no problem. I'm running the 4870 with 1gig memory. __________________ .....................................................................................................................
(Offline)

07-03-2009, 07:52 PM	#7
wick45805 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 251	Re: Video card upgrade Witch 4870 do you guys have? Brand wise?? So many on Newegg but I think I'm leaning toward XFX. What do ya think? __________________ Gigabyte 965p-ds3 E6600 Conroe 2gigs of Ocz gold 667 ram in dual channel Antec 500 watt true power EVGA 8800GTS
(Offline)

07-03-2009, 10:39 PM	#8
Sir Skully ABX KNIGHT EXEMPLAR Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA-GA Posts: 28,338	Re: Video card upgrade Diamond brand here, XFX is most likely ok.... __________________ .....................................................................................................................
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