Video Card recommendation

[igloo15]

My computer was recently stolen long story...

Anyways I am rebuilding from the ground up and I don't really have anything at the moment to hold me over for new parts like the 9800 show up. I am looking to purchase something by the end of next week.

I just bought a 24" LG L246WP-BN monitor at bestbuy for $380 clearance and display item.

I need something that will power its resolution 1920 by 1200 and play my games at good fps. I mainly play COD 4, some rts and rpg games. Basically everything, I do have Crysis and would like to play it at fairly high settings but understand that I won't be able too probably.

I have about 400 dollars to spend but I certianly don't want to waste it on something not good in the price/performance ratio. I can go a little higher but not too much.

I was looking at a 8800gtx because thats what I had in my previous computer but than I started to read that it was worthless and not worth the money. I looked at the new 8800gts and 8800gt G92 parts but there low memory bus width 256bit has me worried about games at my high res. I would like to the computer to last me a while at least next 2.5 years.

So I am really looking for a recommendation on what I should look for.

I am using this motherboard for my build
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
with a
E6750 intel cpu

 

[error8]

Right under your post is this one http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2164611&enterthread=y. Maybe you'll get some answers there.

 

[MarcVenice]

Spend 220$ AR on this now, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127325

And spend another 200$ or so again in 1.25 years. You might not completely like it, but it's one of the best options. I don't think a 8800gtx is worth it.

 

[Denithor]

MarcVenice +1 FTW

8800GTX is an older generation and not worth buying.

HD3870X2 vs 8800GTX vs G92 8800GTS vs 8800GT performance in COD4

The G92-based 8800GTS 512MB at stock speed is equal to or better than the G80-based 8800GTX even with 4xAA/16xAF at 1920x1200.

Only other option to consider is the Radeon HD3870X2 for around $430 (dual GPU on one card, measure your case though--it's a long mother).

EDIT: Go for an e8400 if you can find one, faster and will overclock better than the e6750.

EDIT2: Found this article over at DailyTech, they say the 9800GTX is basically just a G92-based 8800GTS with GDDR4 memory at 2200MHz (10% higher bandwidth for better performance at ultra-high resolutions). Just get the factory overclocked MSI 8800GTS 512MB and be done with it!

 

[igloo15]

Hmm any reviews on the 8400 i hadn't even heard of that cpu before you mentioned it.

I think I am leaning towards the HD3870X2 but there are many contradictory reviews of it out there. I read one on HardOcp that said it was on par slightly less than the 8800gtx. Going by the anandtech review it looks like a great steal with like 20 fps increase over the gtx making it a great buy for the same price as a GTX. I am conflicted on what to do will continue to read up on both cards.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

BTW, why are you getting the E6750? Is it the (lack of) availability on the E8400?

 

[MarcVenice]

The e8400 is basicaly a 45mn e6850, a 3.0ghz dualcore CPU, that runs cooler and uses less power. It should also be cheaper, but they are in high demand and supply is low, so vendors are price gouging like mad. You can get a OEM one here: http://www.excaliberpc.com/Int...artinfo-id-584792.html but it doesn't come with a cooler, and limited warranty. Knowing they went for 180-200$ before, 230$ isn't exactly cheap for a OEM cpu. It sais Xeon e3110 btw, but it's virtually the same as a e8400.

Here's some info on the e8x00 series, including the e8400: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...el/showdoc.aspx?i=3251

 

[IL2SturmovikPilot]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133205

That or spend extra on a 512MB GTS (<Your most viable option anyways)

 

[Piuc2020]

The HD 3870 X2 is good in some games but pretty bad in others... I would still go with SLI 9600GTs or something if you were going to spend over $300.

The E8400 is the new dual core from Intel based on 45nm technology, basically it has higher clocks, better OC performance, more cache and SSE4 instructions.

 

[igloo15]

I have decided to go with a 8800gts 512 with the extra money I might buy a tv tuner anyone have any recommendations

Also I think i might stick with the E6750 I am not really sure of the performance gains over the E8400 but the E6750 is 190 where as the E8400 is around 240, 250 even if I can find availability. Is it really worth the extra 50, 60 dollars for just a .4 ghz and 2mb cache. I am not sure so I am still debating but it doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[Arkaign]

8400 will come back down when volume hits. Would you be opposed to just grabbing a 2160 and overclocking it for a couple of months? You could probably sell it for about what you pay for it.

8400 is more than just .4ghz faster in terms of IPC. I think it's been proven that a 4mb L2 6XX0 series needs to be around 3.2-3.3Ghz to match a 3.0ghz 8400. Not that the 6750 is bad by any means, it's just getting a bit long in the tooth compared to the new gen. IIRC, the 6750 launched last summer.

 

[heyheybooboo]

^^^^ What he said

An e21XX with a nice OC will run that new vid card just dandy ...

 

[igloo15]

I am little confused by how a card with such a low fsb and 1mb l2 cache could be even close to an e6750. I mean sure the price is a huge difference but I have a feeling my games would suffer dramatically. I mean what if I try to boot up oblivion or some other cpu intensive game its gonna chew it up.

 

[aussiestilgar]

Overclock.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: igloo15
I am little confused by how a card with such a low fsb and 1mb l2 cache could be even close to an e6750. I mean sure the price is a huge difference but I have a feeling my games would suffer dramatically. I mean what if I try to boot up oblivion or some other cpu intensive game its gonna chew it up.

Indeed. At stock speeds, the 6750 would be considerably faster for gaming than a 2160. Overclocked to ~3ghz or so (easy as pie), you're pretty much gpu limited at any resolution you'll want to play at anyway. This will help you get by until the 8400 prices stop being so inflated.

Basically :

E2160 can be overclocked to and beyond stock 6750 performance.
6750 can be overclocked to and beyond stock 8400 performance.
8400 stock is notably faster than 6750 stock.
8400 overclocked is notably faster than pretty much anything for today's games.

 

[Sutareteiru]

To reply to the main posting, from my experience with the 8800gt OC to 650mhz, it is able to handle crysis quite well, not necessarily at 1900x1200, but at just slightly lower res im able to keep all specs in-game at very high and it runs fine. Also, if you buy the EVGA OC version for around $200 bucks, it comes with a lifetime warantee(as long as you apply for it online within 30 days of purchase). To top that, if you buy it and another upgraded card from nvidia comes out you can use evga's stepup program and buy the new card through evga and exchange your old card for the new one and only pay the difference from the msrp on the new card to the amount you paid for your old card. Basically its a good quality card thats cheap and gives you options. (just my 2 cents)


GL!



Edit: here's a link to one for $219, but if your patient and wait im sure you'll find some site selling it for right at 200 within a matter of days

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=3548332&CatId=1826

 

[Denithor]

e2160 overclocked matches e6750 in games

The whole article is worth reading, but focus on the gaming performance.

The suggestion to buy e2160, OC to 3GHz (or higher), and wait for the e8400 to become available and reasonably priced is sound advice.

And the MSI 8800GTS at $220 after MIR is a better deal than the EVGA 8800GT for the same price.

 

[v8envy]

I have a E2180 (a hair worse than a 2160 on a price/$ basis once OCd) at 2.66, downvolted to 1.2v. The chip had no problems running at 3.33@1.41 vcore.

It has absolutely zero problems with anything I've asked it to do paired with a 650 mhz 8800GT even downclocked from 3 ghz @ 1.325v. I'm hanging out and waiting for the E7300. At that point I'll get a $60 mboard for the E2180 and make it into a mythfrontend box capable of 1080p playback.

So one more vote for the cheapie chip and hanging out till Intel is willing to sell you an E7300.