Video card opinions needed....

[CaptainHaplo]

OK guys - here is the situation.

My current game rig is due for an upgrade. However, I am limited in funds.

So - here is where I sit.

AMD x2 4200 (Dual core at 2.2Ghz)
MSI V-class 7253 VMS MB
2 Gigs of ram (all the board will support)
500GB SATA main drive
150GB EIDE backup/storage drive

And the bottleneck at the moment:

x1650X Pro

Now - I am not going to go hog wild as I don't have the funds for a full rebuild. When I do my next one - I hope to have a budget of 1k or more. So I am looking under $150 if possible.

I have 3 main options at that price point.

Nvidia 9800GTX

Nvidia GTX250

ATI HD4850

Now - I used to be a fan of Nvidia - but migrated to ATI after a bout with the first few incarnations of their global driver. Now - both sides are about equal there, so I am fine with going with either manufacter.

Here are the concerns I have.

The biggest is heat - My box is in a bad spot honestly - my desk has a pc cabinet - and to run currently I have to keep the door open for airflow purposes.

A close second is fan life. The past few ATI cards I have had have all chunked fans after a few months. I really don't want to repeat that yet again....

Lastly - and a very distant 3rd - is DX10.1 support. Nvidia doesn't and won't do it - though they do support base DX10 - and none of my games really require 10.1 support. Still - its a consideration.

So - give me your thoughts on which card I should consider.

Also - my PS is a 400w right now - After looking it seems the minimum I will have to have for any of these cards is 450, correct?

[Zachstar]

HD 4770

Nuff said except that it uses only 80 watts has DDR5 memory and is slightly faster than the 4850

Oh and it will be just 99 bucks.

Will be out by mid may. Save your bucks and wait for it.

[Wolfehunter]

GTX 250is bogus. I'm disapointed with the scame Nvidia has dished out to the public.

i hate to say it since I've alway bought nvidia cards but by ati. GTX 200 cards are not what they appear to be.

[PeriscopeDepth]

ATI is the way to go nowadays.

PD

[Task Force]

never had a ati card. I have always used nvidia.

I currently use a 8800gts 640mb OC card from bfg. runs stuff good.

and you can find them under 150 dollars im sure. I have had mine for about 2 years now, still runs fine. dont see where you would have a bottleneck. (use to have a AMD 2.6 ghz processor and the processor had to be replaced, it was causeing a bottleneck.)
http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr88640gtseeoce.aspx card site over at bfg.

(heat could cause a bit of a issue, just had a little issue myself, card overheated, still runs fine.)

[Arclight]

Save money now and put it in the pool for the next total rebuild IMHO. Get a 9800GT instead of that 9800GTX, for example. GTX250 is bogus like said before, literally a rebranded 9800GTX+.

Nvidia still turns in the best performance, and has the lowest idle loads (watts) but has the biggest power draw on load. But performance wise it's really a wash; i.e. it's close enough together to ignore the difference. Like Zachstar suggested, a 40nm HD 47xx would be nice, particularly if heat and power draw are an issue.

The whole situation is a bit weird right now (to me anyway), IMHO best to hold of on upgrade if you can or get best bang for the buck (~100,- pricepoint).

[HunterICX]

The whole situation is a bit weird right now (to me anyway)

I'm the same about that,
both brands don't make any sense at the moment.
they seem to crap out cards with slight increase of perfomance over the other instead of a real step forward and it becomes harder to spot the card you really want.

HunterICX

[AVGWarhawk]

I'm biased towards the Nvidia brand. ATI's CCC to me is awful.

[Raptor1]

I'm biased towards the Nvidia brand. ATI's CCC to me is awful.

I guess I'm the complete opposite then, can't stand the Nvidia interface

[AVGWarhawk]

I have had such trouble with that CCC. Even on my folks machine. But like everything else, someone always has a nightmare story no matter the product. Hell flip a coin. Heads ATI, tails Nvidia:salute:

[AVGWarhawk]

Firewall, what is the best processor:06:

[FIREWALL]

Firewall, what is the best processor:06:



The best processer is for me to delete my ass hat post AVG.

Screamer Hangover and took it out on a friend. Me :down:

Sorry Capt H :oops:

[Raptor1]

FIREWALL! FIREWALL! WHA...

Oh, too late...

[AVGWarhawk]

The best processer is for me to delete my ass hat post AVG.

Screamer Hangover and took it out on a friend. Me :down:

Sorry Capt H :oops:


Understood :D

[FIREWALL]

If I didn't have this website I'd be screwed :doh: .

If you all only knew how l ittle I know about computers and how much you've helped me to get up to speed in such a short time you'de drop to the floor.


The person that turned me on to computers pasted last nite.

I'm not a big drinker but last nite....

[CaptainHaplo]

Hey Firewall - no problem man. I have been wound a little tight once or twice myself. Even had a friend be nice enough to cold flatten my arse just so I wouldn't continue to be stupid and get myself seriously hurt. Apology accepted and post forgotten.

If I also read that right - you lost a friend - and to that I have to extend my condolences.

Take it easy and all is good between us.