GPU upgrade time

[butt]

Been holding off on a new video card since early this summer, but recently decided go ahead and move twoards an upgrade.

My current card is a sapphire 4850 w/ 512 mb of ram.

The default settings are:
GPU clock :500mhz
Memory clock : 750mhz

I'd like to stay w/ the ATI chipset, but if an argument for an Nvidia card could be made, I'd be open to hear to the pros/cons.

I definetly want a full G of ddr 5 ram, as I'd imagine this should greatly improve graphics/preformance ingame. One thing I've noticed, (on some cards anyway) the greater the ram the less streaming processing units. (Wheres tarsier when you need him?    )

If you have suggestions for me, please post links to the product, as well as what you feel is an important +/- 's of each. thx!



Butt

[Into-the-dark]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448&cm_re=radeon_hd_5750-_-14-150-448-_-Product
good price 2

[Groovechild]

What kind of motherboard do you have? If it can support Crossfire or SLI (and you have the PSU to handle two cards) the performance now actually almost doubles when adding a second card (in the past you would get like a 30% bump). Since the technology works great now, I went with a GTX460, and figure to get a second one when my framerates start being inadequate (bought a Corsair 850W PSU just for the upgrade room). Have an old school Intel Q9450, but it's plenty as the GPU does most of the heavy lifting at high res (1920x1080). I play almost all games at full 1080P and the GTX (and my old CPU) appear to run everything just fine, so far.
This way when I need a performance bump I will get (what at the time will be an older) GTX460 for likely around a C-note, and that should be all I need, instead of upgrading platforms.

[butt]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131188&cm_re=p5kc-_-13-131-188-_-Product

thats my mobo

e8400
4G 1066 ddr2

[Groovechild]

Personally I don't get caught up in stream processing units and texel counts or tesselation or anything of the like, I just prefer good gameplay with some eye candy. All the specs looks nice, and your 5.7 liter V8 might have 400HP and 475 ft-lbs of torque, but that doesn't mean a 300bhp 4-cylinder turbo won't take it in the quarter mile.
I'm a big fan of tech report, and for 'their' money, they picked this rig with the GTX460 (http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/20138/6). Here is a snapshot of the 460 using BadCo2 (which actually takes more hardware to run than CODBO - http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/19242/9).
Ultimately, it depends what resolution you play at. The more memory on the card, the easier the card will handle high resolution. If your monitor does not support 1920x1080 (or greater) the higher ram won't be utilized. DDR type is important, and generally newer is better (e.g. DDR5 is better to have than DDR4) but different cards play different games better as well. Another factor is noise, not sure if that matters to you or not, as well as length, since I have a mid-tower case and a Radeon 5970 won't fit in mine, for example. Another item is power. The top-flight cards take two PCI-e 6 pin + 8 pin connectors (for one card!). My PSU does not have enough of those connectors (enough for SLI using the GTX460/470 line, but not the 500 class).
Another excellent card for its price range is the 5850. Significantly cheaper than its upscale brother, but holds its own quite nicely (and this card is a point-blank steal for the price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131386&cm_re=radeon_5850-_-14-131-386-_-Product) <~ the 5850 usually averages about $50 higher. The Radeon is nice as you can fit 3 monitors to it (not sure if that matters to you).
I think the ATi series (or AMD now?) does have some transcoding acceleration, but DVD-FAB uses CUDA which spins up the GPU when transcoding from DVD to MP4 (again, not sure if that matters to you) and cuts the digital conversion time by about half vs. using the CPU (with my quad core). I've been buying stuff on iTunes (movies too) lately, so this is less of a factor for me, just throwing it out there. For the money tho, as I am writing this, I would read into (google)  that Powercolor 5850, that's damn impressive for it's price point, just make sure it doesn't have any known issues. The 5850 would pretty much own my GTX460, and it's selling for less than I got my GTX460! I had to go nVidia since I have an SLI mobo, but the 5850 might be a better choice for a single-card system (and your mobo supports Crossfire, your only upgrade down the road might be the PSU for a second card).

[butt]

Thanks for the detailed feedback!

Ultimately, it depends what resolution you play at. The more memory on the card, the easier the card will handle high resolution. If your monitor does not support 1920x1080 (or greater) the higher ram won't be utilized. DDR type is important, and generally newer is better (e.g. DDR5 is better to have than DDR4) but different cards play different games better as well.

As to resolution I play on, right now I dumb things down as to reduce lag ingame. But heres my monitor.
Samsung SyncMaster 2220WM Black 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor (22", 1680x1050, 5ms, DVI)

Have an LG , but thats set up as my TV.
http://www.lg.com/levant_en/computer-products/monitors/LG-lcd-M237WA.jsp

In a perfect world, as to gaming, I'd like to run as high a resolution as possible w/out lagging due to the GPU bogging down. Also, if my current monitors dont support as high a resolution, I don't want that to influence a card purchace. I'd rather have a card that can do more than I need, and be able to swap out monitors later.

DDR type is important, and generally newer is better (e.g. DDR5 is better to have than DDR4) but different cards play different games better as well. Another factor is noise, not sure if that matters to you or not, as well as length, since I have a mid-tower case and a Radeon 5970 won't fit in mine, for example. Another item is power. The top-flight cards take two PCI-e 6 pin + 8 pin connectors (for one card!).

Watercooled, so noise isnt a problem. Case size isn't a problem, is my wood case, could fit a surfboard in this thing. Power supply is fine. Planned ahead on this side of things. Is 800w - w/ 4 of both 6 & 8 pin connectors.

[Into-the-dark]

the 5850 usually averages about $50 higher. The Radeon is nice as you can fit 3 monitors to it (not sure if that matters to you).

Where did u find this.  I don't know if it can do 3 I believe that it will only do 2 monitors, mine also has 3 ports but only 2 work at a time  

[Groovechild]

Dark, you need a Displayport to VGA (or displayport to DVI or HDMI) adapter and it will pick up the third monitor.
Butt, I guess the ultimate question is: what's yer price range??

[butt]

Butt, I guess the ultimate question is: what's yer price range??

The PowerColor AX5850 you posted would be doable. Although my cherry pickin spidysence would probably kick in once I get ready to make the plunge, and I'd look for something w/ a MIR.

I was really disapointed in the newegg boxing day sale this year. Was hoping to pick something up there, but the choices were pathetic. Will probably wait and see if they have anything worth while on their new years day sale.

Its really difficult for me to justify the pricepoint of a GPU when I compare it to mobo prices. My current GPU was a hand me down, so I may want to look at the used market as well. (Again, wheres Tarsier when I need him? He always seemd to have a line on quality used stuff on that PC forum hes involved in. Turd didnt reply to my PM a while back    lol )

[butt]

Newegg is having its 10 year anniversery sale.

What about this one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125342&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL011111&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL011111-_-EMC-011111-Index-_-DesktopGraphicsVideoCards-_-14125342-L04A

Is $89.99 after MIR

[Groovechild]

At the resolutions you will be playing, it's a good performer for the price: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/09/13/nvidia-geforce-gts-450-review/6
If you can swing the 5850, that will be enough card for you for a couple years, on top of being able to handle full 1080P playing resolutions should you upgrade your monitor. But at the same time, you can argue that you when you get your 1080P monitor, the 5850 will be cheaper too.
That said, if you're not a sucker for eye candy (personally, as much as I like graphics, I just don't like jagged lined - once the jagged lines are gone, the excess AA/AF and field of view are less important to me), the 450 at $90 is very good deal.

[butt]

If you can swing the 5850, that will be enough card for you for a couple years, on top of being able to handle full 1080P playing resolutions should you upgrade your monitor. But at the same time, you can argue that you when you get your 1080P monitor, the 5850 will be cheaper too.
That said, if you're not a sucker for eye candy (personally, as much as I like graphics, I just don't like jagged lined - once the jagged lines are gone, the excess AA/AF and field of view are less important to me), the 450 at $90 is very good deal.

yeah, thats the deal. I am stuck between the pros v cons of an overall upgrade. Its a tough time to make a decision on upgrading mobo/ram/CPU when one looks at the current games played.

On one hand, the geek in me always wants faster, but the realist in me understands that current/future PC games will continue to be limited by the port to PC from console game development. PC gamers are screwed by porting. We can have the best of the best, but games are released to the lowest common denominator (consoles). So, whats the point of going cooko for cooco puffs on hardware these days, when games are being dumed down for console fanboys?

I dont see another "major" game purchace untill BF3 (and maybe not even then - if no demo recorder) so, with that in mind, I just want better than 512 MB of DDR3, which is what I am working with now.

Might look at the 5570's. Just not sure 

Oh I missed the price on the link. the "email special" price was actually $84.99 after MIR.

[Groovechild]

Well, usually with the console, the interface itself is dumbed down. The graphics they still try to make pretty snazzy.
But at the same time, we are mostly first person shooter folk, so it's not like we're strolling through the woods in this game like Syberia (although my wife loved that game).
What I've noticed over time is that the money shot is the GPU. IF you have a decent CPU, the GPU does the rest. Your CPU is the playmaker. It just needs to keep up with your left-wing sniper. He just needs to feed him the puck.
My CPU is a couple generations old, but my GTX460 is recent and I can play all the current games with eyecandy on.

BTW, how did you like Half life 2?

[butt]

Its ok. I've stopped playing somewhere with the boat. I get tired of the "hunt and peck" games pretty quick. The "do this, or find that" game experience isn't my favorite. I was enjoying crysis SP much more, but my PC freezes all the time, so not been playing it either. 

[butt]

Was reading the article you posted.

How can a card have less RAM, but be faster?
 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500173&cm_re=768MB_GTX_460-_-14-500-173-_-Product
This card was rated over the 5770 & GTS 450

"However, the choice between GTS 450 and HD 5770 is complicated by price cuts in the 768MB GTX 460. Over the last week we've seen card for as little as £115, though prices have adjusted to £130 since then. The 768MB GTX 460 is roughly 30 per cent faster than either the GTS 450 or the HD 5770, and is therefore a much better investment than either."
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/09/13/nvidia-geforce-gts-450-review/8

Been doing some looking, and may wait till the card you first suggested gets back in stock. Just not sure what to do. When I was given this card, it was such an upgrade from what I had. Was "night and day" better for 2142. Now playing the games w/ higher requirments, I am running everything on medium just to keep pace.

One last side note, do the newer ATI cards support 3D?