DrBroccoli Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 So for Christmas I got some computer upgrades, and it seems my GPU is majorly bottlenecking my system. Currently I have a Core2Quad Q6600 processor with a nVidia 6800GS,?and?1.5GB?RAM?(which?I?need?to?upgrade,?it's?cheap?stuff) and it's just not cutting it. I'm getting about 10FPS in source games and CoD4 was so jerky I couldn't even play it. I want something powerful, but I'd rather stay in the $200 range, I'm only 17 with a minimum (actually under) wage job, so it's hard for me to afford all this stuff =D. I prefer nVidia, but I guess I could let my bias go if someone could convince me of an amazing ATi card. PCIe is what I have, so that'll be what I need to upgrade. Thanks. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 DrBroccoli said: So for Christmas I got some computer upgrades, and it seems my GPU is majorly bottlenecking my system. Currently I have a Core2Quad Q6600 processor with a nVidia 6800GS, and 1.5GB RAM (which I need to upgrade, it's cheap stuff) and it's just not cutting it. I'm getting about 10FPS in source games and CoD4 was so jerky I couldn't even play it.I want something powerful, but I'd rather stay in the $200 range, I'm only 17 with a minimum (actually under) wage job, so it's hard for me to afford all this stuff =D. I prefer nVidia, but I guess I could let my bias go if someone could convince me of an amazing ATi card. PCIe is what I have, so that'll be what I need to upgrade. Thanks. Your system should be getting higher framerates than that. Anyway, can you get an 8800 GT for $200? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589096982 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitalx Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 512MB ati HD3870 great low power performance card with nice pricehttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814102713 or for nvidia 256MB 88GT (512 is round 290)http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130314 and for ram maybe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231098 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589096986 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBroccoli Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 I know, I have another thread in this forum asking for help, but it kind of died on the second/third page now and not many solutions were offered. I got better perforance from my P4, same GPU, than I have been with my new CPU, same GPU. Don't want to hijack my own thread but: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=609719 Here's what I found on NewEgg: 8600GTS Superclocked 512MB (128-bit) = $194 after MiR 8800GTS 320MB (320-bit) = $229 no MiR Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589096991 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SojIrOu Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 (edited) a 8800gt 512mb is $60 above your budget but anything cheaper and you'd have to get a much crappier card. an alternative is you could get a 8800gt 256mb for $220 but i'd save the extra $40 for the 512mb one because it simply won't perform well with Anti-Aliasing. found one that fits the bill. linky ps: and don't be fooled by the naming convention the 8800gt is faster than the old gts. Edited December 30, 2007 by SojIrOu Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589096995 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitalx Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 3870 is much better then 256MB 8800GT if wanna split the budget between the 2 but yeah. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097006 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre S. Veteran Posted December 30, 2007 Veteran Share Posted December 30, 2007 The HD 3870 is not a lot better than the 256MB 8800 GT, nonetheless it stands pretty much halfway between the 256MB and 512MB versions of the 8800GT. So if you can find it at a comparable price it's a good deal. What would be a lot better than an 8600GTS, for about 170$, is an HD 3850. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097009 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBroccoli Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 (edited) Hmmm, I really an biased towards nVidia, but you all say the 3870 is a better card than the 8800GT... I found the 3870 for $250 on NewEgg... I'm tempted, but... my GeForce senses aren't tingling. Comparing the two shows the ATi to be better for $50 more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompa...N82E16814125085 Edited December 30, 2007 by DrBroccoli Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097047 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitalx Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 well both cards will play cod4 fine on high but 3870 would be better with larger resolutions in general. but really up to you. 3870 is a great card there's nothing to really be anymore warey of it then any other graphics card Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097056 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBroccoli Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 I run a 1680x1050 monitor, so I would want it to power that =D. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097058 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SojIrOu Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 then you may as well get the 8800GT 512mb for $260 since its an even better card :D Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097070 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitalx Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 SojIrOu said: then you may as well get the 8800GT 512mb for $260 since its an even better card :D in cod4 at max at his resolution with no aa and 16xAF they both the same fps so yea might wanna look at benchmarks round the net for other games you play on how well for what you're after out of the 2 i suppose. side note, i dunno how it's better when the guy posted here the other day from serbia team OC'ers people who broke world record 3dmark benchmark with 3870 ;) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097081 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBroccoli Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 If you compare all three, it seems the ATi has more everything? GDDR4, more stream processors, higher core clock rate? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompa...N82E16814150252 it's all confusing to me =D. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097082 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitalx Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 judge by reviews and benchmarks of games that you play not on numbers and should settle your desicion. the ati card is a great card but if you want an 8800GT thats fine too they are both good in their own right. me personally only thing i don't agree with on 8800GT's is the single slot cooling. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097095 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SojIrOu Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 i meant its better at stock and i based my opinion on tom's hardware's review where the 8800gt is slightly ahead in most of the games they reviewed. the 3870 is still a good card and you won't notice a difference when you actually play the games. ps: we all know that 3dmark scores are worthless. only real world applications count :D i thought i saw one 8800GT 512mb going for 259.99 on newegg. (one is by gigabyte and one is by pny) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097121 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre S. Veteran Posted December 30, 2007 Veteran Share Posted December 30, 2007 DrBroccoli said: Hmmm, I really an biased towards nVidia, but you all say the 3870 is a better card than the 8800GT... I found the 3870 for $250 on NewEgg... I'm tempted, but... my GeForce senses aren't tingling.Comparing the two shows the ATi to be better for $50 more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompa...N82E16814125085 8800GT 512MB > HD 3870 > 8800GT 256MB > HD 3850 >> 8600GTS. Check out:http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3175&p=6 and http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3151&p=8 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097171 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBroccoli Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 The 8800GT 512MB is looking mighty fine... I'm all psyched up tp blow my casy... except NewEgg or Amazon doesn't have it in stock? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097505 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbytomorow Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 If you don't mind the little extra cash the 8800GT is a great choice and Dr_Asik has it right 8800GT 512>3870>8800GT 256>3850 All are great cards for the money though. You can also find 3850 with 512MB and its basically just an under clocked 3870. So just overclock it and you got yourself a 3870 for a few bucks cheaper. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097517 Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceBrewedBeer Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Check buy.com as well, they usually have it cheaper than newegg.com. I've ordered from them and they're fast, faster than the egg I'd say. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097521 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SojIrOu Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 i suspect you might need to wait till next week because it seems it won't be in stock until next year. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097524 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chconline Veteran Posted December 30, 2007 Veteran Share Posted December 30, 2007 Go for a Radeon HD 3870, or make the jump for an NVIDIA 8800GT... I have a 8800GT 512MB, passively cooled, and I am impressed. (Even though I don't game lol) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589097984 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBroccoli Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 (edited) And this is why I love Neowin =D. Anyone have a preference on brand, I've always bought eVGA products, but I can get the 512MB 8800GT for $253.99 on buy.com, made by PNY. I can also go XFX for $261.99 http://www.buy.com/prod/pny-xlr8-geforce-8.../206166489.html http://www.buy.com/prod/xfx-geforce-8800gt.../206216680.html Edit: =D 8800GT 512MB, eVGA for $257.99 WITH a $10 off code if I use Google Checkout for the first time! They're all sold out though! http://www.buy.com/prod/evga-geforce-8800g.../206609495.html Edit #2 I can order direct from eVGA for $270: http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=512-P3-N801-AR Or would I be best to wait until January 1 and get it cheaper at somewhere like buy.com? Do I even know if they'll have it available soon? Edited December 30, 2007 by DrBroccoli Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589098039 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAID 0 Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Hey Dr. I was in the other thread trying to help with your low FPS problem. A 8800 is a VERY nice upgrade form a 6800, but the thing is... even if you buy a new card and your BIOS is not set correctly, you're going to have the same problem with your new card. I wish I could be of more help, but it's hard to walk someone through BOIS settings over the net. Do you know of anyone who wouldn't mind coming over and checking your settings? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589098985 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBroccoli Posted December 31, 2007 Author Share Posted December 31, 2007 Yeah... not really, I live in a po-dunk town where I am seriously the neighborhood tech-support, not by choice. Also, by tech support, it usually means plugging in a wire, because these old people and their el-lek-twon-icks. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589099152 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SojIrOu Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 (edited) well you've got us for help. you've also got my experience of 7 years (13 to 20) of building pcs for myself and family and friends but mainly myself. :D anyway RAID 0: i seriously doubt that a bios setting/s would make his 8800 as slow as it is. i speak of course from experience. the graphics card is just supposed to work when you plug it in and install new drivers. usually its because the psu is not supplying enough power (causing slowdowns or hanging) or an issue with the driver or even the card might be faulty. but anyway his case is unique since its just the processor that has been upgraded which won't draw that much power and slow down his pc. Edited December 31, 2007 by SojIrOu Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/610092-gpu-upgrade/#findComment-589099296 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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