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question about video cards

post #1 of 18
12/25/09 at 11:58pm
Thread Starter 
hey got a fry's gift card and i need a new video card so i have a few questions.

i don't know if i should get a 1gb card like a geforce 9800gt or a 512mb card like the geforce gts 250. i'm confused because the 1gb card doesn't perform as well as the 512mb when i looked it up on videocard benchmarks. any suggestions/things i need to know? i'm not a hardcore gamer but i like to have the option for gaming ( like for when sc II comes out ) my budget is $100 - 125
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post #2 of 18
12/26/09 at 12:08am
Can you afford a GTX 260? It's worth the extra money to grab the 260 if you can swing the money.
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post #3 of 18
12/26/09 at 12:11am
Thread Starter 
something like this?
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post #4 of 18
12/26/09 at 12:14am
Yes it's another $100 on top of your budget (based on newegg's prices), but I do know the 260 rocks for the money! It's well worth considering if you are an active PC gamer and can swing the money.
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post #5 of 18
12/26/09 at 12:33am
Video memory isn't very important as long as you have at least 512MB. I have a 512MB card and it plays everything I've tried (except Crysis) at max settings/1920x1200. What matters is the GPU, and the 250 is superior to the 9800gt.

For the most part, extra video RAM these days is marketing BS.
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post #6 of 18
12/26/09 at 1:18am
8800 GT, 8800 GTS 512, 9800 GT, 9800 GTX and GTS 250 all use the G92 GPU and perform similarly, with the first being the slowest and the 250 being the fastest.

However, at the moment ATI is better value. Check out the HD5750, HD5770 and HD5850 for great value. (Google for reviews.)

Memory isn't that big of a deal, 512 is plenty in this price range.
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post #7 of 18
12/26/09 at 1:26am
If you are willing to spend a bit more, I'd get the HD5770 over any g92 based nVidia card -> coming from a current g92 9600GSO 768MB owner/user.
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post #8 of 18
12/26/09 at 1:40am
I went ATI last year.. no regrets at all.. Way better value IMHO. Easier to cool too I've found.
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post #9 of 18
12/26/09 at 2:47am
ATI does make some very nice cards. The 512MB card I mentioned in an earlier post is an ATI Radeon 4850. Not so sure about it being easier to cool though, mine's currently idling @ 81*C.
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post #10 of 18
12/26/09 at 2:51am
^ I have an 4850 512mb and it idles at ~36*C. Never had it overheat, even during long gaming sessions.
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post #11 of 18
12/26/09 at 2:55am
ati ftw, go for the 5770
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post #12 of 18
12/26/09 at 3:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirosia View Post
^ I have an 4850 512mb and it idles at ~36*C. Never had it overheat, even during long gaming sessions.
Mine doesn't overheat either- overheating is 125*C for this card. It runs smoothly even at ~105*C when I'm gaming.

I have one from the first batch that follows the reference design, i.e., I have a totally inadequate single-slot cooler. I know it's time to blow out the dust when it starts idling at 90.

Edit: Inadequate probably isn't the right word. The cooling on my card keeps the GPU within spec. The driver doesn't even turn on the fan until it reaches ~75*C- they wouldn't have programmed it that way if my temps were a problem.
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post #13 of 18
12/26/09 at 3:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by koven View Post
ati ftw, go for the 5770
That's at least 60 dollars over his budget though, and besides, Nvidia's competitiveness doesn't start becoming totally wrecked until you get to the GTX 260 and above, at which you point you should indeed be looking at the 4890 or the new 5800 series cards.

Now, having said that, looking over the Fry's list, I'd say you'd be best off with this HD 4850 or this 5750.
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post #14 of 18
12/26/09 at 4:12am
Thread Starter 

wow

seriously thank you all for your responses. this helped a lot
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post #15 of 18
12/26/09 at 6:33am
Still gaming on my 8800GT and loving it.
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