• Competitor rules

    Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.

Spec me a graphics card.

hornett

hornett

hornett

Associate
Joined
3 Jan 2005
Posts
963
Location
Bridgend
Sorry I had to create this thread, please don't flame me.

Cost £200 - £250
Use gaming
Screen 28" Monitor
Vista 64bit

Must run quiet when idle, don't care when I'm gaming as I have my headphones on.

Bit of background. I like to build with the next upgrade in mind, currently my board is not xfire or sli so the next update will be Mobo.

I did have the powercolor 4870 but its gone back because of grinding fan noise.

What I am thinking:
Saphire 4870
leadtek 280GTX
leadtek 9800GX2

Bear in mind I will be looking at a new mobo in 6months to a Year.
 
im not particularly convinced by these dual gpu cards

others will disagree
my advice would be to consider a 280

perhaps hold on for the 280+model if you can wait a bit

here is some info on graphics card warranties form various manufacturers - hope it helps your decision if you care about warranty
 
4870, with a custom cooler and clock the nads of it. You won't need to worry about excessive noise, custom the bios too or use ATT or RivaTuner to create a lower 2d clock profile and Job Done.
 
With a 28"er the 280 will give the best overall performance, but the 4870 will come close for significantly less cash. I would personally lean towards a 280 due to the 1GB VRAM.
 
My issue with changing the cooler on the 4870 is the warrenty. Knowing my luck I would change it and the card would die.

I am think 280 as I have heard there are good thing to come with the card
 
Driver updates releasing its potential.

Since having the 4870 I have been really put off, since all I have heard is. Replace the fan, do not use CCC.

All the stuff that comes with the card is ripped off or replaced cause its rubbish. Even their own site has a link for a hotfix to resolve stability issues that goes no where

http://ati.supportcenteronline.com/...sp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=35298

I have always had ATI but AMD has killed them.

I maybe conviced by saphire as my last card was saphire. But so far I have not heard anything damning about the 280
 
My bro who has a 4870x2 swears by CCC, it all depends on what floats your boat. I like to tweak & play. You know the saying if it an't broke don't fix it., well I like to try! LoL... BTW Hornett my bro just upgraded from a 8800GTX by far Nvidia's flagship card (Last Generation) & doesn't regret it one bit.
 
Don't replace the fan and use ccc. You think all people on here have changed the fans and don't use ccc. The card runs a little hot but so does the gtx280 all you need to do is up the fan speed a litte and problem is solved.I have been using the ccc for the last 5 years with no problems but there are better programs than the ccc thats why people say don't use it.
 
Hmm, well if someone recommends the saphire I might get that. Anyone here got one. Really like to know what its like when it idles
 
GTX 280. Solid card, just fits into your price bracket. And while yes, they do run warm under load, mine runs cool (<40'c) while idling and is silent, too.
 
Last edited:
MystaEB said:
GTX 280. Solid card, just fits into your price bracket. And while yes, they do run warm under load, mine runs cool (<40'c) while idling and is silent, too.
Click to expand...

+1

Silent when idle, still quiet if you keep stock around 60% fan. Overclock it though and it may get a bit loud 80%+. :)
 
idle is the most important as I hate to hear the PC when I'm just browsing and its in the bed room so if I leave it own I want to be able to sleep :)
 
4870x2=2x4870>280>4870>260

you have p35 board so rules out crossfire 4870, but you have a 4870 card allready - hmmm conundrum.

first question I have is what res do you play at? if anything less than 1900x1200 res than i say not worth upgrading tbh. Unless you have upgraditis.

your budget rules out the 4870x2, leaves you with 280gtx or a second 4870 and new mobo (second hand x38 probably). If you can find a second 4870 and mobo for your budget then that will be better, if not a 280gtx, which is a fine card.

PS i have Sapphire 4870x2 and it is quiet at idle (not silent), just when i turn on comp it kicks in full speed than i hear it, but after couple of seconds automatically reduces fan speed. in games I have never heard/noticed it so far.
 
Last edited:
then a 280 will give you best performance for your budget -but if you can hold on a couple of weeks may be worth checkin out new revised nvidia card
 
mhh the best option would be 4870x2. but they over your budget. well 280 would play most of the game on that rez depends if u use aa or not.

280 is best option. and if u have some card to last you few month wait for 280+ or 4850x2. it should puch prices down of current products
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom