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280 GTX on a 22" monitor=massive overkill?

mike kirkness

mike kirkness

mike kirkness

Associate
Joined
25 Sep 2008
Posts
5
Im about to build my new mainly gaming pc
decided all my components apart from my graphics card
Ive just bought the LG L227WT monitor so Im going to be playing at 1680x1050 res
Ok..the choice of cards seems mind boggling & ive read so many arguments and counter arguments about NV or Radeon cards being better value/faster/hotter etc,etc
Ive got it down to 2 now - I want either the 4870 1GB or the GTX 280
now I realise there is a big price difference between the pair but Im looking for a card which will play all games at their full settings and that will last me 2-3 years before I'd need to consider an upgrade
All comments much appreciated
 
Its not overkill imo.

I don't think either cards are gonna fit that bill, technology is gonna be moving on quite fast over the next 2-3 years.

If your really worried about long term I'd say you'd be better off getting a 4850 and saving the extra money towards an upgrade in 12-18 months time - I'd say put it in a high interest account but interest rates are about to nose dive by the sounds of it.

Otherwise I'd say either buy a 4870 1gig or the cheapest 260GTX you can find.
 
No, just means when everyone else has to upgrade to a faster card as theirs dont cut their res anymore you wont have to, saving money in the process.
 
Well the GTX280 is the slightly better card. but many believe its not worth the amount of money it is over the 4870. Also the 4870 is very good with high res and AA ect. Doesn't take too much of a hit. Especially now that it has 1 gig. TBH either card would last the same amount of time. If you get the 280 and then get to a point you want to upgradee, the 4870 will probably have got you that far too.

I advise the 4870 1 gig. However, if you have a fair bit of money the GTX 280 is the better card and more consistent.

From that ^ i think its up to you to decide. Both are equally good tbh. And if money is no object maybe the GTX 280 edges it.
 
Rroff said:
Its not overkill imo.

I don't think either cards are gonna fit that bill, technology is gonna be moving on quite fast over the next 2-3 years.

If your really worried about long term I'd say you'd be better off getting a 4850 and saving the extra money towards an upgrade in 12-18 months time - I'd say put it in a high interest account but interest rates are about to nose dive by the sounds of it.

Otherwise I'd say either buy a 4870 1gig or the cheapest 260GTX you can find.
Click to expand...

This. Prices will go down once the economys back on track, the prices now are unjustified for high end cards, GTX260/4850/4870 will play any game you chuck at it now till then.
 
LoadsaMoney said:
No, just means when everyone else has to upgrade to a faster card as theirs dont cut their res anymore you wont have to, saving money in the process.
Click to expand...

This, and if you want the best card then get the 280 GTX, it'll allow you max out anything except Crysis with AA :)
 
mike kirkness said:
Im about to build my new mainly gaming pc
decided all my components apart from my graphics card
Ive just bought the LG L227WT monitor so Im going to be playing at 1680x1050 res
Ok..the choice of cards seems mind boggling & ive read so many arguments and counter arguments about NV or Radeon cards being better value/faster/hotter etc,etc
Ive got it down to 2 now - I want either the 4870 1GB or the GTX 280
now I realise there is a big price difference between the pair but Im looking for a card which will play all games at their full settings and that will last me 2-3 years before I'd need to consider an upgrade
All comments much appreciated
Click to expand...

I was in the same postion as you 6 or 7 weeks ago, new rig, 22" screen what card?, i went for a 280 because with PC gaming there is no such thing as to much power

At the two most popular widescreen resolutions of 1650/1080 & 1920/1200, you will get a better smoother experiance in most recent title's with a top end card

3 year lifespan is pushing it, 2 maybe, both the GTX280 and 4870X2 are the flagship products of there respective companies, and will likely stay that way for the next 12 months or so. The old 8800 Ultra/GTX card was still the top end choice over a year after it's launch, there may be revisions in the next few months, rumour has it the GTX280 is going to come on a more efficient manufacturing process and be clocked slightly faster.
But these revisions do not outdate the original product, i doubt many will notice much differance, i overclocked my GTX to 700/1250/1450 from stock speeds of 602/1107/1296, i doubt the revised version will have it's clocks increased by that margin, i have since gone back to stock as the performance increase was barely perceptable unlike the noise! which increased very noticably

The current top end cards will give you what you want for the next 12 months, after that i expect a new release will come along that will offer substancially more performance and move the game along, much like the 280/4870X2 did to the 8800 cards, however a 8800GTX is still ok today, it will still run a lot of games well, so even when new cards are released i expect the GTX280 and X2 will still give good gaming performance for another year or so

On a last note now is not the time to buy a GTX280 they retail for like £300, they were fractionally over £200 when i bought mine, i think there clearing there stocks or something, if a new revision is launched i rekon the older version will drop down in price and you will likely pick it up a price thats better value, £300 is really a bit to near the 4870X2's price
 
Peter450 said:
I was in the same postion as you 6 or 7 weeks ago, new rig, 22" screen what card?, i went for a 280 because with PC gaming there is no such thing as to much power
Click to expand...

Quote of the week ;)

I always get told I'm going overkill and it's never true :confused:
 
this word "overkill" again :rolleyes:. i've said this before and i'll say it again. nothing is an overkill in the "technology world".. if u buy something thats more powerful then u need it will last u much longer.

simple as that
 
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gareth170 said:
this word "overkill" again :rolleyes:. i've said this before and i'll say it again. nothing is an overkill in the "technology world".. if u buy something thats more powerful then u need it will last u much longer.

simple as that
Click to expand...

This.

It'll save you money in the long run- 'cause you won't need to upgrade anywhere near as soon.
 
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