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Advice on a stopgap GPU

CrispyOtter

CrispyOtter

CrispyOtter

Associate
Joined
6 Oct 2006
Posts
1,391
Hey OcUK, been on the search for a GPU to replace my burning/burnt out HIS ATi Radeon X1900 XT 512mb but have found my knowledge of the currentish cards to be woefully lacking. I'm looking for some advice on a card that will tide me over until funds are adequate enough for a new build in a year or so. Was thinking around or under £100 but open to suggestions. PC used mostly for gaming but doesn't have to be able to run OMG graphics. Any ideas?

System: Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 @ 3.11GHz, GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 RAM, Asus P5W DH Deluxe MB, Corsair HX 520W.

Thanks in advance!

P.S. Any other advice on improvements witout breaking the bank would also be greatly appreciated.
 
The 4850 is also a really nice card. Speed wise i think the 4870 is around 20% faster than the 4850 and around 20% more price wise. Thing is both of them will blow away your old card so which ever card you pick the improvement you will see is gonna be vast.
 
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TheRealDeal said:
The 4850 is also a really nice card i think the 4870 is around 20 percent faster than the 4850 and around the same price wise. Thing is both them will blow away your old card so either way the improvement you will see is gonna be nice.
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I'm very tempted by the 4870... but as you said anything will be a massive improvement! May go for the 4850 and get some RAM to complete the package since it seems dirt cheap compaired to when I bought my rig 3 years ago!

Big.Wayne said:
Heh a Radeon X1900XT to Radeon HD4850/HD4870 is quite a jump! :D
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Has lasted surprisingly well :D
 
If you really wanna keep the budget as low as possible then a Used nVidia 8800GT from Auction can be had for under £50, its a lovely little gaming card for the money and its what I am using as a stop-gap card myself! ;)

palit8800gt.jpg

nVidia 8800GT (G92) as used by the Global Gaming Majority!
 
Every card ever made is a stopgap card 8800gt's have been known to go for £35 second hand however.
Or even go for a second hand gtx 260 for £80-£90.
 
Buster2312 said:
That looks sweet! However for some unknown reason I have a dislike of nVidia :confused: I think the 4870 may have sold me :p

Thanks again :D
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One point to note, the HIS 4870 (at least the one I was sent) is NOT the card pictured - its the 4870 "fan edition" - it doesn't vent hot air out of the case + there's no fan speed control so its 100% all the time. Its not hugely loud but it is most definitely nowhere neat silent. Plus also its OEM so its just the card (though I may have been unlucky as someone from OcUK said it came with cables) so if you need a molex to PCIe adaptor etc you may have to budget extra for those.
 
Nice one Buster2312! :)

I hope you have some good games to test your new GPU! . . . did you get 512MB or 1GB btw?

Radeon X1900 XT to Radeon HD4870 = Win! :cool:
 
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