• 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.

Graphics playing up.

Jontain

Jontain

Jontain

Associate
Joined
24 Jan 2007
Posts
89
Location
UK
Hi there guys,

had my trusty x1950 for a while now and other than being very low end these days it appears the memory or something is on its way out, i appear to be getting random colour pixels on screen that trail when you drag a window over them although the cursor can hover over them, very odd.

So think im gonna have to look at upgrading before it gives up completely, although i have been completely out of the loop regarding graphics hardware as of late, so i was wondering if you guys could suggest whats best to go for for a price of around £100-150 not a jaw dropping amount i know but all i can really stretch to atm.

Thanks for any input.

Jontain
 
Well I think you're the perfect candidate for the ATI 4850.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail

The X1900 series is about half the power of the 8800GTX and the 4850s are even faster than the 8800GTX. So you will be more than doubling your current graphics power ;).

What PSU do you have?.
 
Jontain said:
520 watt corsair, Ive heard the ati are by far the best for price/performance window, any other views?

Jonny
Click to expand...

You've heard correctly.

That PSU will be fine. The 4850 is the best for your budget with the 4870 and GTX 260 being the only other choices but are more than £150.

I'll shut up now though and let others post to help you make up your mind ;).
 
Right, the 1gb memory ones will be better for 1920x1200+ resolutions with max AA/AF. Below that resolution then the 512mb model is fine. I'd just get the cheapest (1gb or 512mb) with a manufacturer that you trust (Warranty, RMA service etc,).

One of the 1gb 4850s you can buy, the ASUS one hasn't got a date and the Sapphire "Toxic edition" has 31/7/08 for the eta.
 
Have just been reading through the aftermarket cooling thread too, is this something that should be considered with these cards, as all my cooling atm is passive and fans.

Any info would be good :)
 
I understood that no approved after market coolers are out yet, and current ones, may fit, but cause problems as they don't cool everything that needs cooling.
 
Randell said:
I understood that no approved after market coolers are out yet, and current ones, may fit, but cause problems as they don't cool everything that needs cooling.
Click to expand...

The S1 and Vortexx seem to be doing pretty well :confused:. S1 Passive sounds like the best bet for you Jontain but I'm sure I've seen a recommendation to have a fan blowing at over the fins. I'm sure you could obtain a quiet fan at a cheap price :).
 
Thanks again guys, now should i consider looking more at the cards with gddr5 or 4 as apposed to the ones with 3 or is that not all that important?

Jonny
 
Jontain said:
Thanks again guys, now should i consider looking more at the cards with gddr5 or 4 as apposed to the ones with 3 or is that not all that important?

Jonny
Click to expand...

If you are using above 1680x1050 then the GDDR5 will prove more useful as both the 4850 and 4870 have a 256bit memory interface. In short the GDDR5 has more bandwidth to help out but the 4850 on GDDR3 is efficient enough at 1680x1050 and lower. This is title dependant though on the 4850 as you can still run some games at higher resolutions with AA/AF and then some don't do as well but the 4870 with more bandwidth, is better for the higher resolution gaming.

What is the size of your native resolution?.
 
1680 x 1050

Only now have to decide whether or not to go 512 or 1gb......


looking at funds i might have to settle for the 512.... although i dont know if my system would need the 1gb card.

Jonny
 
512mb will do you fine at that resolution. The only game that will strain is Crysis but we're all used to that predictable outcome and will do for years :D.

This is going to really walk all over your x1950 card. Around two and a half times (roughly) the power. What CPU do you run and is it overclocked?.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom