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Need a new GFX Card - Please Help

themistry

themistry

themistry

Associate
Joined
15 Jun 2006
Posts
575
Hi all,

just upgraded to a C2D E6320 with 2GB of memory.

I am running the GA-P35C-DS3R motherboard (http://www.giga-byte.com/Products/M...board&ProductID=2551&ProductName=GA-P35C-DS3R)

I'd like a suitable graphics card to go into the system. I rarely play games anymore but if I do, i like FPS's (i will be getting HL2 ep2 next week).

I don't intend to overclock the card and would prefer to buy something second hand. I'm looking to spend in the region of £100.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks
TM
 
X1900XT/XTX or X1950XT/XTX second hand I'd say. If you'd like the warranty then a X1950pro would be ok too. They are slightly slower than the XT versions but not by loads and will run HL2 pretty well I'd imagine.

My x1900xt does me fine but after 1280x1024 with the newest titles it starts to lag a little. Getting new screens capable of 1680x1050 LCD @ 60Hrtz and 2048x1536 CRT @ 79Hrtz doesn't help. My old 17" reject was only capable of 1280x1024 so I was fine with this card.

If you are playing at 1280x1024 or don't mind putting your resolution down on the latest titles then this card should be fine. I'm playing World in Conflict at high graphic settings @ 1600x1200 (there is very high but it runs better on high for me). I hope that is a good indication of how these series of cards are running in a new title. Also Bioshock with full graphic settings is 70 - 80 FPS at about 1360x768 or 1440x900 (can't remember - no forced AA or AF).
 
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Thanks for the responses guys.

I'm in 2 minds, i hear nVidia are brining out new cards next month, so prices will fall then.

I want a graphics card now and don't intend to buy top of the range.

Is a warranty definately needed?

My current card, a Radeon 9800Pro has worked without problem for going on 4 years now. Are new cards unreliable?

I don't mind streching to £150 is there will be a big difference,

Thanks again,
TM
 
i went from a x800xl to a 1950 pro 256mb from sapphire and the speed increase was very noticable soo for 9800 pro to 1950 it will be large :) can tuen the ole aa and af right up to the max on hl2

i mainly play cs source wich uses the half life engine. and with everything maxed out in in game options excpet hdr off as i dont like it lol i get 80-150 fps depending on size of server i play i on and how many people on screen at same time.

the next step up if you want go tthat bit extra would be the 2900pro at about £175.

oh and on a side note :) if you runnning vista and want dx10 support not that anything really uses it anyway lol then the x1950 dont do that
 
Hmmmm. What about the x2900Pro?. That would be a HUGE upgrade and only £20 dearer than your max spend limit. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-160-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=922

The reason I said that you should think about brand new is how exactly would you feel if you bought a card second hand and after one or two months it breaks. Now you could lose about £100 on the purchase and then you have to deal with getting funds for a new card. I always imagine the worst.

You could buy a second hand 7600GT as cheap as possible and start saving for X1900XT or X2900Pro or whatever Nvidia bring to the table for below £200. You will still be able to play games and can save for a much better card in a month or two.

Edit: TheFishDude beat me to the 2900Pro advice ;).
 
Definitely 2900Pro if you can stretch a little. Best card arround for price v performance. Otherwise X1950Pro. If youre spending a bit on a card a warranty is good like for any electrical product, even though you may not need it, its good to have just incase.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone,

From the HIS ATI Radeon X1950 Pro ICEQ 3 V2 TURBO SILENT Heatpipe 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) card, what real world difference is it going to make getting something like a 2900pro?

link: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-070-HT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=404

I don't play the latest and greatest, im used to no AA/AF and play at a max res of 1280*1024.

I'm thinking that one of these would be fine?

Thanks all

TM
 
If you want to play Crysis & newer titles with high settings then the 2900pro is the better choice.

However the X1950pro is the next best choice (price v performance) & will play pretty much all preceeding titles without a problem & the next gen games you'll need to turn some settings down.
 
ACESHIGH said:
If you want to play Crysis & newer titles with high settings then the 2900pro is the better choice.

However the X1950pro is the next best choice (price v performance) & will play pretty much all preceeding titles without a problem & the next gen games you'll need to turn some settings down.
Click to expand...

That'll do me!

Thanks,
TM
 
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