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New Card Performance

baz047

baz047

baz047

Associate
Joined
14 Oct 2008
Posts
173
Hey, I will be getting a new GFX card around july and am currently researching now so I get the best deal for my money. One game I really wanna play is Crysis (and warhead) but I've noticed the bechmarks are still pretty bad even with new cards. Like an average of 30fps with a 4890 and 32 with a 275.
Just wondering what the best card to get would be, I know bang for buck is good but I don't mind paying a little more for a card that actually runs high end games at high graphics. And I hear a 285 is just a stupid choice considering the prices. Any suggestions?

Also, when I look at benchmarks what resltion should I be looking at considering I run games at 1080p?
 
The closest res to 1080p is 1920x1200.

Re Crysis; it's the most demanding game ever released, but don't be put off by the benchmark results. The game is more playable than you'd think at lower framerates; a 30fps average isn't too bad.

That said, if you really want to ramp up the eye candy you're going to need a dual GPU solution - as you seem to be aware, the 285 is very expensive for the performance on offer and therefore worth avoiding. At the moment, the best bang for buck high end performance is probably two GeForce GTX260s in SLi, or a Radeon HD4870X2 (if you can find one around £300).

However, obviously you'll need an SLi-compatible mobo for the first and a decent PSU to run either option.
 
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crysis warhead handles fine on a 9800gtx+ with all settings on "High" (or "Gamer" as i think its referred to in warhead) but any res above 1280x1024 isnt going to handle very well.

If i think right, a 275 would be the best single card solution other than to wait until q3 for new cards. If ur looking to get one in july, the prices for 275 should be a bit lower, plus a wider range of makes to choose from.
 
My mobo only supports crossfire, I would update it but I fell its a waste of money considering I could get a x58 and be set for a few more years. And it only supports 1 card running at x16...the other runs at x8

I wouldnt have a problem with a dual gpu card though, what are the downsides of them though?
 
Well, they use a lot of power and they can get very hot and noisy; plus they have the same main disadvantage of any dual-gpu solution; driver support can be poor.

That said, I ran a 4870X2 for six months and only ever had one problem. It ran fairly cool and wasn't massively noisy. The only reason I sold it really was because after completing Crysis and Warhead as nature intended (ie nicely playable FPS), there wasn't anything else that needed the power.

Is your mobo a P45? If so, the second 8x slot will not hamper performance noticeably.
 
get a 4870x2, you will be disappointed with some graphically intensive games if you get anything less.. the framerate would be poor otherwise at that resolution.
 
I know a dual card is slightly worse than the sli equivalent...so the drop from x8 might just bring me back to the dual card option lol.

What was the problem you experienced with it?

And do you ever regret selling it, even though more demanding games are coming out? Would you have rather just got the 260 to begin with?

Also, is the 295 wirth the premium over the x2?
 
To answer your last question the gtx295 is not worth the premium over the 4870x2. Its a little faster in most games and slower in some so its not worth the extra cost. Theres also a more refined gtx295 coming out on a single board instead of the gaffer tape job thats out atm. This may bring the price of the card down and make it worth it.
 
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Would the worst thing that could happen because f the drivers be that only 1 card is registered....and then I'd be getting the power of a 4870 right? So that wouldn't be a problem.
 
I've had my 4870X2 for nearly six months now and its great. Great value for money. Yeah the 295gtx is the current king but are your eyes really going to notice the difference on a benchmark if the 295 gets say 200 and the X2 gets 180. Simply not worth the extra dosh imo whereas the X2 quite handily beats all cards below it.
 
I am in the same situation. I'm very tempted to go with the gtx 275 as once you clock it a bit it's pretty much a gtx 285. Most reviews show it can be overclocked to actually outperform the 285 aswell. But then the 260 216 isnt too far off either. I have read that the extra shader cores in the 275 are very beneficial for shader heavy games though. Bah, i dunno what to get :o
 
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