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New GPU?

largejack

largejack

largejack

Associate
Joined
6 Apr 2009
Posts
7
Hi I'm new to these forums and before I purchase a new video card I would like to receive some advice if you'd be so kind?

I'm probably looking to spend between 150 and 170 pounds for a new video card, but there are so many these days, I haven't got a clue what to choose, or whether to pick nvidia or ATI, etc.

I have taken an interest in this but I noticed it only has 512 mb memory.

Asus ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB "Dark Knight" GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail (EAH4870 DK/HTDI/512MD5) Asus ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB "Dark Knight" GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail (EAH4870 DK/HTDI/512MD5)

750MHz Core, 512MB 3600MHz GDDR5 Memory, 800 Stream Processors, PCI-Express 2.0, CrossfireX Ready, Avivo HD, 7.1 Surround Sound, 3yr Warranty with Asus/OcUK.
Average rating of 5.0 A

Is that enough, and are there better cards for around this price?

ANy help would be appreciated, thnx
 
The 4870 is imho the best card to go for in your price range. Going for 1gb card will allow you a little but of future proofing. Afaik at resses below 1680x1050 you are normally fine with 512mb but if you're running higher and using AA or looking for a better monitor in the life span of your card try and plump for the 1GB card.

Either the sapphire 1gb or the XTX are good cards. You can pay like a tenner more and get the XXX pre-overclocked XTX if you cba to do it yourself. Little in it though. You might be just happy with the 512mb.
 
Don't bother with a 512mb card nowadays as you will regret it later IMO.

And look at GTX 260 cards as well. They are neck for neck with a 4870 so depends on your mobo (whether SLI or xfire is you ever plan to go that route) or personal preference or as one card sometimes does quite a bit better than the other in certain games, solely down to the actual games you play.
 
Thanks for getting back to me so soon, I'll check your suggestions out. By the way I should have mentioned my current system:


motherboard pci express

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core processor 4000+ (5400 I think) 211 GHz

2.00 Gb RAM

NVIDIA Geforce 8600 GT

I'm looking to upgrade the motherboard and processor in a couple of months but for now I just want to get a new video card so I can spend more on each component. My motherboard is non-SLI by the way.
 
Last edited:
Greebo said:
Don't bother with a 512mb card nowadays as you will regret it later IMO.

And look at GTX 260 cards as well. They are neck for neck with a 4870 so depends on your mobo (whether SLI or xfire is you ever plan to go that route) or personal preference or as one card sometimes does quite a bit better than the other in certain games, solely down to the actual games you play.
Click to expand...


I tend to play games like Oblivion and the Total War series. I actually want a new video card for Empire Total War although I probably won't get proper performance and quality until I upgrade the other parts, but it should help. I don't like playing the game on poor quality and small units.
 
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