New Graphics card to replace my 8800GTX

[Odyssey]

Starting to think about upgrading my 8800GTX since I've now left uni and can just about afford a new card since I'm working.

Having a look at the market at the moment, I really have no idea which card would suit me best. Also not sure if my current PC could make the best use of a PCI-e 2.0 since my motherboard is only PCI-e 1.0. Would a GTX295 be a stupid idea?

 

[Ging3r]

3 questions to help you out.

What resolution are you running at?

What games are you playing?

Whats your budget?

 

[cje]

If your mobo only support pcie 1.0 then there is no point buying a 500 squid gtx 295. Anyway, your card is awesome. I have a Dell XPS with that card and to be honest, it handles games as good as my 2 9800GTX+ in SLI. In games like GTAIV it even can display better textures, due to more memory on it. (768 mb on 8800gtx, whilst my 9800gtx+ has only 512mb).

 

[Alexrose1uk]

At the moment I'd say go for a 1GB Radeon 4870 or a GTX260. With PCI-E 1 anything above would be overkill, and both cards are more than fast enough for anything out at the moment.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

4870X2 all the way

 

[Odyssey]

1920 x 1200

The games I own and play are:

DOD
CSS
GT Legends
Colin Mcrae DiRT
STALKER
BioShock
GTA 4

Budget, I'm not sure, I'd prefer not to spend £500! But I'd also like a card which would last a good year or 2 before I think of upgrading again.

I hate this predicament, I know the longer I leave it, the more of an upgrade it will be, and the more I'll appreciate it, but I am starting to get annoyed with GTA 4 playing at 20 fps...

 

[Odyssey]

At the moment I'd say go for a 1GB Radeon 4870 or a GTX260. With PCI-E 1 anything above would be overkill, and both cards are more than fast enough for anything out at the moment.

So that kindof means that would be the final gfx card purchase for my system, as anything after that would require a new motherboard, and so a new cpu and ram... or am i wrong

 

[wombraider]

I have owned
8800gtx ->gtx280 -> 4870x2 -> BFG GTX280OC -> GTX280 OC2

I game at 1920 x 1200

I would still probably have my 8800gtx if I had not of died , while the other cards
are better (excluding 4870x2) , they aint earth shattering poop your pants better

My advise hold out for a while longer see what comes out , unless you got some serious slow downs on a game you love

 

[Ging3r]

if I had not of died ,

Posting from beyond the grave

 

[Odyssey]

ok cool, i might start saving now then, I'd really rather get a card which is a few generations newer than my current, as I think a 260/285/295 is only really, one generation away from the 8800s. The 9800 to me don't count

wombraider, how comes you have been fortunate to own all those cards? not too much money I hope!

 

[Alexrose1uk]

So that kindof means that would be the final gfx card purchase for my system, as anything after that would require a new motherboard, and so a new cpu and ram... or am i wrong

Not as much as you couldn't run a newer card, but they are progressively using more and more of the bandwidth available; so you'd be limiting cards in the future artificially; whether that'd matter to you or not is another thing

 

[Odyssey]

well yeah, I dont want to have a card which I'm not making use of cos of an outdated mobo!

 

[Geckovich]

Is your card still in warranty with EVGA? IIRC they cover OC'ing (obviously check with them 1st) so you could add a touch more to the clocks and see if that will do you untill the 5xxx and 3xx series are released. And hey, if it is covered and it breaks down they may send you a more recent card as replacement....

 

[Odyssey]

It came with my prebuilt OCUK 'Ultima' PC I bought last december, I registered the card as soon as I got the PC with EVGA, not sure about their warrantee, but I have put a HR-03 and 120mm fan on it and clocked it up. Managed to not rip the warranty void sticker too so prob still under waranty if I could get the stock cover back on it ok. I've heard about these cards dying and getting a new card as a replacement, but not sure about my warranty so dont wana overclock it stupidly!