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New Graphics Card

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Basically, i play counterstrike source competitively, and is the main motivation for this question. My current problem:

- I suffer massive fps drops (200 to about 30-70) if i even touch AA or AF
- have to run in dxlevel 81 mode because of later ati cards creating mist and bad lighting effects on certain maps, consequently i suffer a bit of an fps drop, a lot if scoped in smoke.

So

I guess a new graphics card is in order, despite my friends who have ancient cards like 1900xts can run 4 AA and 8 AF. I also want a better card for future game releases as even cod4 struggles a bit on my card. I was hoping for some suggestions for what card i should get, around 100-150 quid is my budget.

Automatcially i would say get a 4850, but im 99% certain i would have to run source in dxlevel 81 mode (which makes the game look a tad worse, not important for playing, as long as it doesnt give me fps drops) but i am unsure whether to get a faster clocked 512 model, or a slower clocked 1024 model, or keep clear of ati alltogether and look for a second hand 8800GTX or watever.

Again, this will be primarily for playing CSS competitively, and also for movie making (so must be ok at rendering and making the game look pretty ;))I play at 1280x1024, but will be upgrading to a 20/21 inch monitor in the future.

Im guessing 4850 1024 simply because 512 may not be able to handle full AA and will better for wen i get a newmonitor + rendering. But i dont know since i hear anything over 512 is only used at very high resolutions, despite how much AA. If anyone can tell me why my 3650 is so bad at AA/AF and/or suggest a better card then thanks in advance
 
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Unless you intend to run at 1920x1200, then a 1GB 4850 is pointless.

Games like CS:S are pretty undemanding and even a 512Mb 4850 should destroy that game.

Does your 3650 only have 256Mb of RAM? It looks to have only a 128bit memory interface too, the 4850 has a 256bit interface.
 
my 3650 has 512mb, and a fast clocked 512Mb 4850 would be good enough to handle css movie making rendering/full AA?

can anyone suggest a nvidia card for similar price that would do the same? normally a massive ati fanboy but i cant help but worry about the ati css dxlevel problem
 
my 3650 has 512mb, and a fast clocked 512Mb 4850 would be good enough to handle css movie making rendering/full AA?

can anyone suggest a nvidia card for similar price that would do the same? normally a massive ati fanboy but i cant help but worry about the ati css dxlevel problem

The 9800GT is a similar price but about 20% slower than the 4850 iirc.
 
thanks, i think im going to get a 4850, and run at dxlevel 81 when playing (so i can see clearer) and put dxlevel 95 back on for movie making (as it still looks nice despite not being able to see :P)

i will definately be getting a new monitor in the future also, and that will mean 20-22" (not 24) so im guessing i will be at 1600x1200? if so (bearing in mind i want full AA) will that mean i should go for a faster clocked 512 4850 or a slower clocked 1024 4850
 
Im surprised that the 3650 doesn't run it pretty well, because my 9600GT is roughly the same as the 3650, and can run css well with fps from 100-250.
Have you tried upgrade of drivers?

But if you do want a nVidia card, the 9800GTX+ is the only competition but generally iirc the 4850 beats it in most benchmarks and also cheaper.
 
Im surprised that the 3650 doesn't run it pretty well, because my 9600GT is roughly the same as the 3650, and can run css well with fps from 100-250.
Have you tried upgrade of drivers?

But if you do want a nVidia card, the 9800GTX+ is the only competition but generally iirc the 4850 beats it in most benchmarks and also cheaper.

Yup, bascially summed it up there. If your feeling adventurous, you could always get a 8800GT/9800GT but generally 4850.
 
3650 just doesnt like AA or AF, it runs fine without.

pretty much decided on a 4850, i will be upgrading to a 20-22 inch monitor (so taking into account the resolution and wanting to use max AA/AF) in the future aswell so should i go for

faster clocked 512?
or slower clocked 1024?
 
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