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No Brainer?

-Aura-

-Aura-

-Aura-

Associate
Joined
26 Jan 2007
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901
Location
Newcastle
I have an 8600GT and was looking at an upgrade. As I have an x38 X-fire ready board, I was contemplating 2 x HD4650s in X-fire config., however, I spotted this 8800GT for under 50 notes.

That`s a canny upgrade for not a lot of cash really, isn`t it?

My only fear is the fan noise, are there any PNY owners out there could confirm whether or not the fan noise could be an issue, as my 8600GT is passive and therefore aids for a quiet case?

As always, any help appreciated and I still can`t believe the price of that card!! :D

Thanks, Jeff.
 
That`s what I`m saying grudas, 2 x 3850s ... that would be a pretty impressive option m8, wouldn`t it?

mmm, toss up between the 8800GT and the HD3850 it seems. At least with the latter option, I could X-fire later on. At least my chipset supports both 16x lanes for full enjoyment ;)

Thanx grudas, you`re putting some good suggestions forward, much appreciated :)
 
Big.Wayne said:
Hi Jeff,

got a full quid to spend have we? :)
Click to expand...

Aye, and I expect some change :D

Can`t see the point in that mobo. I have a P5E. Fair point with the card, but double the price of the 8800GT or the HD3850? Fifty notes could be spent here for a decent upgrade .... which is the same price I paid for my 5200 Ultra a while back :D
 
Wayne, thank you for your advice man :)

Still however can`t see the point in upgrading my mobo. Absolutely nowt wrong with it! :)

I challenge you this ;) If I stuck an HD4850 in my P5E, then you played a game on it, then if I replaced it with a P45 board, same card and you played a game on it, I guarantee you wouldn`t know which board was which until you run a benchmark. :)

I don`t need a state of the art setup. Your suggestion of a new mobo perfectly demonstrates this, my P5E was top of the tree only a few months ago so I`ve learned to just make small upgrades when I can feel that my current system is letting me down. In this case, I just thought that 50 spons was a little lolly for a canny increase in performance :)
 
Big.Wayne said:
Excellent! I do like a rational challenge! :)

By virtue of the fact you are posting on OcUK forums it is safe to assume you are part power-user part uBer-Geek, hopefully I got that bit right!

Now if my assumptions are correct you do indeed like to get the best value from your purchases but are not 100% up to date with the latest silicon hence why this thread exists!

For your information the Chipset you are using is nearly one year (born Oct 2007 I think?) and I believe was outmoded in record time by the Intel® X48 Express chipset a few months later. As already stated the *only* good reason to be running an X38 now is to provide a good platform for a CROSSFIRE gaming system (not a single 8600GT!).

Personally I feel dual card set-ups are not for everyone, Pro-Gamers yes, Pro-Benchers yes, Pro-ePennies yes, but for the average Real-Life-Gamer you should always use the best single card you can afford.

As it appears you haven't taken advantage of your boards key strength (Crossfire) there is no reason not to sell it, the Intel® P45 Express chipset is a much better motherboard for someone using a single beastly graphics card so apart from severe lethergy why would anyone not pull their finger out and get an effectively *free* motherboard swap and end up with a more power efficient and better overclocking platform? :confused:

Now motherboard aside we talk about the graphics card, you been using an 8600GT connected to a 1680x1050 monitor? :eek: seriously that is really sheet! :D

A 256MB 8800GT for £50 would deffo be an upgrade for you, but double the budget to £100 (+selling your old mobo and GPU) and you end up with an uber gaming system(P45+HD4850) that will last a lot longer than an 256MB 8800GT shoved in an Intel® X38 Express chipset motherboard! :o

Lol I hope this is helping you! :)
Click to expand...

Wayne, I appreciate what you are saying ... in theory, but I`m a suck it and see kind of fella I`m afraid. I don`t care for benchmarks, hearsay, "oh, this supersedes this so therefore everything that became before it is rubbish" etc. Really, x38 boards are still great and in fact, would still be way out in front of most other rigs out there. What does for me does for me. Sorry but I ain`t gonna sell it because in real terms, a P45 board would give me nowt :)


A better card would though. Looks like a toss up between an HD3850 and an 8800GT. 3850 wins by virtue of being better with respect to double the memory for same price.

Could I have spent more and got a better rig? Hell yeah, but this rig is quite fine as it is, apart from the fact that it could do with a GPU boost. If an 8600GT can give a more than adequate experience with Crysis at 1680 x 1050, medium to high, DX10 (no AA though), then a smart upgrade might future proof me for a year I reckon and enhance the experience. :)
 
Some good advice in there, thanx! :)

I`ve whittled down to 2 options methinks, either 2 x 3850s in X-fire or a 4850. Maybe the latter as VTR mentions adding a second later on, and I`m deffo keeping my mobo. Only had it since just before Xmas and it`s keeping an E6550 very stable at 3.4Ghz :)
 
Well, I`ve plumped for this 4850 which will be quiet as it`s passive. Unfortunately, I had to go to a competitor on this occasion but couldn`t go past a 1Gb version for £129 delivered. Cheapest 512Mb version delievered I found was ca £112 so an extra £17 for 512Mb was indeed a no brainer.

Maybe I can get a 2nd for Xmas ;)

Thanks again for all the help :)
 
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