Old GPUs to mod

[Pelinox]

Hi

After putting my new PC together for the first time(few months ago), I have had this feeling of trying to mod stuff. I found a little spare money, and I am now all over the used market looking for cheap parts, to put together and mod, just for the fun of it, and to try it.

Anyway, the reason I post this, is to ask which GPU you would suggest is best value/money of older GPUs. I'm thinking ATI 4xxx/5xxx. The old ATI cards looks really good, and with a paintjob, they can look fantastic! I wanna Crossfire them, so they have to stay on the cheap end. I would assume I've got ~ 150 pound for two GPUs.

I found two 4870s for 80 pound, but are they any good, and can I find better within my price range?

 

[varkanoid]

if you can find two 5850's for that price big winner !

 

[Pelinox]

if you can find two 5850's for that price big winner !

Yea, it's the ones I really try to get, but it seems hard.. Need luck in a few auctions to put me below 150!

 

[Defy Belief]

Have you done any before? I'd like to see some examples if so.

But the 5850 was very good for the money, they still sell at a highish price though even though they are 2 gens old.

 

[Pelinox]

Have you done any before? I'd like to see some examples if so.

But the 5850 was very good for the money, they still sell at a highish price though even though they are 2 gens old.

No.. I've never done it before.. I'm kinda thinking about finding a defect or even older version and test it before making my next move.. But there are a few guides online where the said versions have been split to paint.

Edit: A guy painted a 5850 white/blue here, looks pretty good, imo.
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144471

 

[Pelinox]

Just wondering.. If I buy say a Sapphire 5850, the stuff on the GPU is just stickers right?
I assume they can be removed with some cleaner.

And will it crossfire if I buy two different models?

 

[8 Pack]

Modding surely means Vmods and sub zero cooling doesnt it???

5850's or 5870's great cards but still fairly expensive 2nd hand.

 

[Pelinox]

Modding surely means Vmods and sub zero cooling doesnt it???

5850's or 5870's great cards but still fairly expensive 2nd hand.

Don't know what either of these two cooling methods you mention, means

5850s go for ~ 75-80 pound on the German bay

 

[Pelinox]

I assume 5870s would be even better? I found they cost about the same, some even for less than the 5850s for some reason..