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Please help :confused:
I can only go so far with my cash so i would like to max out as best i can,

Like all things in life there are places where you should spend as much as you can, and places where you can skimp.

So should i max out to a 8800gtx oc with pc-6400 @800 memory, or go for a cheaper hd2900 but get faster pc8500 memory @1066 with motherboard to match. With a core 2 duo e6600.

My monitor is 12801024 max, I say gtx just for better bandwidth latter on in DX10 games, Though i might be talking out of my BUUT :D

Please do not get into a fight about which card is better "JUST WHICH SYSTEM MAKES MORE SENSE SPEED V MONEY".

Thanks all in advance.
 
With 1280x1024 it would be silly to get much more than an 8800GTS 320MB. 1280x1024 is a very low resolution by modern standards.

I'm trying to get an xbit article up, but their site seems to be seriously laggy right now (or my connection is). Essentially beyond DDR2-800, you don't get much of a performance boost. We're talking 1-2 fps for every major step above 800.
 
If its a gaming system your building for 1280x1024 i dont think you need to spend big money on a gfx card, if your trying to build a system now to cope with the next gen games then buy the best you can aford and hope the card you pick dosent suck in dx10 apps.

I can recommend these for there bangs for bucks with that e6600 and a good motherboard maybe the one of the new p35 chipsets :)

Crucial ct2kit12864aa53e 2gb ddr2
x1950xt

Search and see whats coming out and what cpus are good clockers, sometimes it can pay to wait a little too.

Hope this helps

jigger
 
Yeah you don't need more than a 320mb GTS at that res, using that res here and the GTS cuts through everything maxed no problems, and by the time Dx10 games get here the G92's will be here, so buy for now, and then buy again when Dx10 gets here as the 8's will be about a year old then. :)
 
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In general, I would say that it is worth spending the money on a GPU rather than faster memory. But in this case, given that you're only going to be running at 1280*1024, I would save cash and go for something like a 320Mb GTS instead.
 
When the difference between the 320 and 640MB models of the GTS is as small as it is now, it's always worth finding the little bit extra so you can stretch to the faster card.

If you decide to go for a bigger monitor in the future, you're covered in terms of your graphics card having the grunt to support the resolutions. :)
 
LoadsaMoney said:
Yeah you don't need more than a 320mb GTS at that res, using that res here and the GTS cuts through everything maxed no problems, and by the time Dx10 games get here the G92's will be here, so buy for now, and then buy again when Dx10 gets here as the 8's will be about a year old then. :)


mine gets stuffed off FEAR :)

Yea though, you'll generally find most people saying get a 320 8800GTS and buy again later, theres no point getting a GTX for 1280x1024, its going to be wasted, and by the time vistas worth upgrading to, and dx10 games that are worth having are out you might find the GTXs are crap compared to more matured dx10 midrange hardware. Always avoid buying the best possible stuff, its a lot smarter upgrading frequently cheaper than a big buy that you expect to last.
 
Cyber-Mav said:
are you sure about that? ;)

yes i am, so theres no need for you to mention those crappy Ubiport games again, everyone knows they have been poorly ported over from the 360 so save your breath, thats not the card's fault, even the not out yet R700 and the 1x teraflop G92 will get as low as 30-40fps in those crappy ports!!!. ;)

FEAR runs great for me in 1280x1024, minimum 61fps, average is about 110fps, and the maximum is over 240fps, thats maxed out with 2xAA/16xAF, cuts through it no problems. :confused:
 
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soft shadows too?
HMF, i think when i turned soft shadows on id put FSAA on aswell, only 2x i think though, might try it again see if it likes it.
 
No not soft shadows as i aint got it patched to allow em with AA, bog standard 1.0 version i was playing, id already completed it when it came out when i had my x1800 XT, so only wanted to see how it ran mainly. :)
 
no expert but I'd say a GTX is a huge overkill for such a (comparatively)low resolution.
A gts or 2900 would be more than capable at 1280x1024
Hell a 8600 would do OK
 
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