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Really confusing now - upgrade path help ?

DavidS14

DavidS14

DavidS14

Associate
Joined
2 Apr 2004
Posts
733
Location
UK
I've read a lot of posts now but have some money to upgrade and I think I've picked the worst time to do it. It's getting really confusing with new cards coming out which are really old cards but with different names so could I have a bit of straight forward advice with a little background please now not being a youngster it's difficult to keep up with all the changes/differences.

I have a Opteron 170 at 3.2Ghz on water, 2GB ram and a 1900XTX on a A8N32SLI-Deluxe. Now I'll probably be upgrading the whole thing later this year but have gone for a 24" monitor as my old 19" went pop. The 1900 is struggling a bit now at 1900x1200 so I'm having to turn things down/off. I'd like to upgrade the graphics but am a little unsure as there seem to be so many choices.

a) go for a 8800GT which I see are at £117 at the moment and maybe replace the cooler and clock it, read a few threads and see that people who have moved from a 1900 are all happy.

b) go for a 8800GTS, clock it and have pretty much the same as a 9800GTX but at £165 it's more expensive

c) go for an 8800GTX at the weekend price of £176 (think I may have a water block somewhere that might fit)

I'm leaning toward the GT as it's a good upgrade for not too much money and there may be other models out later in the year so it's better not to spend too much now BUT the GTX at that price is very tempting indeed.

Any suggestions would be appreciated :)
 
Thanks for the replies guys, appreciated :)

Just had a quick dig in the "spare bit's" drawer and found a boxed swiftech MCW60-B and some ramsinks which having a quick search should fit all of the cards on the list so that should take the cooler upgrades out of the question :D

The only thing that I'm a little worried about on the GTX is that I would keep it and use it in the system upgrade but would probably want to go SLI and that would mean a second hand GTX as they are EOL now. If I go for the GT/GTS then there maybe some still available new if/when I need another.

But the GTX is so good on price/performance :confused:
 
I'll only look at SLI after the system upgrade which will be a major one as I've gone longer than I usually do between upgrades.

I know my current system isn't exactly quick anymore, I found this out when I knocked up a cheapish system for a friend with a E2140, 3850, 4GB ram and clocked that easily to 3.2GHz and it was surprisingly fast :eek:

I've been reading the dual vs quad for games/clocking debates but I've got a while to make up my mind.

I need some food to help me think this over.....
 
Oh well, so I'm weak willed.

Finally caved in and ordered the GTX :rolleyes:

It better be damned good after all of the posts I've been reading.

You can all stop the hype now and start with the "whatever you do bon't buy a GTX..............." posts ;)
 
Better start reading all of the GTX threads now as I've been with ATI for my last three cards, time to learn the in's and out's of the Nvidia side of the fence.

Thanks for all the help everyone, it was a difficult path but with guidance I'm now a chunk of change lighter :D
 
Well the GTX is in a running :D

Installation was a bit of a game me having a 3D Aurora and water cooling but it's in and working. Ran a Crysis bench mark as on high and doubled the FPS I was getting on my 1900XTX :cool:
 
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