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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 :)
 
Personally, if I had to buy one now at current prices and I was using your monitor res, I'd be buying the GTX, most peeps recommend it at that res & if you do have a cooling block for it even better :)

Just my 2p's worth ;)
 
I was in exactly the same situation. Opteron 146, 2gb mushkin, 1900XTX, 24". I was umming for a long time of what to do. In the end I got fed up with it all.

I went for an 8800GTS, whipped the cooler off and put an EK block on there. Now running 780 core and 1080mem. Still more in it but gradually increasing the clocks when I have time. I managed to nab the GTS when it was 146 on offer. The 512mb GTS appears to have slightly more stream processors. Either way I think you are going to be surprised when you upgrade. There will be one heck of a jump.

Are you going to be updating your other components as well? They are getting a bit long in the tooth.

edit:- If you already have the block for the gtx go for it. Once you get the other cards and then add the price of the block, there won't be much in it
 
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:
 
Get a GTX, mate. You can get one from the MM, or from a friend, i'm sure... I wouldn't consider EoL such a problem yet - only when it's like 6/7 months after EoL and the prices start to rise cos of rarity, ie socket 939.

i can tell you it's a HUGE jump - i went from a s939 3400+ to an E2160, and an X600XT to an HD3870, and i've downclocked my CPU from the 3ghz i had it at, back to stock, because i simply can't find a way to really use the power... You'll be happy whichever way, i'm sure
 
My understanding of the current SLI situation is that ATI cards are handling this better than Nvidia. In all honesty wherever you go, if you want to go SLI, the rest of the system will be a bottleneck. How much of a bottleneck someone should be able to fill in. Spec below goes like a rocket compared to the 146 system, granted this was single core but running at 3.8 ish

My current system is
E8500 @ 3.2 ish (I'll clock further I promise :D )
4gb OCZ ram
8800GTS 512mb

It eats most games alive. I haven't tried with Crysis, but I play more than one game ;) I must say that the Nvidia driver releases are damn shameful ! The 8800 official drivers are dated from November. Major kudos to Loadsa for searching out all the latest beta's.
 
Zirax said:
Major kudos to Loadsa for searching out all the latest beta's.
Click to expand...

Thanks. :)

Id get the 8800 GTX, its still got plenty of life yet as the new gen is ages away, Nvidia have got yet more 8800's planned for July, and at only £176 now, the GTX is an absolute bargain.
 
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.....
 
Well I was in the same boat as yourself but with a 1800xt. After a LOT of umming and arring, I brought a 3870x2 yesterday. I know it aint on your list, but seeing as a GTX is kinda similar in performance, I'd go for that as your gaming on a 24" monitor.

I've just finished a bit of Call of Duty 4 running through my TV at 1080p and can not believe how smooth it runs. Played through the crysis demo last night too at high and even though fraps wasnt running, I can 100% say it was a very smooth experience.

Both are immense looking games at full settings and to be able to play them smoothly on a 42" screen is amazing.

(Plus, thanks to comply or die, the card cost me £15 :p:p:p)

Good times
 
Apologies for hijacking the thread, but I'm also considering an upgrade in the coming weeks from my current X1900XT 512Mb card and I too am a bit confuzzled by the choice of cards on offer at the mo'.

The performance increase from going from an X1900XT to an 8800GTX, just how noticable is it?.

Or is that a silly question?. :cool:
 
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
 
DavidS14 said:
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
Click to expand...

Likewise.

I'll be looking for 8800GTX posts and threads on the forums as soon as mine is delivered.

Keep us informed of how you get on with yours m8.

Now all I have to do is flog this X1900XT in the MM to claw back some cash so the wife is a bit happier and I can claw back some dosh on the purchase of the 8800. :p
 
At that res the 8800GTX will do you well, and with the (three) offers for them this week/weekend it's a no-brainer!!
 
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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