Something a little less powerful.....?

kevpuk · 9 Sep 2007 at 20:44

I am thinking of down-sizing with my graphics card, as it is never used to potential

I have a 8800GTX at the moment, but - with my 8-month-old - have found my PC gaming to be no longer existent (grab a quick 1/2hr on PS3 when I can) - so I reckon the GTX should go....but what to replace with ?

Priority is a card for two things :

1 - Capable of playing most stuff I throw at it @ 1680x1050 with AA and HDR etc on....I value image quality.....without too many issues (slowdown)

2 - Decent HD video abilities, meaning hardware etc support for video editing my HD camcorder (AVCHD from Panny SD1) footage

So what do you guys think ?

Tute · 9 Sep 2007 at 20:45

I'd say X1950 Pro, of if you're looking for a bit more power, try the 2900XT.

Margaret · 9 Sep 2007 at 20:49

A 320MB GTS or 640 would do you nicely.

Greebo · 9 Sep 2007 at 20:51

A 640 Mb GTS will serve you nicely.

LoadsaMoney · 9 Sep 2007 at 20:56

Greebo said:
A 640 Mb GTS will serve you nicely.

kevpuk · 9 Sep 2007 at 21:18

Well I moved up to the GTX from a trusty X1900XT 512MB.......caught up in upgrade fever, I reckon ! The XT did start to struggle in Oblivion, mind, which is the only game I really have at the moment....whereas the GTX has no issues......

Don't think I would go back to x19XX series now, would like to be set for a while in DX10......so 2900xt ? 2600xt ? 8800GTS ? Any specifically better than the others at AVCHD video work....? I know my old X1900XT had the AVIVO processing, which had its transcoding uses......but now am looking at anything which will assist in (AVC)HD editing/encoding/rendering etc. ?

kevpuk · 9 Sep 2007 at 21:51

Well reading up seems to suggest that the 2900XT is excellent at HD video in its various forms......what do you guys think ?
Is the 1GB and DDR4 model worth the premium ?

Tute · 9 Sep 2007 at 22:30

Nah, just the 512MB model is fine. The 1GB one gives you a few extra frames for quite a premium, and to be honest is a bit of a waste of money.

Tom|Nbk · 9 Sep 2007 at 22:39

2900 would be a good step down and a change or because your used to the nvidia cards then a GTS would do nicely aswell

Margaret · 9 Sep 2007 at 22:41

I don't think it's really worth downgrading to a GTS 640 or 2900, they don't cost that much less than a new GTX now (£300 OEM), you'll probably only save like 50 odd quid.

kevpuk · 9 Sep 2007 at 22:54

Jihad said:
I don't think it's really worth downgrading to a GTS 640 or 2900, they don't cost that much less than a new GTX now (£300 OEM), you'll probably only save like 50 odd quid.

Agreed in cash terms, but for HD video work ? I was under the impression that the latest ATI cards are good at this....?

Margaret · 9 Sep 2007 at 22:56

kevpuk said:
Agreed in cash terms, but for HD video work ? I was under the impression that the latest ATI cards are good at this....?

I don't think there is a noticeable difference between the 8800s and the Radeons, unless you study the CPU usage during playback then maybe.

killer_uk · 9 Sep 2007 at 22:58

It's got HD in the name, what else do you need to know?

Margaret · 9 Sep 2007 at 23:00

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/06/08/avivo_vs_purevideo_hd/page10.html

Seems 8800 is better for HD playback at least, I dunno about the rest. As I said you won't really notice much difference with either.

kevpuk · 9 Sep 2007 at 23:18

It is more for editing/encoding/transcoding work.....the AVCHD format my camcorder records in can be intensive to edit/encode/transcode and I figured something with dedicated hardware support may be the right router to follow......more so than a few frames here and there in games....

Tom|Nbk · 9 Sep 2007 at 23:23

kevpuk said:
It is more for editing/encoding/transcoding work.....the AVCHD format my camcorder records in can be intensive to edit/encode/transcode and I figured something with dedicated hardware support may be the right router to follow......more so than a few frames here and there in games....

ATi AVIVO Convertor is pretty good afaik.

kevpuk · 10 Sep 2007 at 17:21

Well I now have a spangly 2900XT en route

and just gonna post up my GTX in MM when I get around to it.....thanks for the advice etc. here, guys

rounddodger · 10 Sep 2007 at 18:42

How much would you be after for the GTX?

HangTime · 10 Sep 2007 at 18:46

Jihad said:
I don't think it's really worth downgrading to a GTS 640 or 2900, they don't cost that much less than a new GTX now (£300 OEM), you'll probably only save like 50 odd quid.

I agree, not sure on what the going rate is for secondhand 8800GTXs but obviously you are gonna be taking a hit there.

Then you've got to pay postage both ways (buying and selling) so by the end of it you'll be lucky to have made £40. Which isn't a lot when you add in the hassle of having to open up your system, swap cards over, sort out drivers, post off the old card etc etc. If your child is limiting your gaming time, then that's time you can't afford to be wasting