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Updating graphics card...

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25 Dec 2005
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Kent
I was wondering if it is worth upgrading from an HD4850 512MB. After reading some posts on here about gaming on higher res' and needing a 1GB card as standard. I upgraded from a 19" monitor (1280x1024) to a 24" 1920x1200, and was wondering if it's time to update the graphics card too? If so what should I upgrade too, and a little paranoid that my PSU won't be able to handle it. Specs in sig.

PSU currently : Hiper HPU-4M580 Type M CrossFire Certified 580W ATX2.2 PSU - Black
 
The psu should be fine, check out the amps the PSU has on the 12v rails, on the label on the PSU!

At that res maybe sell the 4850 and get a 4890 or 4870, It probably will play most things full AA but you will get some slowdown, but if you are a gamer you have things like depth of field and ssao that are graphics card intensive to worry about too! Just for your info but the only real difference between the 4850 and 4870 is ddr3 ram and ddr5 respectively!

Obviously the 4870 has a much faster memory clock!
 
Does the 4850 play games at 1920 with AA and AF ok?

tbh with AA enabled it struggles a bit, so I usually have it off. But i've only recently been playing ARMA2 at this res, which seems to run ok on normal/high settings. Cryostasis and stalker clear sky are very choppy though.

edit: Would the 4890 really be a step up from the 4850? Would a 4870x2 be better (if my psu can handle it) or one of the Nvidia cards?
 
tbh with AA enabled it struggles a bit, so I usually have it off. But i've only recently been playing ARMA2 at this res, which seems to run ok on normal/high settings. Cryostasis and stalker clear sky are very choppy though.

edit: Would the 4890 really be a step up from the 4850? Would a 4870x2 be better (if my psu can handle it) or one of the Nvidia cards?

Well you could go with a twin gpu card, but not sure if its ideal with the e8400, never owned the 4870x2, someone might know if it will be a bottleneck or not but at that res I would say it would be a good investment!
 
tbh with AA enabled it struggles a bit, so I usually have it off. But i've only recently been playing ARMA2 at this res, which seems to run ok on normal/high settings. Cryostasis and stalker clear sky are very choppy though.

edit: Would the 4890 really be a step up from the 4850? Would a 4870x2 be better (if my psu can handle it) or one of the Nvidia cards?

I think the 4890 is a superb buy for under £150 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-124-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1403 and will play all your games at the desired settings.
 
That psu should be ok, but its not great! My PSU has 18A on each rail (three rails), Whats your budget?

Whatever will be a decent PSU. Not concerned on price, as long as the quality is good, and possibly sustainable for an upgrade to an i7 rig somewhere down the line (a year/ 6 months). But obviously don't want to spend the money on something I don't need, e.g. 1000w).
 
Whatever will be a decent PSU. Not concerned on price, as long as the quality is good, and possibly sustainable for an upgrade to an i7 rig somewhere down the line (a year/ 6 months). But obviously don't want to spend the money on something I don't need, e.g. 1000w).

Same PSU as me corsair 620hx!, 5 year guarantee its worth the money, exceptional build quality ands that would be fine with an I7 setup! Or the corsair tx series all good!
 
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