Wanted: New Age Graphics Card

[mdk88]

Hi,

Looking for a graphics card for my 14 year old brother, he's not well off and has a max budget of £110, anyone know of any second hand models knocking about ?

 

[CSA]

whats the rest of his spec AGP/PCI e ?

 

[schumi84]

For that money you can get a brand new 3850 pro afaik:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-166-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=416

one of many for that price.

I presume he has PCI-Express?

 

[mdk88]

Yes PCI-E 16x,

256MB isn't really futureproofing, or a worthwhile upgrade from his current 8600GT 256MB

 

[pegasus1]

Well a Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 512MB GDDR3 brand new may be within reach or even a ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro .
Depends on resolution and gaming requirments.
2nd hand you may be able to find a last gen 8800gts 320 at that price.

 

[willhub]

Dont think an X1950Pro will be a massive upgrade from an 8600GT, 3850 512mb is best.

 

[Stabhappy]

If he currently has a 8600GTS, then he'll need to sell that and use the money plus his current budget to get something like a 3870 or a 8800GT (provided he can get a nice little bit for it).

It's not worth 'upgrading' to a 3850. Might also be worth checking a well known auction site for prices on the 8800GTS 320mb/640mb and coming back here to buy it, of course.

 

[willhub]

If he currently has a 8600GTS, then he'll need to sell that and use the money plus his current budget to get something like a 3870 or a 8800GT (provided he can get a nice little bit for it).

It's not worth 'upgrading' to a 3850. Might also be worth checking a well known auction site for prices on the 8800GTS 320mb/640mb and coming back here to buy it, of course.

A 3850 is an upgrade, and X1950Pro is too, just the X1950Pro is not much of an upgrade whilst the 3850 512 would not be a bad upgrade.

 

[pegasus1]

3850 with a bit of an OC would do him fine.

 

[MoD_Callidus]

another vote for 3850

 

[schumi84]

As he has the 8600 256 then the 512mb version of the 3850 would be a good step up.

 

[psychas]

if you can squeeze out 3850 512mb he will be happy

 

[tbh]

What resolution does he game at?

 

[ThatJoe]

If he can sell the 8600GT for around £50 or less...

either:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-072-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-086-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927

 

[fraps]

Yes PCI-E 16x,

256MB isn't really futureproofing, or a worthwhile upgrade from his current 8600GT 256MB

I would wait until you can get a 512mb 3850/ 8800/ 9600? for £110 and not get a DX9 card now.

 

[Scougar]

3850 512MB, or the 8800gt 256MB can be had for about £110 I believe.

The 256MB will mean he will struggle to run games with AA/AF and HDR, but does he need AA? Also what resolution does he play games at? If he likes to fiddle with cards then the 3850 512 may be a good choice as it can overclock a fair bit with different bios.

Lastly, has he considered strapping on a bigger fan to the 8600gt and overclocking it with rivatuner/expertool? (Clocks/Shaders/Memory).

Matthew

 

[WarBird]

yes he could sell his 8600 and my a 8800gt, or he could get this:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-085-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=416