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Which Card please :)
- Thread starter Pygor
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GTX 280 unless the game is optimised for SLi. In most circumstances the 9800GX2 would be better on paper, though Google for SLi microstuttering issues and read the topics here.
The ATi HD4850 and HD4870 are widely considered the current best options though. And soon there will be more models to come from both companies, most notably ATi's HD4870x2.
The ATi HD4850 and HD4870 are widely considered the current best options though. And soon there will be more models to come from both companies, most notably ATi's HD4870x2.
Thanks, not really into ATI, had those years ago and they were poor performers and driver support was bad, I had thought they were more for office machines, but they obviously have moved on a bit.
I don't do much games wise, but still like decent quality parts.
HD4870 x2 is that AT's version of GX2 ?
I don't do much games wise, but still like decent quality parts.
HD4870 x2 is that AT's version of GX2 ?
Time moves on. There was a time when ATI had the best cards, 9800 days. It has only been with the 8800GTX that Nvidia has been at the top of the gme again.
Now it's ATI's turn again.
What res are you running is the big question as to which card
At the present time, ATi updates drivers for their Radeon range at least once a month, supporting all cards back 'till ones made in about 2003 (Radeon 9700, 9800, etc). nVidia on the other hand seem to release a few drivers only for brand new products, and update them months later (for example, us GeForce 8 series owners got one last December, and one in this May).
As someone who has recently owned both Radeon and GeForce products, driver support isn't really a good reason to opt for nVidia over ATi.
As someone who has recently owned both Radeon and GeForce products, driver support isn't really a good reason to opt for nVidia over ATi.
Im in the same boat, doing a new build atm, i just wanna buy the best card available atm for a 1900x1200 resolution on a 24" monitor (regardless of price like you, as i dont upgrade often), completely put of the 9800GTX for its "issues" .. i guess it comes down to three options .. the 280 .. 4870 crossfire .. or wait for the 4870x2 (i have no idea which would be the best performing for our resolutions .. im hoping somebody will comment)
More Money than sense....
I like your Style.. go for the most expensive version of the 280 GTX I guess that would be an EVGA oh, hang on, why not buy two..yeah that should do it !!
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Out of the two, I'd go for the GTX280.
But the 4870 is the better value option at the moment.
But the 4870 is the better value option at the moment.
More Money than sense....
Ahh a really useful response, thanks so much
Ahh a really useful response, thanks so much
Sorry, but I don't really see the problem when you freely admit that you don't game much? Basically, the impression you give is that you just want top end kit for the sake of it, irrespective of money, in which case ademgc's response is as valid as anyone's.
Money no object and the best kit wanted then only one choice atm and thats a pre-overclocked BFG or EVGA GTX280.
If you can wait a few weeks then it will be the ATI 4870x2.
Value for money? Nope. If that was a consideration then it would have to be either a 4850 or 4870. 4870 better at your res and since you already have an Ultra.
People who post "money no object" and ask for advice don't really need any as 99.99% of the time the "best" card is the most expensive card and your choice is simple.
If you can wait a few weeks then it will be the ATI 4870x2.
Value for money? Nope. If that was a consideration then it would have to be either a 4850 or 4870. 4870 better at your res and since you already have an Ultra.
People who post "money no object" and ask for advice don't really need any as 99.99% of the time the "best" card is the most expensive card and your choice is simple.
Exactly my point.
We live in a world of constriants, those who say they don't are either ignorant of them or are detached from reality.
I believe NASA have a nice rig, see what they use !
In any event...let price be your only marker !
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The ATI offerings are decent quality parts,if you don't game much why would you want to spend 100's on a graphics card? just go for an HD4850 or 4870 for the price they're amazing cards,although probably overkill for a self professed occasional gamer like yourself.
Have to agree with this. If you don't game much, why on earth buy a 280 or a 4870? Just get a 4850 and save your money.
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The GTX280 is definitely the superior choice, if you're constraining yourself to those two cards. The GX2 will win out in some average FPS benchmarks, but you have other issues to consider (lack of SLI support in some games, smaller memory at 512mb per card, microstuttering, lack of triple buffering support). The 280 also has a significantly smaller power consumption, when idle.
I use a GTX280 by the way, if that means anything. Yes, I'm somewhat anti multi-GPU solutions, but the new ATI cards seem to have solved some of the biggest problems with multi-GPU.