Graphics Cards

[Evlesoa]

Okay.

So, I'll be buying a new rig in a month or two.

My aim is to buy some good graphics cards, with a budget of under 300. Why? Because doing research, buying anything over 280-300, is going to get out-dated pretty damn fast. Look at ATI Radeon 4870 x2 CrossFire Ready cards. They're already outdated, and not even a year old in use.

I'm using a crappy GeForce 6600. My choice is either to go with a decent, cheap, card like the GeForce 9000 series, and upgrade as time goes on... or get a decent card like an ATI Radeon 5850, or 5870. On the other hand, we weigh the possibility of getting a geforce 9800 gx2. As I understand, a graphics card must be fast, rather than how much memory it has. My GeForce 6600 has 256 mb of memory, but what good is it if it barely serves for performance?

So I've been looking and I can't decide. I'm trying to aim for the 5850, but maybe there's a better alternative. I'm also looking towards the AMD sector, rather than intel.

Comparison. I want the most bang for my buck... as I don't plan to upgrade any time soon (maybe in a few years where the tech is below average for a gamer PC)

Cost for a single 5870 (256bit, 1gb, 850 and 1200 clock speeds): $390
Cost for two 5770 (256bitx2, 1gbx2, 850x2 and 1200x2 clock speeds): $380
Cost for two 5750 (256bitx2, 1gbx2, 700x2 and 1100x2 clock speeds): $260

Are any of these over-kill in any way? I'm curious, how important is the bus width (128 vs 256), or 128 per each card. Does it get utilized to the full extent?

[Ascend]

im using GTX 275 1792mb 448bit OC Edition.. bought it for like $280 .. i can max GTA IV with this card.. except my CPU cant handle GTA IV Lol (only dual core). I suggest not buying ATI Cards.. yeah they are fast.. but lots of games are having conflicts with ATI cards.. especially physyx enabled games..

also geforce 200 series are much faster than 9 series when AA is enabled.. so dont get 9800 GX2..

[Sakumo]

You have a few options:
5850-It performs like the GTX 285, but for 2/3ish of the price
5770-basically GTX 260, $30 less and DX11
4870CF-5870 is right under it, but for about $50 less.
4850CF-Even though it's outdated, it's still pretty good, and most games don't even utilize the full power of a GTX 285, and this is powerfuller
I'd stay away from Nvidia until they got the GT300s out.

[Evlesoa]

Okay what use is having a 275GTX. It's fairly fast, but over 1 gig memory? Are you kidding... Why does nvidia overkill their memory? There is no way, no how it will use that much memory with only so much clock speed it offers. Just like GeForce 5000 series. 256 megs of ram, great. But the graphics cards suck! They can't utilize all that memory!

Now, 5770. It performs like GTX 285, that's good. Thanks for the small comparison dude.

I know 4870CF rapes, but 5770CF out-does the performance of 4870CF big time.
Same goes for a 5750CF, it also rapes 4850.

I mean, to me it seems the cheapest choice is 5750CF. But the more PRACTICAL choice, is just to go with a 5770CF. It offers the most for two cards. But price wise, it is still beat by the 5750CF for 100 bucks cheaper. I guess in a month or two, prices will drop anyway. That's when I get my money anyways

So, if you were me what to do?

Edit - Nvidia always overprices their sh1t. Why is that? Rofl, more demand? :P

[Sakumo]

Okay what use is having a 275GTX. It's fairly fast, but over 1 gig memory? Are you kidding... Why does nvidia overkill their memory? There is no way, no how it will use that much memory with only so much clock speed it offers. Just like GeForce 5000 series. 256 megs of ram, great. But the graphics cards suck! They can't utilize all that memory!

Now, 5770. It performs like GTX 285, that's good. Thanks for the small comparison dude.

I know 4870CF rapes, but 5770CF out-does the performance of 4870CF big time.
Same goes for a 5750CF, it also rapes 4850.

I mean, to me it seems the cheapest choice is 5750CF. But the more PRACTICAL choice, is just to go with a 5770CF. It offers the most for two cards. But price wise, it is still beat by the 5750CF for 100 bucks cheaper. I guess in a month or two, prices will drop anyway. That's when I get my money anyways

So, if you were me what to do?

Edit - Nvidia always overprices their sh1t. Why is that? Rofl, more demand? :P

Actually...
5770=4870/GTX260
5750=4850/GTS250
EDIT:http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...review-test/14
Just an article to support 5770=4870

[Evlesoa]

Actually...
5770=4870/GTX260
5750=4850/GTS250

What do you mean 5770=4870/GTX260?

Do you mean 5770 crossfired? that's what I am talking about. Because you double the performance, theoretically...

Wait, so if 5770 is same as 4870, but with 850 vs 775 engine speeds, and a similar memory clock speed, what's the difference?? I mean, the DX 11 support seems great on the 5770.

Does this mean just go for the single 5850? (it seems like a worse card, slower transfer rate and clock speeds than 5870)

[Sakumo]

What do you mean 5770=4870/GTX260?

Do you mean 5770 crossfired? that's what I am talking about. Because you double the performance, theoretically...

Wait, so if 5770 is same as 4870, but with 850 vs 775 engine speeds, and a similar memory clock speed, what's the difference?? I mean, the DX 11 support seems great on the 5770.

Does this mean just go for the single 5850? (it seems like a worse card, slower transfer rate and clock speeds than 5870)

I never talk about double, unless I state: CF or SLI.

The main differences are from Stream Processing Units(ATI are HEAVILY dependent on it), new architecture, and memory bits.

[Ascend]

well you can just wait for geforce 300 series..

[Sakumo]

well you can just wait for geforce 300 series..

I heard that the basic gaming worthy(which is from the x600 line up) is going to start at $500 or so..And they might start going to the HTPC/HPC market on this series instead of gaming.