Video Card Upgrade Suggestions

[Triple Six]

Alright so I got a new PC, runs everything fine, but I'm never happy. It currently runs the Radeon HD 2400 xt. What's a good upgrade that doesn't cost too much.

I'm not looking to spend half a months rent on a video card and to be honest the current one hasn't given me any problems. I'd just like to spend a few bucks, get a few more FPS, and run games like CoD4 a little better than I currently do.

I've already over clocked it too. If you've got links to a good online deal or whatever please share.

EDIT: I'm thinking about this card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127305). It's a slight upgrade, plus at $85 after mail in rebate it seems alright. It's also CrossFire supported so in the future when I have some more cash to drop I can move in that direction. What do you all think?

[eclyps]

keep your current card. upgrade to something good when you have the money. The performance gain from a 2400 to a 2600 is not even close to being worth 100 bucks

[Triple Six]

keep your current card. upgrade to something good when you have the money. The performance gain from a 2400 to a 2600 is not even close to being worth 100 bucks

If I don't spend the money now my wife or my kid will.

With that said, what do you think a good card to shoot for would be? How much do you think I'll have to end up spending to make it worth it?

I feel silly asking this stuff but until I got my new PC it had been something like four years since I had a computer that was even worth upgrading. I'm pretty out of the loop.

[eclyps]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

crazy good bang for the buck.

[Enlightened Viet]

I think the 8800 GS is at Newegg right now. Its under $200 and I think 20% crappier than 8800 GT which is still pretty good.

[Triple Six]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

crazy good bang for the buck.

Oh my. That is very nice for the price. Thank you very much, this is something I can manager, especially since I already have $120 hidden away for the video card fund.

[eclyps]

save up for another couple weeks and you can get it in no time! WAY better than the 2600 you were thinking about

[THUMP3r]

if you want to stick with ATI I would go for like a 3870 or 3850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102719

I Like ATI. my 2900Xt works great with an Overclock

[leoftw]

Here are 3 Suggestions for you

a HD3850 For 170$ Pretty good card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103049

a HD3870 $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102719

and of course my card a 8800GT (great card !!) $184.99 After $20 Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127324

I have the BFG one but this should be about the same quality . Good card.

I had the hd2600pro and it was a good card. If you're running a Phenom getting a new card would really boost things. I always have liked AMD and want to give it a shot in the future .


Looooook

8800GT

For

184.99 after 20$ rebate.

GET THAT ONE :P

LOL

[Triple Six]

Well now the question is what are the big differences between

This one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127324) and this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318)?

Anything that a $40 ($60 after rebate) difference would be worth it? The blind consumer in me leans to the slightly more expensive card, but I'm not familiar with the brands or models. Any input?

Thanks, you guys are being very helpful.

[Prosthetics]

Id go for the one that actually has customer feedback.

[leoftw]

people on hardforums have had good results with MSI but I will admit EVGA has a wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better warranty (lifetime if registered) but BFG has an even better warranty because you could actually transfer it thus making it more valuable . But EVGA allows you to mod it and bfg doesn't . Then one more thing to think about the EVGA fan is supposedly more quiet and the bfg is loud as fark because I own it and it is . :)

Dude I want a phenom :) too .

[Triple Six]

Id go for the one that actually has customer feedback.

And with looking at the negative customer reviews I keep seeing how hot this card runs and how poorly designed the cooling system on it is. Hmmm.

[Triple Six]

people on hardforums have had good results with MSI but I will admit EVGA has a wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better warranty (lifetime if registered) but BFG has an even better warranty because you could actually transfer it thus making it more valuable . But EVGA allows you to mod it and bfg doesn't . Then one more thing to think about the EVGA fan is supposedly more quiet and the bfg is loud as fark because I own it and it is . :)

Dude I want a phenom :) too .

Phenom is nice. I did the mat_queue_mod 4 thing in the console, my FPS went up by like 30... for five minutes until there were black squares all over my screen.

But yeah it's pretty nice. I can pretty much run my brower, IRC client, instant messaging client on my extended tv display and run my games on my monitor with no noticeable performance change. It's a HUGE step up from my previous 3.2ghz celeron.

[leoftw]

If I were you Id get a HD3850 , it is a great card and would match up well with your phenom. Its also a cool (temp) wise card and less power hungry you could also try this 8800gs http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150275 , its a cheap and good card.

[Phlake]

Dont buy now..... Save for 8800 ULTRA (should drop in price soon)

[Triple Six]

Dont buy now..... Save for 8800 ULTRA (should drop in price soon)

It had better drop by about %60 for me to consider that. As nice as it would be I don't think the finance committee would approve buying a video card that's slightly less expensive than my rent.

[leoftw]

dude just get a 8800gs , its cheap and won't break the bank . XFX has a lifetime warranty too. The overclocked version is better for 10$ more. but for a couple of more bucks ($35) you could get that 8800gt from MSI. Decisions Decisions

[Triple Six]

dude just get a 8800gs , its cheap and won't break the bank . XFX has a lifetime warranty too. The overclocked version is better for 10$ more. but for a couple of more bucks ($35) you could get that 8800gt from MSI. Decisions Decisions

I'm pretty much decided on one of the two 8800gt's that you suggested, just trying to figure out which one to go for.

[leoftw]

Well don't get the MSI because they just jacked up the price on it . Might as well get a EVGA or a XFX , they both have lifetime warranties and the XFX has a black PCB and a free company of heroes game that you could probably sell or keep :)

[Phlake]

MSI is crap :X Their motherboard die rather quickly

[leoftw]

my last one is still taking a beating at my moms house. about 2 years and still going .

[Tippo]

I've have a MSI k8n I beat the living shit out of it. In and out of like 20 different cases. Some missing risers, some missing any support. Flexed the shit out of the board, transfered it in a static environment.

Best part is, it's still running as one of my servers, it simply wont die. I love the thing. Older MSI is actually incredibly stable. What the hell did you do to it?

[Phlake]

Hmmmmmm Never shut off the machine... All my machines run 24/7 except my laptop

[Sir Zolofto]

Older MSI mobos are built as a rock. I dont trust their newer stuff. Like older ASUS was always crap to me. Burned out <1yr
I got an Epox motherboard, seems to run quite smoothly. And takes one hell of a beating.

For video, I like HIS and BFG. They always seemed to be pretty strong cards. Had problems with sapphire, and the offbrands (obvious reasons?)

[Phlake]

Asus has an awesome warrenty for 3 years !!!!

They are quick with the RMAS also..... Unlike Toshibia

[NoOdLeS<3]

i never really liked ati stuff. shit is not all its made to be. i recently picked up an 8600gts which was an upgrade for from a 7600gt. you can do sli with 2 8600gts for 200 bux after rebate. xfx is the shit compared to my evga

[Tippo]

Errr mainly for production we use Tyan and Asus motherboards because of their stability. We don't like to, but we have to use Supermicro for some servers. We used to use MSI and ABit a while back, now they are complete shit when it comes to stability. </3 constant change.

[Phlake]

Ahhhh yes the infmaous TYAN I forgot all about them....

[BADog]

I have the EVGA 8800GT and have been running it for over 3 months overclocked. It ran hot normally...until I added a better heatsink (with occasional fan) and now it runs at 39c (102f) idle (no fan) and 44c (111f w/120mm 600rpm fan).

[rDigital]

for the price get a 3870 or an 9600gt they can both be had on the Newegg.com for about the same price. 9600gt is better by just a little in most applications.
9600gt
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=1068310557&Description=9600GT&name=512MB

3870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000048+1068310557&Description=3870&name=512MB

Both are baller ass cards

[JJ_Sky5000]

I bought another 8800GTX for $360, there are deals out there.... I was thinking of getting a 8800 gt for my son. the prices are getting really good.. since the 9600 was released

[Tippo]

I got 2 8800GT OC for 200 dollars lol SLI FTW