• $300 to upgrade video card and processor, assistance needed!
    49 replies, posted
I've been stuck with a mediocre video card and processor for the past two years and I think it's time to step it up as I'm starting to notice I'm having some problems playing newer releases anymore. My current setup is a 9600GT and a Core 2 Duo E7200. Do not mock me. :< I have a 500W PSU so I don't think there's an issue there but I'm a bit intimidated by the rather large size of video cards these days and whether or not there will be ample room in my case. My motherboard also only supports LGA 775. I'd like to upgrade to a quad core setup. I figure that with the advancements with video cards, the biggest investment I need to make is the processor since they're less likely to become obsolete overnight. I was looking at getting a GTS 250 and a Q9400. If anything is wrong with these or there's a better setup, please tell me! :D If any other details are necessary, I'd be more than happy to provide them.
[QUOTE=FlameCow;19898026]The GTS 250 and Q9400 setup is fine.[/QUOTE] Agree, I second this.
Is that probably the best setup I can get for that sort of money? Edit: Holy shit. Microcenter is selling Q9550s for $170. [url]http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0299412[/url]
[QUOTE=Enishi;19898603] Edit: Holy shit. Microcenter is selling Q9550s for $170. [url]http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0299412[/url][/QUOTE] Go for it, if you want to save even more money pick up a 4850. Only $100 and equal to the GTS250 in performance.
[QUOTE=CPShArp;19917204]Go for it, if you want to save even more money pick up a 4850. Only $100 and equal to the GTS250 in performance.[/QUOTE] I have zero experience with ATI, so which manufacturers would you recommend sticking with when ordering an ATI card?
[QUOTE=Enishi;19921050]I have zero experience with ATI, so which manufacturers would you recommend sticking with when ordering an ATI card?[/QUOTE] I have an HIS and it's been great so far. Sapphire and XFX are the most popular though.
[QUOTE=Enishi;19921050]I have zero experience with ATI, so which manufacturers would you recommend sticking with when ordering an ATI card?[/QUOTE] Sapphire, XFX, HIS, Gigabyte, ASUS, and Visiontek sometimes.
Powercolor is the best ATI manufacturers
Sapphire for cheap. XFX for [b]double[/b] lifetime warranty. HIS for cooling. Gigabyte, ASUS, and Visiontek, take the cheapest one.
[QUOTE=ghostofme;19937474]Sapphire for cheap. XFX for [b]double[/b] lifetime warranty. HIS for cooling. Gigabyte, ASUS, and Visiontek, take the cheapest one.[/QUOTE] Sapphires vapor x is for cooling.
[QUOTE=sbradford26;19937963]Sapphires vapor x is for cooling.[/QUOTE] Yeah, but HIS in general comes with good cooling.
I would attempt to get a DX11 card if I was you
[QUOTE=ghostofme;19938195]Yeah, but HIS in general comes with good cooling.[/QUOTE] They have "better" looking coolers but they usually reflect in no better temps.
[QUOTE=Termy58;19938248]I would attempt to get a DX11 card if I was you[/QUOTE] Don't even worry about DX11.
It seems my budget has been raised to ~$375... hmmm.
5870
The E7200 is not the primary issue here.. It's the 9600GT. A Q9550 + a GTS 250 is NOT going to make anywhere near as much difference to games as forfeiting the CPU upgrade and getting a 5870 or 5850.
[QUOTE=ghostofme;19938437]Don't even worry about DX11.[/QUOTE] Why? Their is a lot of games, coming out with DX11 support, one of the main things is Tesselation. And more will be coming out, then just the ones listed here. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_with_DirectX_11_support[/url] DX11 will probably stick around and be more updated, then the lousy DX10.
[QUOTE=mrbloog;19987085]Why? Their is a lot of games, coming out with DX11 support, one of the main things is Tesselation. And more will be coming out, then just the ones listed here. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_with_DirectX_11_support[/url] DX11 will probably stick around and be more updated, then the lousy DX10.[/QUOTE] name one good game that requires even direct x 10
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;19987232]name one good game that requires even direct x 10[/QUOTE] The reason I said lousy DX10, as DX11 is introducing a lot more which will make games look better for less processing power on the card. And Crysis,Far Cry 2,Red Faction: Guerrilla?
[QUOTE=mrbloog;19987356] And Crysis,Far Cry 2,Red Faction: Guerrilla?[/QUOTE] He said requires, the only game I can think of that requires DX10 is shattered horizon.
[QUOTE=CPShArp;19987657]He said requires, the only game I can think of that requires DX10 is shattered horizon.[/QUOTE] exactly, and shattered horizon is a shitty game.
Well most games will be backwards compatible, but those DX10 supporting games I mentioned look better and will perform better with DX10 on, which is why he should get a DX11 card because games that support DX11 will look better and perform better. Please compare Crysis DX9 to Crysis DX10 and try to prove me wrong.
[QUOTE=ferrus;19983099]The E7200 is not the primary issue here.. It's the 9600GT. A Q9550 + a GTS 250 is NOT going to make anywhere near as much difference to games as forfeiting the CPU upgrade and getting a 5870 or 5850.[/QUOTE] I've been told by a few people to avoid ATI at the moment due to compatibility issues. :\ Games are awesome and all but I also do a lot of video editing and some folding on the side.
[QUOTE=Enishi;19988953]I've been told by a few people to avoid ATI at the moment due to compatibility issues. :\[/QUOTE] lol like what? and who is this "few people"? A friend who's mad cause he can't play crysis with his Radeon X1300 on his laptop? haha
[QUOTE=CPShArp;19990190]lol like what? and who is this "few people"? A friend who's mad cause he can't play crysis with his Radeon X1300 on his laptop? haha[/QUOTE] The "few people" are friends of mine that have actually dealt with ATI and have been for quite a while. Most of them told me they like to freeze in a variety of games but still said for the price, you can't beat the power behind them.
[QUOTE=mrbloog;19988082]Please compare Crysis DX9 to Crysis DX10 and try to prove me wrong.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.tweakguides.com/images/Crysis_8a.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.tweakguides.com/images/Crysis_8b.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.tweakguides.com/images/Crysis_9a.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.tweakguides.com/images/Crysis_9b.jpg[/img] Well... :v: [editline]11:26AM[/editline] As far as i know, Crysis performs worse in DX10.
[QUOTE=Enishi;19991473]The "few people" are friends of mine that have actually dealt with ATI and have been for quite a while. Most of them told me they like to freeze in a variety of games but still said for the price, you can't beat the power behind them.[/QUOTE] they're bullshitting, there's nothing wrong with ATi cards
Where have you been? Have you not seen all the people with ATI cards on this forum?
Right now i'm using an Nvidia card, but i'm planning on buying a Radeon 58xx card. But i'll of course wait for the new Nvidia cards, because prices will drop, and the new cards may be worth it. Unbiased = everyone wins. :buddy:
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