Replacing GPUs - Need advice - Hardware & Software

I currently have two cross-fired Sapphire ATI HD 4870's (see link) - I've had them for almost two years now and they've been great but Christmas is coming and I wanna make sure my rig will be able to not only handle, but molest (as in maintain a minimum of 30 fps) the newer games I'll be asking for [URL]http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000101&pid=266[/URL] I want to replace these with one ATI-brand GPU that will out perform them both for under $200 Is this possible? I have been looking at this card (see link) as a decently priced option [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-102-858&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo[/URL] but this whole page (see link) seems to be full of viable options [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600030349%204017&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS&PageSize=20[/URL] I'd like some advice on what would be my best option. Thanks in advance Also - as a side question - what does one do with their old hardware? I mean the cards I'm working with right now are certainly still in good shape and capable of running most games very well - there's got to be something better to do with them than just box em up and stick em in some shelf never to be seen again.

uh how is a minimum of 30 fps "molesting" newer games?

Well fuck, apart from Metro 2033 I can't really see what will make your FPS go down below 30 actually. Even when Crysis 2'll come out it should be alright. From ATI at less than 200$ then you'd have the 5770 but I'm not even sure it outperforms 2 4870's, and even the upcoming 6870 won't be marginally faster.

The 5770 does NOT outperform 2 4870s. I think it has around the same performance as ONE of them.

I think you're better off seeing how the 6900s turn out, and the price drop of the 5800s that will come with it (hopefully). Unless you decide to go with Nvidia. I'll let someone else handle that.

well shit - perhaps i shall retain my current cards after all I just want to be able to hold a very good framerate on New Vegas and the new cockadooky - and D3 when it comes out in 28 years - also Brink whenever that comes out My only concern is these days is that I believe most games can not take full advantage of ATI's crossfire - but then again I've heard that the 5700s series cards are dual gpu units anyway I guess I'll hold out for a while longer before I seriously consider upgrading edit: thanks the advice btw

New Vegas'll get raped by your cards if you want molesting. [editline]11th November 2010[/editline] Seriously that old engine doesn't need too much.

Speaking of which - I've read a buttlode of reviews that say New Vegas is buggy as balls on PC - confirm or deny?

Confirm.

Fffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

confirm. The funniest being the turning heads bug. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKIkw3LIoQ[/media]

I've seen that but - and it doesn't bother all that much, because its so hilarious - but are there any bugs that make it unplayable?

[QUOTE=Apt 2B;26000484]Fffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu[/QUOTE] I play it, I really haven't noticed it to much. It's prone to crash, though. And New Vegas will be raped by your GPUs, and I would be more cencerned about your CPU as there in New Vegas actually is alot of NPCs in one place. Or more specifically, in New Vegas itself.

Fallout 3 is buggy as balls on PC (and anywhere else for that matter) if you've ever played it. I still think it's a fantastic game.

[QUOTE=Apt 2B;26000549]I've seen that but - and it doesn't bother all that much, because its so hilarious - but are there any bugs that make it unplayable?[/QUOTE] Crashing every 5 minutes makes it rather unplayable. That was a few weeks ago though, I don't know how it is now. [editline]e[/editline] F3 is perfectly stable on PC, what are you talking about

[QUOTE=pikzen;26000646]F3 is perfectly stable on PC, what are you talking about[/QUOTE] What are YOU talking about? My brother and I both own the game, his laptop crashes every 5 minutes, my computer gives me a crash every now and then, and the other computer I have at my dad's house can't even start it up.

[QUOTE=pikzen;26000646]Crashing every 5 minutes makes it rather unplayable. That was a few weeks ago though, I don't know how it is now. [editline]e[/editline] F3 is perfectly stable on PC, what are you talking about[/QUOTE] No it isn't The problem is the engine, it's really unstable. Both FO3 and NV have the same problem. Although NV is marginally better.

byu 2 4890 XF

[QUOTE=Apt 2B;25999776]- but then again I've heard that the 5700s series cards are dual gpu units anyway[/QUOTE] No, I think only the 5970 is dual gpu, the rest are single.

[QUOTE=pikzen;26000646]Crashing every 5 minutes makes it rather unplayable. That was a few weeks ago though, I don't know how it is now. [editline]e[/editline] F3 is perfectly stable on PC, what are you talking about[/QUOTE] F3 is stable on my Desktop, on my laptop it isn't. NW is stable on my laptop, on my desktop it isn't.

my cpu is an amd phenom II 3.0 x4 and i didnt have any stability issues with fo3 for the brief time I played it

[QUOTE=Apt 2B;26002979]my cpu is an amd phenom II 3.0 x4 and i didnt have any stability issues with fo3 for the brief time I played it[/QUOTE] I have the same CPU and I didn't have any issues, either, besides the weird ragdoll glitches. Not one crash, though.

alright then - im gettin that sheeit While we're on the topic of games - hows Bops lookin? I hear its got some performance issues in single and lag issues in multi. My friends say its good but I'm still a tad afraid its mostly hype.

[QUOTE=humpalump;26000953]byu 2 4890 XF[/QUOTE] Why do that when he can buy 2 DX11 gpus for almost the same price.

You have two high-end AMD video cards and you're worried about being able to run New Vegas. Are you running it on 30 monitors?

[QUOTE=n0cturni;26003211]You have two high-end AMD video cards and you're worried about being able to run New Vegas. Are you running it on 30 monitors?[/QUOTE] pffffft.... no 29 srsly though I have ask these things ever since APB (don't make me go into deets) which had only ok graphics and still ran like shite

That's more of a problem with their optimization rather than your computer. But yeah, you can't be too careful.

[QUOTE=Mobon1;25999867]New Vegas'll get raped by your cards if you want molesting. [editline]11th November 2010[/editline] Seriously that old engine doesn't need too much.[/QUOTE] new vegas actually disappoints as far as performance is concerned. it'll take many more patches.