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General Category => Technology and Programming => Topic started by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 12, 2009, 07:36:55 am

Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 12, 2009, 07:36:55 am
hello gaming world

i currently have an 8800 GTS 320, which is pretty good for the games i am currently playing but it's about time for an upgrade right? it starts to choke pretty hard when you get to games like crysis, gta iv, etc. so I think it is TIME FOR AN UPGRADE etc.

here are some cards i was looking at :


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127427

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102830

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130492


i am leaning very heavily towards the HD 4890 since it seems to get dramatically better performance than most of the Nvidia 200 series cards for a modest price, but i don't know a WHOLE lot about these things or which 4890 to get. please advise!!

i have an AMD 5600+ X2 CPU and 2 gigs ram, but i plan on upgrading the ram. i don't know whether my mobo supports 2 x 6 pin connectors but I assume it does because it's PCI-E.
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 12, 2009, 07:41:36 am
whoops, this probably should have went in computers and tech. my bad!!
Title: graphics card
Post by: ATARI on June 12, 2009, 11:32:14 am
taking care of it
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 12, 2009, 04:03:45 pm
thank you kind sir
Title: graphics card
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on June 12, 2009, 05:37:46 pm
Upgrade your RAM to 4GB, because that's going to choke your system a lot. Also you should know Crysis and GTA IV are horribly optimized. Even ridiculous i7 systems have trouble running GTA IV, it's the game, not the system, and you will probably not be able to run this smoothly regardless. A 4890 is fine, and you will likely see a 10-20fps jump in most games, however I don't really think it is necessary when that money could go into upgrading your ram, cpu, and buying games that are actually intended to be run by normal computers.
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 12, 2009, 08:13:14 pm
I'm using a 320 card, not 640, so High texture settings lag horribly in most games at my LCD res (1680x1050)

my bottleneck is card right now other than RAM, which I am also going to take care of.
Title: graphics card
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on June 12, 2009, 08:20:50 pm
Ok, but I'm just warning you since you mentioned GTA IV. You will not be able to play this on high settings, 99% guaranteed. I've heard of some 2x 4870X2 systems getting 'PLAYABLE FRAMERATES' which is just absurd, but it's your money so~
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 12, 2009, 10:13:39 pm
benchmarks say the 4890 gets decent fps (40~) but i'm guessing my CPU will be a bottleneck. any links to good ram though?
Title: graphics card
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on June 12, 2009, 11:05:01 pm
what motherboard do you have?
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 12, 2009, 11:36:16 pm
MSI K9N4 SLI-F

i'm 90% sure the 4890 will fit in its PCI-E slot. if not i am prepared to buy a new mobo. i'm completely replacing the internal ram though since it's 4 512 DDR2s i think?
Title: graphics card
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on June 12, 2009, 11:50:17 pm
I'd just go grab 4GB of DDR2-800; recommended brands are Corsair, OCZ, and Patriot. Also make sure your PSU can handle the 4890.
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 13, 2009, 12:26:49 am
it's 600, 640W i'm pretty sure so i should be fine. higher-clocked RAM isn't worth it?
Title: graphics card
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on June 13, 2009, 12:41:01 am
Memory makes up less than 5% of total system performance and your motherboard only supports up to PC2-6400 (DDR2-800) anyways. You won't notice tangible differences between 800, 1033, or higher DDR2 RAM unless you are doing something specific.
Title: graphics card
Post by: goat on June 13, 2009, 12:57:01 am
When it comes to brand, just go with who you trust. There are some companies you can't go wrong with like eVGA XFX or BFG that have life time warranties. Something to help narrow it down is to compare the clock frequencies, and find the best clocked card for your money.
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 16, 2009, 08:27:52 pm
what difference does clock speed make? is that the rated speed of the card, is there a real difference in rendering speed beyond a few FPS? i'm a bit out of my element here.

of the two 4890s I linked, is the only reason the $250 is more expensive the HDMI port? why is the cheaper one rated significantly higher in clock speed?
Title: graphics card
Post by: Barack Obama on June 17, 2009, 01:05:08 am
A lot of manufacturers will sell overpriced HARDCORE OC versions of cards with slightly higher clockspeeds but it's really nothing you can't accomplish on your own with a regular version of the card by increasing the fan speed and overclocking it. From a quick google search, it looks like those 4890's can run fine at 1Ghz and above.

Also, does anyone know why video card manufacturers insist on putting some of the dumbest pictures on the plastic fan tunnel/heatsink cover? I bought an aftermarket heatsink for my video card because even though I never see it when the case isn't open, knowing that there's a picture of some CG woman with bikini battle armor on it just bugs me. Why are they paying people to design that embarassing horesehit? Who the fuck does that appeal to?
Title: graphics card
Post by: tuxedo marx on June 17, 2009, 01:19:10 am
why don't they put naked ladies on them
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 17, 2009, 01:24:39 am
A lot of manufacturers will sell overpriced HARDCORE OC versions of cards with slightly higher clockspeeds but it's really nothing you can't accomplish on your own with a regular version of the card by increasing the fan speed and overclocking it. From a quick google search, it looks like those 4890's can run fine at 1Ghz and above.

okay, so are you telling me the $250 one just has an HDMI port and that's the only real difference?
Title: graphics card
Post by: ATARI on June 17, 2009, 01:38:44 am
why don't they put naked ladies on them
its like trucker mudflaps but for your videocard
Title: graphics card
Post by: Barack Obama on June 17, 2009, 04:28:36 am
okay, so are you telling me the $250 one just has an HDMI port and that's the only real difference?
yeah
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 17, 2009, 08:14:56 am
sweet. does anyone have similar recommendations for my price range (250 or so or under) which outclass the HD4890 or should I just go ahead with it
Title: graphics card
Post by: Bobberticus on June 17, 2009, 05:43:07 pm
A lot of manufacturers will sell overpriced HARDCORE OC versions of cards with slightly higher clockspeeds but it's really nothing you can't accomplish on your own with a regular version of the card by increasing the fan speed and overclocking it. From a quick google search, it looks like those 4890's can run fine at 1Ghz and above.

Also, does anyone know why video card manufacturers insist on putting some of the dumbest pictures on the plastic fan tunnel/heatsink cover? I bought an aftermarket heatsink for my video card because even though I never see it when the case isn't open, knowing that there's a picture of some CG woman with bikini battle armor on it just bugs me. Why are they paying people to design that embarassing horesehit? Who the fuck does that appeal to?


man i saw this one good videocard with a sweet picture of a dragon i wanted it sobad
Title: graphics card
Post by: ATARI on June 17, 2009, 06:17:54 pm
showing off my video-gamin' dragon power
Title: graphics card
Post by: Barack Obama on June 17, 2009, 07:30:48 pm
There's a man with a huge gun on my video card so you know its powerful(like the gun)

*flicks a switch and a green light glows from the window on the side of the computer tower*
Title: graphics card
Post by: Bobberticus on June 17, 2009, 09:33:52 pm
Quote
i currently have an 8800 GTS 320, which is pretty good for the games i am currently playing but it's about time for an upgrade right?

man, i have a fucking geforce 5500 fx right now
Title: graphics card
Post by: big ass skelly on June 17, 2009, 11:26:06 pm
Well *I'VE* got a radeon 9600 SE with a broken fan beat that bitch
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 17, 2009, 11:32:08 pm
intel gma 915
Title: graphics card
Post by: Carrion Crow on June 17, 2009, 11:32:52 pm
I have the same card, 8800 GTS 320 by evga. I think the market is pretty silly right now in the respect that next next gen hasn't really kicked in on PC yet and there is nothing capable of running crysis or GTA4 on full settings. So I would rather wait until that time has passed and get a card that does that for peanuts.
Title: graphics card
Post by: Carrion Crow on June 17, 2009, 11:33:12 pm
It's time for you to go retro kiddo.
Title: graphics card
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on June 18, 2009, 03:00:46 am
I have the same card, 8800 GTS 320 by evga. I think the market is pretty silly right now in the respect that next next gen hasn't really kicked in on PC yet and there is nothing capable of running crysis or GTA4 on full settings. So I would rather wait until that time has passed and get a card that does that for peanuts.

This has to do with them being horribly optimized, though.
Title: graphics card
Post by: testaccount on June 18, 2009, 03:04:35 am
Also, does anyone know why video card manufacturers insist on putting some of the dumbest pictures on the plastic fan tunnel/heatsink cover? I bought an aftermarket heatsink for my video card because even though I never see it when the case isn't open, knowing that there's a picture of some CG woman with bikini battle armor on it just bugs me. Why are they paying people to design that embarassing horesehit? Who the fuck does that appeal to?
studies show that manchilds with neckbeards are 33% more likely to buy shit with TITS & GUNZ on it. consider the target demographic for graphic cards. motherfuckers eat that shit up.

if it's any consolation it's really fucking hilarious when those cards overheat and the picture warps and crumples, turning that sexy anime girl into jungle nigger ninja abe vigoda
Title: graphics card
Post by: Barack Obama on June 18, 2009, 05:36:47 am
hahahaha
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 18, 2009, 09:32:39 pm
my current computer i bought used and it's covered with stickers of girls with guns and big tits. i try to cover it with other objects. it's really embarrassing.
Title: graphics card
Post by: Barack Obama on June 19, 2009, 12:32:12 am
Peel the stickers off and wipe off the sticky residue with acetone(nail polish remover)
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 19, 2009, 01:06:29 am
i just noticed this case has a dragon engraved into it. i thought it was a sticker.

i paid extra for a vanity case apparently.
Title: graphics card
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on June 19, 2009, 01:06:38 am
god that's gay
Title: graphics card
Post by: Sapsuker on June 19, 2009, 01:38:13 am
hey so i want to upgrade my computer's graphics card so i thought i'd post in this topic rather than make a new one.

basically i know next to nothing about upgrading and what's a good deal and stuff like that. i have a budget of 100$ at most and my computer does indeed have a pcie port. the computer itself is basically brand new, it just has a shitty intel graphics card that's really really awful.

so...advice is much appreciated.
Title: graphics card
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on June 19, 2009, 05:47:03 am
You should post your computer's specs, Sapsuker. As well as how big your powersupply is.
Title: graphics card
Post by: Barack Obama on June 19, 2009, 07:40:20 am
you could probably find an HD 4770 for around a hundred bucks
Title: graphics card
Post by: hobomasterxxx on June 19, 2009, 08:47:07 am
Well *I'VE* got a radeon 9600 SE with a broken fan beat that bitch
Mobility Radeon 9000

Christ it's bad.
Title: graphics card
Post by: Sapsuker on June 19, 2009, 03:22:19 pm
You should post your computer's specs, Sapsuker. As well as how big your powersupply is.

ok well i always have a hard time finding out the motherboard and powersupply because i have to take apart the computer or something, and i tend to not have good tools to do that (like there's bound to be a lot of static wherever i'm going to take the computer apart).

however i do know that the computer has a 2.6 ghz dual core intel processor and 6 gb of ram. does that help with anything??
Title: graphics card
Post by: goat on June 19, 2009, 09:43:56 pm
On the nVidia side, a 9800 GT or a 250 GTS would be around 100$, and they have pretty similar performance.

If you have a good processor though, might be worth throwing in an extra $50 or so just to get a beefier card. Even if you don't have a good processor, a better card will help your next processor upgrade that much more.
Title: graphics card
Post by: Carrion Crow on June 19, 2009, 09:50:05 pm
I find I get more of a technology boner if I don't just *upgrade* individual componenets at a time but instead wait 3 years then upgrade my entire rig (minus the case and the PSU, HDDs etc). You get more bang for your buck and you can avoid overspending towards bottlenecks this way too. No point in putting an 9800 on your grandad's pentium rig etc.
Title: graphics card
Post by: Sapsuker on June 19, 2009, 10:36:32 pm
yeah but this computer is pretty brand new and it's fine on everything except for the ultra-shitty graphics card. i think i'll wait until some good deals for the 9800 or 250 come out somewhere on the internet and then get it. thanks for the help.
Title: graphics card
Post by: goat on June 21, 2009, 01:52:28 am
9800 GT
http://www.ecost.com/detail.aspx?edp=42065611&source=EWBBASE&cm_mmc=CSE-_-google-_-ewbbase-_-Computer&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=42065611
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-XFX-_-14150323
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125247

GTS 250
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010154&prodlist=froogle
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468