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Buying a new graphics card - (read first post)

Started by wiredmarlin5 · · 👁 44 views · 938 replies

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Participants wiredmarlin5fadedorca66Charles Hill2placidcanyon2Rachel Fox4darkfalcon9Kyle Sanchez4Daniel Nguyen3Kevin Kim7Timothy Palmer28Timothy Morris28Frank White75Andrew Flores8feralpanther13Paul Anderson7John Chavez222goldenotter55Arthur Brooks63Rebecca White67darkowl72Gregory Richardson62Karen Reed21Steven Baker12Olivia Davis8 …
Kyle Sanchez4 Kyle Sanchez4 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Dec 2009
#441 ·
Since we're talking about a PCI Express card, the Radeon HD 3850 is just overpriced, and the only DDR3 option on the table..

I’d rather hang onto those $267.. once you sell this one, you'll already have more than half a new rig built
Brenda Alvarez11 Brenda Alvarez11 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jun 2015
#442 ·
Kyle Sanchez4 said:I would honestly rather hold onto those $267... once you sell this one, you'll already have more than half of a brand-new rig built

Haha, I hear you, but then I’d be stuck waiting another year or two just to play any new releases.
Besides, my plan is to build an entirely new PC 😁 in about two years anyway, and I'll definitely pack it with all the latest tech. But, if I could just drop a new graphics card into my current setup, it would probably buy me another few years of solid gaming time.
Brenda Alvarez11 Brenda Alvarez11 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jun 2015
#443 ·
If you happen to think the graphics cards I mentioned earlier might be a bit too much for my current setup, would you mind suggesting something slightly less powerful? My only real requirement is that it supports at least Pixel Shader 3.0 or 4.1.

Alternatively, if you have any solid recommendations for a reliable power supply, I would certainly appreciate your expertise!
Karen Garcia5 Karen Garcia5 Member
10 messages
joined Jan 2012
#444 ·
wiredmarlin5 said:That’s pretty bad advice. A card with DDR2 memory isn't exactly a recommendation.

A 3580 512 would be a solid buy, though maybe a bit overkill for his setup. I guess there's also the question of how his power supply handles an extra ~80W draw.

He should just grab a 7600GT. It has DDR3, which seems like the sweet spot for that rig. You can find them on Craigslist for about 350-$133.
driftinggull13 driftinggull13 Active Member
61 messages
joined Apr 2020
#445 ·
So, I just picked up a 9800 GT with 1 GB of memory, and I'm really hoping I didn't get totally ripped off... some guy working at the local Best Buy gave me the recommendation, so fingers crossed...
Kyle Sanchez4 Kyle Sanchez4 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Dec 2009
#446 ·
You blew it... you should have just grabbed the 250 GTS.
Thomas Martin4 Thomas Martin4 Member
23 messages
joined Jun 2009
#447 ·
driftinggull13 said:Picked up a 9800 GT with 1 GB of memory—hopefully I didn't get ripped off... I just took the word of some guy at the local Best Buy.

Whether it was actually a good deal depends entirely on what you shelled out for it. I guess you should tell us the price?
Megan Ruiz13 Megan Ruiz13 Active Member
79 messages
joined Apr 2016
#448 ·
AMD Radeon HD 4890 vs. Nvidia GTX 275

Which one is actually better?

Some reviews lean toward Nvidia, while others swear by AMD.

I just saw a review for Bug Heaven where AMD absolutely destroys this Nvidia card—it eats it alive. But then I find another review online saying the Nvidia is faster.🤷

Who's lying here? 😁
James Morris4 James Morris4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Feb 2011
#449 ·
The cheapest Sapphire HD 4890 I can find is about $260, while the Nvidia GTX 275 sits around $275. GeForce tends to have more stable drivers, offers PhysX (which is a big deal, I guess), includes CUDA, and pulls less power when idling. AMD cards can sometimes run into driver issues, though they do support DirectX 10.1 and actually draw less power under full load.
Decide for yourself 😁
wiredmarlin5 wiredmarlin5 NewcomerOP
2 messages
joined Apr 2009
#450 ·
Gary Anderson38 said:So, I’ve been sitting here staring at my monitor for what feels like an eternity, just weighing the pros and cons of this little hardware dilemma, wondering whether I should pull the trigger on the AMD Radeon HD 4890 or if the Nvidia GTX 275 is actually the smarter play for my current setup... It’s one of those classic showdowns that really makes you pause and think about where all your hard-earned cash is going, isn't it? On one hand, you have that raw, unbridled power from the AMD card which seems to just scream performance when you get it running just right, though I sometimes worry about how it handles certain specific drivers or if it might run a bit too hot during those long, intense gaming sessions... But then again, looking at the Nvidia GTX 275, there’s that sense of stability and that smooth, polished feeling you get with their software ecosystem, especially when you're trying to squeeze every last drop of juice out of things like PhysX... Honestly, it’s such a toss-up because both cards are absolute beasts in their own right, and I find myself spiraling down these rabbit holes of benchmark comparisons and forum threads, trying to figure out which one will give me that perfect, seamless experience without any unexpected hiccups... It’s a tough call, truly, and part of me thinks I might just end up overthinking it until my coffee goes cold...

So, I was sitting here thinking about this whole dilemma, just staring at my screen and wondering which way to go... honestly, if you're asking me which one of these two is actually worth your hard-earned cash, it really comes down to what you're trying to achieve in the end... because, you know, sometimes the flashy option isn't the smartest move, and other times you just need that raw power to get through the day... so, between these two specifically, I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks, since there's no simple answer, really...

It’s funny how you look at some of these tech reviews and notice how they seem to lean one way or the other, almost as if they're picking sides between Nvidia and AMD... you know, like there's this constant tug-of-war happening in the community where one reviewer will swear by an Nvidia card while another insists that AMD is the only way to go... it really makes you wonder about the bias behind the testing, though I suppose everyone has their own little preferences when it comes to hardware performance and driver stability... anyway, it's quite a fascinating debate to follow...

So, I was just digging through some recent benchmarks, and honestly, it’s wild how much things are shifting... you know, looking at this latest bug report, it really seems like AMD is absolutely eating that Nvidia card alive when it comes to raw performance! It’s just devastating for them, truly... though, then again, I went ahead and hunted down a few detailed reviews online to be absolutely certain, and apparently, according to those tests, Nvidia actually holds the edge in speed... it's all so incredibly confusing sometimes, isn't it...🤷

Now, I have to wonder... who exactly is the one losing their marbles around here?... 😁

Honestly, those folks over at Bugovac are just completely clueless... 🙂

Of course you should just go with the GeForce... I mean, it’s such a tiny little thing and it honestly doesn't demand anything from your system at all, it just sits there quietly without asking for a single thing... 😬

I honestly don't think you could go wrong if you just picked up a standard GTX 260... it’s such a solid, reliable choice for what most people actually need... 😉
Karen Collins3 Karen Collins3 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jan 2007
#451 ·
Gary Anderson38 said:AMD Radeon HD 4890 vs Nvidia GTX 275

Which one wins here?

They're pretty much on par, IMO.
Here are two local reviews. Take some time to dig in, read them over, and decide which way you want to go.

Sapphire HD 4890 - http://sobitza.com/portal/content/view/558/32/

Gainward GTX 275 - http://sobitza.com/portal/content/view/598/32/
driftinggull13 driftinggull13 Active Member
61 messages
joined Apr 2020
#452 ·
Thomas Martin4 said:Look, whether it’s a good deal really just depends on what you actually shelled out for it... so why don't you just give me a number?

Paid about $950 for it. Am I an addict? Maybe... but hey, it works like a charm, I tried running the new Riddick and everything runs perfectly on max settings, though honestly, I can't tell if there's anything special going on with the card's factory overclocking or if it's just... well, you know...😕
Thomas Martin4 Thomas Martin4 Member
23 messages
joined Jun 2009
#453 ·
driftinggull13 said:It’s about $990. Is he crazy? Well, I suppose if he just wanted to test out the new 😕Riddick
, everything seems to run fine—though I guess it's hard to say if that's actually due to the card itself...

In that case, it isn't a total disaster. For an extra $150, you could have grabbed a 250 GTS 1GB, and moving up from 512MB is always $307a step in the right direction. Usually, when some salesperson tries to push a specific model on a customer, it turns out to be a bit of a rip-off—assuming you don't know any better, of course. The card itself isn't necessarily bad; the real issue is just that there are newer versions available—even if they are running on the exact same chip.
swiftridge40 swiftridge40 Member
17 messages
joined Sep 2013
#454 ·
The landscape is shifting weirdly. We’re all praying Windows 7 finally hits this year, and honestly, I bet SSD prices stay sky-high for at least another year before they dip. For me, the real turning point will be when those new Intel Core processors actually get affordable, along with cheaper DDR3 memory and the next wave of GPUs hitting the market.
Megan Ruiz13 Megan Ruiz13 Active Member
79 messages
joined Apr 2016
#455 ·
wiredmarlin5 said:The guys at Bugovac are idiots. 🙂

Obviously, grab the GeForce... it's small and won't demand much from your power supply. 😬

Picking up a "standard" GTX 260 wouldn't be a bad move either. 😉


I went with the Nvidia GTX 275 👍

Based on reviews and benchmarks, it's nearly as fast as the 285. At my resolution of 1680 x 1050, there's basically no difference—maybe 2 or 3 fps, which doesn't matter.
Now I'm curious to see what happens when I overclock it...

It's a great card, just massive... plus, it's the first time I haven't gone with an AMD card. 😁

It's pretty cool seeing those two 6-pin connectors coming off the PSU. The whole thing looks beastly because of its size. 🤣

Highly recommended. 👍

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/2623/275r.jpg

Then there's CUDA. If only I actually knew what that was for or even what it is, that would be great. Guess I'll have to Google it. 😁
wiredmarlin5 wiredmarlin5 NewcomerOP
2 messages
joined Apr 2009
#456 ·
Mmmm, now that is an absolutely stellar choice... 🙂 I really have to hand it to you on this one. 🙂 🙂
James Morris4 James Morris4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Feb 2011
#457 ·
I have a question that isn't strictly about buying graphics cards, but I wasn't sure where to put it. I figured opening a whole new thread might be overkill.
Since hardware websites run their reviews using top-tier setups (like an i7 965, DDR3 at 2 GHz, and 64-bit Windows Vista), we see how these cards perform on a dream machine. It’s logical that they'll show much better performance there than what the average person gets at home on a Core 2 Duo or Phenom II system running DDR2 memory.
How many FPS would be a realistic drop—depending heavily on the game, I suppose—to reflect the kind of performance most people will actually see?
I feel like anyone would feel a bit "cheated" watching tests where the card they just bought hits 60 fps at 1920x1680, only to have it struggle at 40 fps on a 1680x1050 setup at home.

I know this isn't directly related to a specific purchase, but it's definitely about making the right choice regarding 😁
cosmicfox48 cosmicfox48 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jul 2011
#458 ·
I'm looking at picking up this game bundle as a gift for my kid's confirmation, so I wanted to get some input here—do you think he'd actually be able to run any decent games on an NVIDIA GeForce GT 240?
James Morris4 James Morris4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Feb 2011
#459 ·
It’s technically possible, though I’d say it’s going to be a struggle depending on what resolution you're running and which game you're playing. For something like 1680x1050, honestly, picking that GPU might not be the smartest move. I suppose if you don't push the settings too hard, things might run okay, but there are definitely better options out there.
Betty Rogers2 Betty Rogers2 Member
31 messages
joined Apr 2015
#460 ·
Since I'm putting together a new rig, I figured I’d start a fresh thread, but I'll drop the question here too since this section is specifically for graphics cards:

Which one of these is the better bet?

The GTX260 with 896 MB and 216 SP - http://www.diskont24.com/product.php...cat=391&page=4

Or the XFX NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 with 1GB DDR5 - http://www.diskont24.com/product.php...cat=390&page=4

I'm running at a resolution of 1680x1050.

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