Buying a new graphics card - (read first post)

Thanks for the quick reply. I stopped by Microsoft earlier today, but since I wasn't entirely sure which motherboard I was running, I decided to head back home to double-check first.
In short, they suggested I go with either this or this. Since your suggestion marks the third option on my list, I’d love to hear your take on how these three stack up—and which one you think is the smartest move.

Thanks 😁

Gregory Richardson62 said:Thanks for the quick reply. I actually swung by Microsoft earlier today, but since I wasn't sure which motherboard I was running, I headed home to double-check.
Basically, they suggested I grab this one or that one. Since yours is the third option on my list, I'd love to hear how these three stack up against each other so I can make a call.

Thanks! 😁

Those guys at Microsoft are just trying to offload junk sitting in their warehouse that nobody else wants to touch—and that applies to both of those cards. They used to be solid deals, but now? Definitely outdated...

If I were you, I'd definitely go with what Karen Reed21 recommended (the NVIDIA GeForce 8800) or, if you want the better move, Gilbert's #1 pick: the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS for $333 (Hotspot)... so, it's up to you now.

Excellent—that makes two insightful responses already. Thanks, guys. 🙂

Steven Baker12 said:Those people over at Microsoft are just trying to offload their dusty warehouse junk on you—stuff nobody actually wants to buy. That applies to these two cards too. They used to be solid deals, but they are completely obsolete now...

I would absolutely go with either the one Karen Reed21 suggested (meaning the NVIDIA GeForce 8800) or the superior option—Gilbert's top choice—the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS for $333 (Hotspot) ... so make up your mind ...

Honestly, I have no idea how much power he needs at that resolution. Plus, I'm not even sure if they still carry them at the Hotspot.

A new development in the situation—it turns out NFS doesn't support the 4600 series processors, only the 4800 line.
🤷

Gregory Richardson62 said:It's a total game-changer for the whole experience; NFS doesn't support the 4600 series processors, only the 4800.
🤷

I don't follow you at all. Are you talking about graphics cards? Don't be naive—of course it supports them, and if you think even the latest garbage isn't supported, you're dreaming...

Anthony Scott93 said:Honestly, this is an absolute steal at that price point. It’s definitely not breaking any speed records, but it handles everything just fine at that resolution—it actually does more than you'd expect.

I'd grab the Sapphire version if I were you; I heard the cooler on this specific model can get pretty loud...

So, I’m thinking about picking up this HD 4670 512MB GDDR3 Turbo. I saw some shots online and honestly, it looks pretty slick—plus, it seems like it might have a bit more kick than the standard version. Does anyone know if I can actually find this at a local Best Buy or maybe through Amazon? And what kind of damage is it going to do to my wallet? Thanks, everyone!

So, my upcoming build is looking like this:
Intel Core2Duo E8400 3 GHz + Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Asus P5Q deluxe Nvidia GeForce 7600 gt 256
an ep45-ds3 motherboard
along with 2x2GB Kingmax PC 6400 RAM

I'm currently running a Fortron 400W power supply
and a Samsung SyncMaster 226BW set to 1680x1050 at 60Hz.
The plan is to grab a Sapphire 4850

Do you think this setup can actually handle it? Or am I going to be forced into picking a weaker card just because my power supply might not cut it?
Thanks!

Scott Diaz7 said:my upcoming build consists of an
E 8400
ep45-ds3
2x2gb kingmax pc 6400

i have a Forton 400W
plus a Samsung SyncMaster 226BW running at 1680x1050 @ 60Hz.
i am planning on getting a Sapphire 4850

will this work, or should I opt for a weaker card because of my power supply??
thanks

To be blunt: you don't need to worry if it is a PNF series.

I was just wondering, what would my current Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB even compare to these days? Which HD...

HD4670

Taylor Brooks3 said:What am I even looking at today when comparing my old Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB? Which HD series cards actually hold up against it now...

The 3850 and the 4670
are floating around in that ballpark somewhere

So, I’m also on the hunt for a new graphics card, and since I don't exactly consider myself a hardware expert, I'm finding it pretty difficult to make a call. My current setup looks like this:

Intel Core2Duo E8400 3 GHz + Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Asus P5Q deluxe Nvidia GeForce 7600 gt 256
Asus P5Q Deluxe
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB 😢
3 HDDs: an 80 GB IDE, a 160 GB SATA2, and a 500 GB external
2 GB DDR2-800
OCZ GameXtreame 600W

...plus a 19'' LCD monitor capped at 1280 x 1024, though I am planning to upgrade to a larger screen eventually—just not anytime soon—so you should probably account for higher resolutions. As far as my budget goes, I can't really go much past $667, and I'm looking for local shops around Cleveland and the surrounding area.

If anyone is suggesting something like a 4850 or 4870, I would definitely appreciate some clarification on the different versions available, because my main priorities are a card that doesn't run too hot and stays quiet; beyond that, the most critical thing is that it performs well enough for games like Sacred 2 (Elite Graphics), Far Cry 2, and similar titles on high settings. Naturally, it absolutely needs to hold its own for upcoming releases like Diablo 3 and StarCraft II.

8800 GTS 512 - $333/HG

wiredmarlin5 said:HD4670

🙂

An HD3870 could handle it too.

At least in 3DMark... ran it on two identical rigs with nothing but a GPU swap, and the difference was only about 20 to 70 points.

Thanks everyone for the response 😉

Need a GPU upgrade...!?

Specs: -Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz
-2 GB DDR2 RAM 800MHz
-450W PSU
-19" 4:3 LCD monitor
-Current card: GeForce 8600 GT Fallout 3

I'm running Fallout 3 on high settings, but I'm stuck at 800x600 because of the auto settings... I want to crank everything to ultra and actually use the native resolution for my 19" screen.

Thanks in advance!!!

HD4670 / Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS 512

I probably missed it in some older thread, but I can't seem to track this one down. So, here's the deal: I'm running an Nvidia GeForce 7700 GT, and honestly, it does exactly what I need it to do—it isn't like I'm hunting for more power right now. But man, that heatsink and fan combo? It’s driving me absolutely nuts. It’s just so loud. Does anyone have any tips on how to quiet things down without breaking the bank?