Graphics card decisions

[Psykotik]

After splashing the cash on my 2405 I have finally come to realise that my ageing main rig needs to be upgraded. The current card (9800 SE AIW softmodded to Pro running at XT speeds) was as jittery as hell playing Half Life 2 on my old monitor at 1280 x 1024 and is close to unplayable on the Dell.

I've got myself an Asus A8N32 SLI, Opteron 146 and am probably going to go for the FSP 700 W from Phil as my last PCP&C sounded like a Dyson through a megaphone in a cave.

Now after my disasterous hardware problems last year (blowing up a Malay Prescott, a 6800 Ultra, my OCZ LE BH6 ,an Antec True Blue PSU, two 74 Gig Raptors and my optical drives which cost me an absolute fortune) coupled with the fact that the then almighty 6800 Ultra is now nearly obsolete after merely a year of being on the market, I am starting to wonder if there is any point in me splashing the cash on a current gen graphics card.

I want to be able to play Half Life 2 Aftermath with EVERYTHING turned on and at 1920 x 1200. What current card/s would I be looking at to do this or should I wait for G71/R580?

Andy

 

[nick25]

I'm not sure whether a single latest gen card (7800GTX/X1800XT) would be able to keep up with 1920x1200, full aa/af, max details so you may have to SLI it - what is your opty clocked at? What are you prepared to spend on a gfx(s)?

There is always going to be something new & better just around the corner, especially graphics card wise. I'd try and fine a couple of SH 7800GTXs if you can or 1 is you drop AA (which isn't really needed at 1920x1200). Of course if you don't mind waiting and not playing games full whack until next gen then do wait, the fact that you already have the 2405 though I'd buy now.

 

[Psykotik]

Haven't really had chance to play with the Opty to be honest, I did faff about when I first got it and clocked it to 2.6 Ghz on stock volts on air so I assume it's gonna be a close to 3 Ghz scaler on high end water (Cascade SS)

My main issue with spending large amounts of hard earned money on a graphics card is the fact that they currently don't offer any benefits over me buying an Xbox 360. Argh. I hate decisions like this.

You reckon a single 7800 GTX will handle things comfortably at 1920 x 1200?

 

[scorchio]

It depends on yor budget really as nick mentioned the price a gtx has come down quite a bit lately plus you will be able to pick up a bargain when the g71 comes out.

2 gtx's will be faster than 1 g71 and will cost about the same,i will getting rid of my volt modded cards when they arrive.1 gtx will struggle to play the latest games with everything on full whack.

 

[Psykotik]

What's the ETA on the new gen cards? As I can get a 7800 GTX for about £270 it has considerable merit, but if he new releases are imminent I may wait and spend some money on my other hobbies instead.

 

[nick25]

I have a single GTX and a dell 2405 it handles most things fine (I say most, I doubt it will handle Fear that well but I don't have that game) however it will struggle if you start using AA/AF on the latest titles.

 

[Psykotik]

Bugger. I wanted to play FEAR. I suppose I could downgrade to a 15" monitor and play everything at full then....:O

Nah, I think I might go for a GTX at bargain prices (annoyed that I missed out on the GTX going for £150 yesterday) and then go the whole tomale on the new cards when I have more money. Cheers guys

 

[scorchio]

IF YOU WAIT UNTIL fEB THE NEW GEN CARDS SHOULD BE OUT

DECISIONS,DECISIONS :?

 

[cheap]

IF YOU WAIT UNTIL fEB THE NEW GEN CARDS SHOULD BE OUT

DECISIONS,DECISIONS :?

are they gonna be directX 10?

 

[K404]

I heard DX10 was waiting for Vista, but that could change.

 

[maverik-sg1]

DX10 additonal features will not be supported by this upcoming volley of cards, although driver updates will sort some of that out, no doubt taking a big performance hit too.

The next gen cards will be Vista optimised and take full advantage of DX10 but theya re not due out unitl August/Sept 2006 at the very earliest.

XP will still be around a for a few years which will give mocrosoft a chanc eto work out al teh bugs in Vista before you upgrade to that OS.

At 1900x????? settings I doubt any sinlge card will run what you want - sli and crossfire will struggle with the newest titles, mainly down to CPU limits too.

I must admit that I feel greedy when I start talking about 1600x1200 with full eye candy (whioch my cards can handle) in which case SLI will serve you well for many more months to come - as will X1800Xt or 256/512MB GTX in single mode.

The short answer I guess is that you may be able to run todays games at that res in SLI/crossfire - but the next gen you will have to compromise at some point and that pint will come sooner rather than later in new titles.