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Graphics what graphics card? (confused)

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by joseph2000, 22 Apr 2010.

  1. joseph2000

    joseph2000 What's a Dremel?

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    Hi, I'm gonna build a new computer soon (first build :cooldude: ), but have no idea as to what graphics card I should get tbh, I was thinking of GTS 250 or the GTX 260, I haven't yet ventured into ATI territory. Online I read one review which says GTS 250 can't play games well and then on youtube there are videos of the GTS 250 playing pretty good framerates and quality.

    The games I'll be playing are games like:

    >Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
    >Battlefield 2
    >Battlefield Bad Company 2
    >Battle for middle earth 2
    >Race Driver GRID

    etc etc...

    My monitor has native resolution 1440x900 and I'll probably be playing these games at 1280xsomething,though 1440x900 would be great. So my question is, is something like the GTX 260 an overkill?

    Also can you recommend some good ATI cards around this same price range (£100, hopefully less :) ). Is it worth fitting an aftermarket cooler? (e.g. Vortexx Neo) but I won't overclock it. Oh and also, does it matter if the cpu is intel or amd? (i.e. zero difference?)

    Till now I've been *gaming* with a HP desktop with Nvidia 8400gs which is really rubbish (but still played BF2 and Race Driver GRID allright), the GFX just died, now planning to replace whole system cause everything is just dying.

    ps don't think I didn't search, I searched a lot but still somewhat confused as to which ones are overkills and which ones have too little power

    Thanks
     
  2. SazBard

    SazBard 10 PRINT "C64 FTW"

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    I have a 8800gt and thats pretty similar to a gts250, It can't cope with new games at max details and aa/af. If you got your heart set on a gtx260 make sure you get the 216 core version, but if I were you i would get a 5770, probably a little faster, more efficient, less hotter, and cheaper than a 260.

    hth.
     
  3. MrGumby

    MrGumby CPC 464 User

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    Whats your other system specs? ie cpu amount of ram psu?
     
  4. joseph2000

    joseph2000 What's a Dremel?

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    Hi, thanks for the quick reply guys

    I haven't built it yet but I was thinking along this;

    >msi 770-c45 mobo
    >amd athlon II x2 240 (attempting mild overclock to ~3.1Ghz or something)
    >Corsair Dominator xms3 ddr3 2gb 1600Mhz
    >freezer 7 pro v2 cooler
    >corsair 400w psu

    is the psu wattage too small?
     
  5. MrGumby

    MrGumby CPC 464 User

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    You want a minimum of 4gb these days and games like BC2 are very cpu intensive. Set a budget and we (forum) members can help you make the most of your hard earned.
     
  6. joseph2000

    joseph2000 What's a Dremel?

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    well basically budget is as low as possible, but looking at £400ish to spend on these components:

    >OS- win7
    >mobo
    >ram
    >psu
    >gfx
    >case

    I have a good seagate 320gb hard drive, a new dvd drive which I recently bought and the old monitor which is allright (19" 1440x900) so I don't wanna get those parts.

    Thanks for the help :thumb:
     
  7. joseph2000

    joseph2000 What's a Dremel?

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    ps I haven't yet played BC2, was planning to after building this rig, but if its outta my reach, it doesn't matter, I just liked BF2 so wanted to try it out
     
  8. Synay

    Synay What's a Dremel?

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    You could go for 5750 or even better GTS 250, it will outperfor it because it's basically 9800 GTX. I have one of those for sale here, for a good price too. :thumb:
     
  9. mycopia

    mycopia What's a Dremel?

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    the psu wattage of 400-450 will be plenty as long as you get a decent manufacturer ie corsair, antec, seasonic, xfx and so on.

    to be frank you should check out the affordable all rounder in this months bt feature
    http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/buyers-guide/2010/04/13/pc-hardware-buyer-s-guide-april-2010/2

    as that stuff seems to hit your nail right on the head.

    any money you save with the parts you have put it toward the graphics card. if you want to go ati rather than nvidia try to locate a 4870 or even better a 4890.

    good luck
     
  10. MrGumby

    MrGumby CPC 464 User

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    Wow £400 is pretty low. I mean win7 retail is £80+. Decent case say antec 300 is £40ish then lets say a ati 5770 1gb is £120+. 4gb ddr3 is near the £100 mark. It doesnt leave much for a decent mobo and cpu plus a cpu cooler.
    Atm trying to build a decent gaming rig to last awhile plus OS your gonna need to look nearer £550.
    Im also of the the opinion that something ie cases and psus and monitors are worth spending a little more on, my reasoning being they cant often survive a build and be reused.
     
  11. Sh0cKeR

    Sh0cKeR a=2(s-ut)/t²

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    £500 is the minimum for a gaming rig if you plan on playing those games with a decent framerate.

    A recent budget build I did was:
    Phenom II X4 955
    Msi 770 C45
    2Gb Dominator 1600MHz
    Vertex3D HD 4890 ( A steal at 128 pounds off Scan )
    Corsair VX550w
    500gb Spinpoint F3 or 320Gb Spinpoint F1
    Antec 300
     
  12. joseph2000

    joseph2000 What's a Dremel?

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    lol, basically its like this; I don't really want much graphics power for what i play, the 8400gs wasn't even that bad for what i used it for, and even just one up woulda been great, how i have the possibility of a gtx 260 and gts 250 would be much better right? I'd be content with that, I'm not a serious gamer, well in a way I am but I don't wanna spend a lot cause I change interests quickly, this pc is more of an all rounder, for use by me and other family members too but yea its like £400 +/- 100 tops
     
  13. TheMusician

    TheMusician Audio/Tech Enthusiast/Historian

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    Budget is the main factor that determines what one should get. Otherwise, there is no budgetary goal so it's hard to help you choose what to get.
     
  14. joseph2000

    joseph2000 What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks a lot for that link mate, its helped
     
  15. nRollo

    nRollo NVIDIA Focus Group

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    The 5770 kind of a pooch due to low memory bandwidth. I'd nab a 4890, or better yet a 4850X2 before I'd get a 5770. Both cost a little more, but trust me, memory bandwidth is not where you want to be limited.
     
  16. barcode.uk

    barcode.uk What's a Dremel?

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    I just upgraded my 9800gt to a Radeon 4890 it cost around £140 and I have no regrets, great card.
     
  17. TheManicGibbon

    TheManicGibbon I have no idea what's going on

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    If you are only going to be gaming at 1280x1024, maybe consider a HD5670. I got mine for £80 off Amazon and it plays Dawn of War 2 on Ultra at about 50fps.

    The 5670 has the added benefit of not needing a PCI power connector from the PSU- it is powered solely from the mobo. The Sapphire ones have an Arctic Cooling cooler and run almost silently.
     
  18. mattbailey

    mattbailey What's a Dremel?

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    I did all my research and got a HD 5870 - just need to avoid the GSOD issues!
     
  19. Yslen

    Yslen Lord of the Twenty-Seventh Circle

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    At those resolutions I don't think you need to spend too much at all - a 4770 would do fine (my old one gave min 45fps in GRID on max w. 4xAA + 8xAF @1680x1050) but there don't seem to be any of those around any more. They were £75ish, but not in stock anywhere now.

    A 5770 will do fine, though it's more than you probably want to spend. It will do fine if you upgrade to a 1920x1080 monitor at some point in the future too, if you don't go to heavy on the AA/AF.
     
  20. zpikez

    zpikez mod-pirate

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    get a ati radeon hd4890 from scan the only game i play that i cant crank up to full settings is crysis theyre about £110

    or if u think thats overkill the 4870 is only 80ish pounds from scan thats almost as good
     

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