The list below is something I used to help decide what’s best to upgrade to and from & what combos are better for the money. Take it or leave it. It helps me a lot deciding if it’s worth upgrading. Hope this helps you. UK only for now. - Prices taken @ 15\04\09 EBAY GOING RATE - USED CARDS ONLY: Nvidia 8800 GTS 512MB (G92) - £50 8800 GTX - £80 9800 GTX+ - £90 8800 ULTRA - £100 GTX 260-216 - £130 9800 GX2 - £150 GTX 280 - £180 ATI 4830 - £60 3870 X2 1GB - £80 4850 512MB - £80 4870 512MB - £120 4850 X2 2GB - £180 4870 X2 2GB - £250 - Always risks buying an old used card off eBay. Be careful. NEW RETAIL: Nvidia GTS 250 - £100 GTX 260-216 - £150 GTX 275 - £200 GTX 285 - £290 ATI 4830 - £80 4850 512MB - £110 4870 512MB - £140 4890 1GB - £200 4850 X2 2GB - £250 - Based on the cheapest price at top online retail sites (UK). To be honest there really isn’t much in it for each combo – perhaps a £10-20 difference for the same performance (based on various reviews I’ve seen). Buying a used 9800 GX2 for example may seem like a bargain at £150 (incl. P&P) from eBay (which it can be), but there are various other options to consider. The cheapest rate right now (15\04\09) in the UK for a GTX 260-216 or a 4870 512MB is roughly around that mark (£140-150). All 3 cards offer the same performance overall – some better in some tests than others, but all the same price. The 9800GX2 just edges it, but paying £150 for a used old generation card when you could buy a new GTX 260-216 or 4870 for the same price supporting new technologies is better for the money. What you have to look at then is alternatives that are cheaper and bang for buck. A single 3870 X2 1GB is still a top card being able to hit around 110FPS on COD 4 W/ maxed details on a res of 1680x1050. That can be had off eBay for £80, as can a 8800 GTX with similar performance if not a bit slower. However, Quad Fire of the 3870 X2 1GB produces the same performance (roughly) as a single 9800 GX2 but at a cost of the same price which is no good if you’re trying to save a few dosh. What there is however is the G92 version of the 8800 GTS (512MB). 2 of these in SLI are effectively a 9800 GX2. It would cost approx £100 for 2 of them which is a bargain. If you’re not looking to go old skool and want something more modern, there is still ways to save on new cards and still have top performance. For example, a brand new GTX 285 costs in the region of £290-300. However, taking a trip over to eBay – you can buy a used 4850 X2 2GB for approx £180. One of these bad boys is faster than a single GTX 285 and would save you a whopping £100. On the other hand, a used 4870 X2 2GB can be had used for roughly £250 which is still a good saving. Buying a used GTX 260-216 or 4870 off eBay isn’t really worth it when they can be had brand new for an extra £10-20. Other good savings include a used GTX 280 for £180, though buying a used 4850 X2 2GB that’s better than its bigger brother (GTX 285) for the same price is a better option and more bang for buck. Moreover, it is £20 cheaper than the new GTX 275 & 4890 1GB (£200) and performs better. Lastly, you can buy 2 4850 512MB and CF then for approx £150 and have great performance that is better than a single GTX 280. For those, who don’t need all this graphics performance, a used 4830 can be had for the same price as a brand new 4670 - £60. Crossfire can be an option for £120 for better performance than a 4870 1GB, or you could buy a single GTS 250 for £100 which is more than enough for most people & a great price. Anyways, I hope this can be of any use to someone else as it has helped me quite a bit. Check a lot of reviews for more details.
You are better off buying new cards. It's easy for an idiot to microwave a video card to annoy you and **** it to you. I have no trust at eBay. SLI/Crossfire only shows itself on supported games, and they are not many, I think it's not worth it. I think for you a Geforce GTX 260 is the best choice. Sorry, your post looked like SPAM at first shot, sorry bit-tech and you for reporting a fine post. Every now and then, such thing appear here. I guess you eventually report a good post. :/
Yea, eBay is always a worry now and then, but i've never had a problem with things i've bought off there - PC related. I have a GTS 250 which is just what i needed right now for a 19". Plus i only play COD 5. Ha, no worries mate. The post is just for other people to get an idea (if there lost about GFX cards) of what is out there for the money.
