PCIe graphics cards

[Dave]

Okay I just excitedly bought Bioshock 2 only to discover the graphics are completely corrupted so I can't play it. I have the same problem now with Dead Space. Messed around with drivers and such like but to no avail. My gfx card was always a weak link in my PC (Radeon X1650) so I think it's time to get a better one. Any suggestions for a good top-end budget or mid-range card? Having looked around on the net? ATi seem to be back on top of their game at the moment, after being behind nVidia for a time.

[Rus-Evo]

The new cards all seem fantastic and very capable, whether they be ATi or Nvidia (in fact even my old cheap 9600GT can play every game quite well, so imagine how great these new cards are).

I think what you need to keep an eye on is power consumption/connectors.

If memory serves, the computer magazines have been touting the 4950 recently. But there are many versions of this from different manufacturers.

[Dave]

Thanks Rus. Is the 4950 an ATi? Can't find much info on it.

[Schumacat]

I think ATi is the way to go now. After AMD bought them, they have been doing really good. Nvidia cards recently have been plagued with failures.

[Dave]

That's what I have been reading too, Schuma.

[WebHead]

At the moment, I have heard that the latest ATI Radeon is far superior, etc. And well priced too!

However, I do believe in product loyalty. I have used Nvidia for so many years now, and they have never failed me, always perform reliably. It's quite impressive really.

So I will probably wait until Nvidia are on top again, these things usually go in cycles.

[Rus-Evo]

Hmmmm I thought 4950s were out but I dont see much info....yet 4850's seem really cheap. Im missing something in the middle.

Im with Nvidia partly because I understand what the numbers mean (except this recent dumb trend to call things GTS 250 instead of keeping the perfectly goos existing numbering system!!)

[Rus-Evo]

You had the 8800 GTX didnt you Webhead?

[Dave]

So how does the 4850 compare with my old x1650?

[WebHead]

You had the 8800 GTX didnt you Webhead?

Yeh, still got it. But it's been three years, I still have the same machine, my bottleneck is the processor. So I will probably upgrade everything at the same time, hopefully next year when I have more money.

ATI are having problems at the moment with production, so there has been some kind of strange shortage of supply we don't usually see with graphics cards.

[Rus-Evo]

Guess what Webhead. My mate has a 8800 GTX and we recently ran side by side 3D mark tests and my cheap economical 9600 GT unit beat him marginally

He also had twice as much RAM, but I had the processor advantage.

But its cool how his card which is 3 years old shows no signs of no longer being up for the job.....I think thats pretty impressive (though when he got it, it cost a zillion bucks).

[Rus-Evo]

So how does the 4850 compare with my old x1650?

Well this linky gives a vs review of the 4850
http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/features/131913.20080625.Shootout-HD-4850-vs-GTX-280/

Also both cards are on this comparison table
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/131

[Rus-Evo]

This too. It doesnt have your current card (I think your card isnt strong enough to make the list!!)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/HD_4850/10.html

[Dave]

Thanks.

So the 4850 is a substantial step up. Will go have a look this weekend!

[Rus-Evo]

Thanks.

So the 4850 is a substantial step up. Will go have a look this weekend!

I think every coupla years they like double in power or such

[WebHead]

Guess what Webhead. My mate has a 8800 GTX and we recently ran side by side 3D mark tests and my cheap economical 9600 GT unit beat him marginally

He also had twice as much RAM, but I had the processor advantage.

But its cool how his card which is 3 years old shows no signs of no longer being up for the job.....I think thats pretty impressive (though when he got it, it cost a zillion bucks).

Yeh, but remember the benchmark is for the whole PC, so your superior processor might have skewed the results? The 9 series and 8 series were really a technological side step to be honest, not a big leap like the 200 series or the current Radeon. Also, extra ram is useless on 32bit OS beyond 3 gigs, and pretty near useless beyond 2 gigs. So that advantage is nullified.

[Rus-Evo]

We are both on Vista 64 bit ultimate

[Rus-Evo]

Also the 9600GT in my main PC is 80% faster than the 8600 GT in the media PC. Though the 8600GT scores points for needed no power connectors and having no noisy fan.

[WebHead]

Yet somehow at the end of the day, Mass Effect 2 runs wonderfully on inferior Xbox360 hardware but you need a decent PC to run at reasonable frame rate. Time for you to go buy a console Rus.

[Rus-Evo]

Pfffft.

Will a console:
Be a high def television and PVR?
Play PC games?
Run two monitors?
LAN with my mates PCs?
Run the internet as well as my PC does (internet TV, opera browsing, flash games, forums etc)
Easily upgrade storage?
Be used as a business style machine?
Run blu ray?
Connect to my 5.1 amp via optical?
Decode Pay TV (not that I would)
Torrent stuff (not that I would)

I know it can do some of that stuff but can it do ALL of that stuff? And as PC tech rolls on the consoles will just look weaker and weaker.

Besides now that I have it up and running, the upgrades every now and then arent oppresive in cost.

Im not a console man right now!!!

I feel like Ive had this conversation before somehow.

[Schumacat]

I feel like Ive had this conversation before somehow.

Only like a 100 times i guess . For years people have been trying to move you to consoles .

[WebHead]

How much have you spent on your PC? And how much will a new XBOX360, or even a PS3, cost you now?

ON PS3

Be a high def television and PVR? Yes, if you buy PlayTV accessory, that is like buying a HD tuner card for your PC.
Play PC games? Duh... Can a PC play PS3 games?
Run two monitors? Probably, I've seen it somewhere on the net
LAN with my mates PCs? No. Can your PC do split-screen multiplayer?
Run the internet as well as my PC does No. But it does have a web browser, I tried it the other day. 9 out of 10 sites work. Interesting, this forum does not work.
Easily upgrade storage? PS3 comes with instructions, and it doesn't void warranty. Uses a standard laptop drive at 5200rpm. You can install 500Gb these days for just over $100.
Be used as a business style machine? No. I'm not suggesting you trade your PC in for this console Rus.
Run blu ray? Brilliantly, with consistent firmware updates.

I just feel there is enough room in life for both a PC and a console, trust me, its worth it. Don't limit yourself to one medium.

[Schumacat]

LAN with my mates PCs? No. Can your PC do split-screen multiplayer?

Isn't this dependant on the game? Ive seen a few games that have this feature on the PC.
I think Rus's point is that a PC can do everything that the console can do and more, whereas, you still need to have a PC in addition to a console. I guess it makes no sense for Rus since he already has a more than decent PC. But people who have a weak PC might look to get a console instead of upgrading the PC.

[Rus-Evo]

The Schumacat is right I think.

[Dave]

Okay just bought an HD5670...

My God what a difference. Just loaded the new Stalker and it's sooooooooooooo smooth. Loaded the first Stalker just to see how it played compared with my old card. Banged the settings up to max and it was STILL a million times smoother. Most pleased!