I need a new video card

Whappeh · September 5th, 2008, 6:57 PM

I'm really far out of the e-awesome computer building faze of my life, but I need a new video card to better enjoy Source Engine games. My current card, the 7900GT just isn't rendering TF2 fast enough, even on low. If you had to buy a new PCIE card today, what would it be?

Any and all help will be greeted as liberators, and will be given hugs and ++Reps.

Crazyjeeper · September 5th, 2008, 7:29 PM

8800GT. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133232
An excellent deal at 110 dollars.

ATI HD4850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102775
$180.

However, if you just want to render source games, the 8800GT will do the job just fine and at 110 dollars is a screaming deal.

sns2015 · September 5th, 2008, 7:52 PM

I've got the Asus silent/passive cooled Radeon 3650 and it renders out TF2 just fine. I can play it at the full 1920x1200 with the motion blur on (admittedly, not really with any anti-aliasing, but I never really liked AA to begin with).

Vette Boss · September 5th, 2008, 8:10 PM

ATI has been having quite a bit of trouble with Vista drivers, if you have that, it makes nVidia easier to choose. With the HD4850, the stock cooler is pretty noisy as the card heats up, as well.

For what you need, the 8800GT is certainly fine. Save the money and enjoy the performance. I do recommend getting one with the dual-slot cooler, it exhausts the heat from the card. This is a good one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130359

devil500 · September 5th, 2008, 9:06 PM

Vette I'm running VIsta with ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.8 with no problems honestly it depends on your budget.

Get a 4800 HD series card if you can spend a tad more.

8800GT is just getting old.

Vette Boss · September 5th, 2008, 9:15 PM

^ For his uses, the 8800GT is a good card. No sensible reason exists to spend more on the HD4850.

Whappeh · September 5th, 2008, 11:12 PM

Aye, I'm on XP and I pretty much only want it to play Source engine games.

awdrifter · September 6th, 2008, 12:17 AM

I love my HD4850, it can handle anything on the market right now at 1680x1050 (except Crysis). But Source engine games aren't that demanding, so the 8800GT should be good enough.

argatoga · September 6th, 2008, 12:57 AM

I bought an EVGA 8800GTS earlier this year as an upgrade to a 6800GT and have not regretted it. It is a great deal, and runs all the games I play well (although I mostly play strategy games and Source ones). The drivers work well with Vista 32bit. This probably isn't much of an issue for you, but it runs my hackintosh setup great as well. Again it isn't the latest and greatest but it is hardly a dog and should work well.

cvrefugee · September 6th, 2008, 3:38 AM

MSI R4850-512M Radeon HD 4850 - $164.99 after rebate. This one comes with a quad copper heatpipe cooler.

Viper007Bond · September 6th, 2008, 5:12 AM

+1 to 8800 GT -- it's cheap, powerful, and isn't ATi. images/smilies/lol.gif

I play TF2 (Source) at 1920x1200, 16xQ AA, 16x AF, ultra high everything else and I get 60-100 FPS.

Whappeh · September 6th, 2008, 5:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette Boss

For what you need, the 8800GT is certainly fine. Save the money and enjoy the performance. I do recommend getting one with the dual-slot cooler, it exhausts the heat from the card. This is a good one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130359

I ordered this exact card. images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanks for the help.

September 5th, 2008, 6:57 PM	#1
Whappeh Joined: Aug 21st, 2006 Last Online: 2:08 AM Location: Orlando, FL/Portland, ME Age: 23 Posts: 1,548 Car: 06 Impreza 2.5i Rep Power: 97	I need a new video card I'm really far out of the e-awesome computer building faze of my life, but I need a new video card to better enjoy Source Engine games. My current card, the 7900GT just isn't rendering TF2 fast enough, even on low. If you had to buy a new PCIE card today, what would it be? Any and all help will be greeted as liberators, and will be given hugs and ++Reps. __________________ Go White Sox! - Go Arsenal! Travel now, journey infinitely!

September 5th, 2008, 7:29 PM	#2
Crazyjeeper Joined: Nov 29th, 2006 Last Online: 2:08 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 20 Posts: 5,127 Car: 1985 Jeep CJ7, 1997 Ford F150 Rep Power: 164	8800GT. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133232 An excellent deal at 110 dollars. ATI HD4850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102775 $180. However, if you just want to render source games, the 8800GT will do the job just fine and at 110 dollars is a screaming deal. __________________

September 5th, 2008, 8:10 PM	#4
Vette Boss Joined: Nov 14th, 2004 Last Online: 2:09 AM Location: United States, Britain, in time Age: 23 Posts: 3,638 Car: 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Rep Power: 66	ATI has been having quite a bit of trouble with Vista drivers, if you have that, it makes nVidia easier to choose. With the HD4850, the stock cooler is pretty noisy as the card heats up, as well. For what you need, the 8800GT is certainly fine. Save the money and enjoy the performance. I do recommend getting one with the dual-slot cooler, it exhausts the heat from the card. This is a good one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130359 __________________ 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T. Das Auto

September 5th, 2008, 9:06 PM	#5
devil500 Joined: Aug 8th, 2007 Last Online: 1:17 AM Location: NYC for now, Penn State in 2010 Age: 17 Posts: 1,270 Car: I hate my w202.. Rep Power: 21	Vette I'm running VIsta with ATI Catalyst Drivers 8.8 with no problems honestly it depends on your budget. Get a 4800 HD series card if you can spend a tad more. 8800GT is just getting old. __________________ iRacing

September 5th, 2008, 9:15 PM	#6
Vette Boss Joined: Nov 14th, 2004 Last Online: 2:09 AM Location: United States, Britain, in time Age: 23 Posts: 3,638 Car: 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Rep Power: 66	^ For his uses, the 8800GT is a good card. No sensible reason exists to spend more on the HD4850. __________________ 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T. Das Auto

September 5th, 2008, 7:52 PM	#3
sns2015 Joined: May 22nd, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 72 Rep Power: 19	I've got the Asus silent/passive cooled Radeon 3650 and it renders out TF2 just fine. I can play it at the full 1920x1200 with the motion blur on (admittedly, not really with any anti-aliasing, but I never really liked AA to begin with).

September 5th, 2008, 11:12 PM	#7
Whappeh Joined: Aug 21st, 2006 Last Online: 2:08 AM Location: Orlando, FL/Portland, ME Age: 23 Posts: 1,548 Car: 06 Impreza 2.5i Rep Power: 97	Aye, I'm on XP and I pretty much only want it to play Source engine games. __________________ Go White Sox! - Go Arsenal! Travel now, journey infinitely!

September 6th, 2008, 12:17 AM	#8
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: 2:09 AM Posts: 1,956 Rep Power: 47	I love my HD4850, it can handle anything on the market right now at 1680x1050 (except Crysis). But Source engine games aren't that demanding, so the 8800GT should be good enough. __________________ TP

September 6th, 2008, 12:57 AM	#9
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 2:11 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	I bought an EVGA 8800GTS earlier this year as an upgrade to a 6800GT and have not regretted it. It is a great deal, and runs all the games I play well (although I mostly play strategy games and Source ones). The drivers work well with Vista 32bit. This probably isn't much of an issue for you, but it runs my hackintosh setup great as well. Again it isn't the latest and greatest but it is hardly a dog and should work well. __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

September 6th, 2008, 3:38 AM	#10
cvrefugee Joined: Aug 16th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Corona, CA Age: 29 Posts: 3,761 Car: 2005 Scion xB Rep Power: 86	MSI R4850-512M Radeon HD 4850 - $164.99 after rebate. This one comes with a quad copper heatpipe cooler.

September 6th, 2008, 5:12 AM	#11
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 25 Posts: 22,270 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 296	+1 to 8800 GT -- it's cheap, powerful, and isn't ATi. I play TF2 (Source) at 1920x1200, 16xQ AA, 16x AF, ultra high everything else and I get 60-100 FPS. __________________ There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

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