Buying a new video card

[David J.]

Yeah, I'm looking at getting a new video card. Look at my sig for my specs, but damn... what should I buy? Keep in mind my PSU only has 1x PCI-E six pin connector, and is 500W.

I was looking at that dual slot XFX HD 4770, but a 512MB HD 4850 from XFX is the same price. I had beef with nVidia, but I'm willing to give them a second chance, but seeing that the newer cards from nVidia and ATi are coming out soon, this is a touch decision!

I like the fact that the ATi cards have onboard sound via HDMI, but I'm getting a sound card too, and I don't mind the nVidia spdif connector (the soundcard I'm getting has the front pannel connector and the spdif connection, so if I get a nvidia card, I can get HDMI sound)

But damn... this is tough. the highest I plan on playing is 1280x1024 anyway, hmm... tough decision!

EDIT: Bought the XFX HD4770 dual slot card. Was going to get a HD4850, but the performance difference wasn't that significant, it was not as long, uses less power. Sucks it is the same price, but you win some you loose some.

[nathanallan]

ATI cards have never worked out for me, so I'd be interested in a success story, hearing if it works for you.

[Rusty Venture]

I don't any of the computers I've ever used had an ATI card in them.

My Win 98 machine did briefly, but I needed a VooDoo card.

[MN12BIRD]

I was going to say get an HD4770 but looks like you already did! Enjoy. It was the first ever 40nm GPU and the cheapest card to use DDR5. Like you said it's very energy efficient! Lots of performance from little power. Nice because you don't need a big PSU and of course it runs much cooler than all the bigger cards. In fact I've heard that overclocked it will hang with the 4850 while still running cooler at the same time! Perfect mid-range card. Actually the best mid-ranged card IMHO.

ATI cards have never worked out for me, so I'd be interested in a success story, hearing if it works for you.

They have had many problems in the past but since being bought out by AMD a few years ago they have improved both in performance and in driver support. My 4870 has been great. Runs every game I've thrown at it on highest settings with no strange errors or issues of any type at all. They are worth a second look.

[David J.]

I'm running a HD4670, but I know I could do better, so I bought a new card.

My silverstone case sucks for wiring so I tried to make it better, but no dice.

[Youngie]

Maybe a 1gb 4870. I have one and it's great.

[David J.]

I don't have the room in the case and the PSU is limited. Plus I dont play a shitlod of games.

[MN12BIRD]

Your PSU could handle a 4870 but there wouldn't be much overhead. I've ran a 1GB 4870 on the same PSU you have. But I know your case won't fit it and its not nice to push your PSU so close to its limit. I mean yeah it works but I like having some overhead too.

Anyway the 4770 is a much better card for you! In fact if I had to buy a new video card right now I think it would be the 4770 also. I have a 4870 only because I got a killer deal on it that I couldn't pass up!

[David J.]

I wonder if I'll be able to push a SSD drive in and still have some overhead? I have two hdd's and I'd like a SSD for windows.