What after a 8800GT?

[Swimaf]

Hello everybody,

Even though I am pretty glad of my GPU I just cannot continue to think that I have any chance to run all the new games that are becoming available with a 2 and half years old 8800GT, don't you agree?
Today I manage to run Crysis and Battlefield in high/ultra high and get between 20 and 40fps (avg = ~28fps). Although AvP runs as well and almost every games I have which are not old at all (85°C is not dangerous for a graphic card, forget what you have learned since today). But (there's always a 'but') good times is finished and Metro2033 has just killed my poor video card with a headshot saying "I got you this time!" ... It made me come to the conclusion that I had to change the GPU as quickly as possible.

(end of the introduction)

Now I will do it in speed mode:

PSU: only 450W (but quality hardware), don't want to change if possible
Usefulness: no hardcore gaming, just amusement and to make ALL the newest softs running with at least 30fps.
Money: that's the main problem in fact... The student standard of living is pretty low, every-one knows it! < 150€ (~210$ I think).

Heard about 5770, 5850 (!), 5870 (!) and GTX260, 275 (!), 280 (!) also read many threads (included on this forum) but I would like to find THE agreement between price and quality.
Wheither O/C is possible to get better performance I say +1000 (it's always a pleasure for me ^^).
Dx10 ~ Dx11, just don't care of a ridiculous difference in the 2541th pixel 150m behind me (joke inside).
I can barely wait but if you tell me that Nvidia is gonna release the best middle-end card ever for 150€ in 3 months I say YES!

That's all folks! A big thanks to any helper

 

[ThePizzaMan]

hm... you could either shoot for ati or wait for nvidia

 

[Lordbob75]

You could probably go for a 250, they are down to like 100 or so I believe.
I just bought a 260GTX for 200 and am quite happy with it.

The 5770 would be a solid card, providing their drivers work.

~Lordbob

 

[Swimaf]

The problem with the 5770 is that it is a 128 bits video card whereas my 8800GT is a 256 bits, so what's wrong with it?
Also heard that the GT240 is a simple 8800GT O/C so I fear the GTS250, which is its little son, won't worth the cost (120€ in France) in 6 months because of all the new games based on the Metro2033 graphic engine, cryengine 2.5/3.0, etc.
So these two GPU are the only ones I can get for that price, aren't they?

 

[MadMaxData]

I'm running the 8800GT on the PC I'm posting with right now [check my specs]. I've never had a single issue with it. Are you sure you have the most recent drivers? Mine are Feb, 2010.

 

[Swimaf]

As I said I have strictly no problem with it but to be skeptical about the future performance.
Of course I have always the latest drivers for my GPU (Win7 installs it by its own).

You just cannot tell me that you manage to run Crysis with all effects enabled in ultra high at an average of 40 or even 30fps with your 8800GT, if so I eat my hat!
What I mean is that today there is no chance for us to run correctly the newest games, that's for sure.

The question is: what after? The answer is far from being obvious, should I wait and see the Dx11 Nvidia next GPU or purchase tomorrow a 5770 or GTS250? It is kind of a 'cornellian problematic' isn't it?

 

[MadMaxData]

Of course I have always the latest drivers for my GPU (Win7 installs it by its own).

I get mine from NVIDIA automatic update, not Microsoft. It includes chipset drivers, and the whole 9 yards.

As for the future, that's up to you.

 

[thefabe]

These threads always get crazy but for 200.00 US the gtx 260 isn't a bad choice. Although not future proof. fabe

 

[RST101]

As I said I have strictly no problem with it but to be skeptical about the future performance.
Of course I have always the latest drivers for my GPU (Win7 installs it by its own).

You just cannot tell me that you manage to run Crysis with all effects enabled in ultra high at an average of 40 or even 30fps with your 8800GT, if so I eat my hat!
What I mean is that today there is no chance for us to run correctly the newest games, that's for sure.

The question is: what after? The answer is far from being obvious, should I wait and see the Dx11 Nvidia next GPU or purchase tomorrow a 5770 or GTS250? It is kind of a 'cornellian problematic' isn't it?

Crysis and GTA IV brings every card to their knees. There still isn't a card out there that can comfortably run the said two maxed out.

According to these bench results no card gets 40 fps.

Even multi GPUs stuggle.

Benches

 

[Swimaf]

These threads always get crazy but for 200.00 US the gtx 260 isn't a bad choice. Although not future proof. fabe

Anyone to purchase a GTX260 (+ a 8000W PSU btw) in the USA and send it to me by plane?
In France the average price of a GTX260 is closer to 200€ than 150€, moreover looks like this GPU has to be very very well built in order to run at a 'normal' heat level when in overload mode, that means adding a good fan or buy a too much expensive version of it which, in any case, won't work with a 450W PSU.

Crysis and GTA IV brings every card to their knees. There still isn't a card out there that can comfortably run the said two maxed out.

According to these bench results no card gets 40 fps.

Even multi GPUs stuggle.

Benches

I am quite shocked of what I have seen through this link, please give me a minute :shock: Without any AA do these cards multiply by 2 the number of FPS? If they don't I keep my 8800GT for the rest of my life!

 

[ThePizzaMan]

As I said I have strictly no problem with it but to be skeptical about the future performance.
Of course I have always the latest drivers for my GPU (Win7 installs it by its own).

You just cannot tell me that you manage to run Crysis with all effects enabled in ultra high at an average of 40 or even 30fps with your 8800GT, if so I eat my hat!
What I mean is that today there is no chance for us to run correctly the newest games, that's for sure.

The question is: what after? The answer is far from being obvious, should I wait and see the Dx11 Nvidia next GPU or purchase tomorrow a 5770 or GTS250? It is kind of a 'cornellian problematic' isn't it?

Crysis and GTA IV brings every card to their knees. There still isn't a card out there that can comfortably run the said two maxed out.

According to these bench results no card gets 40 fps.

Even multi GPUs stuggle.

Benches

5970 does
Benchmark Results: Crysis : ATI Radeon HD 5970 2GB: The World's Fastest Graphics Card

 

[Swimaf]

5970 is a GPU that comes from another planet, made by some green aliens which play to Crysis with 4D gaming glasses on a 440" full HD² screen :shock:

However the cost of such a device does not come from the sky...

Anyway, I will wait and see for the next GT300 Nvidia video cards, hope they won't disappoint me.
Oh, btw Just Cause 2 runs like a charm with my 8800GT (some useless effects disabled), who says it was dead?

 

[RST101]

8800s and the like are far from dead! As I have stated many times software is only just catching up with the hardware from 2 years ago.

I'm going to wait till the new fermi cards have been on the shelves for at least twelve months then see what the prices are like then.

You got a while longer with that card yet.

 

[Swimaf]

You got a while longer with that card yet.

I'm so glad to read this sentence you know! However I have to forget Metro2033... I cannot play to any game in Low or medium graphic settings, it's just out of my mind.

I'm waiting for the next tests using this game for benchmarking, then we'll see the true performance of the newest GPU

 

[middydj]

I had been running 8800GT SLI for almost 2 years and was running fine till some weird things happened I no longer able to run the cards in SLI even though the cards work fine alone. So I decided too just move up too a GTX260. I was able to buy a pre owned for $137.00

I would not have did so had my cards continued to work for they played all the games I play just fine. Kind of sad.

 

[Swimaf]

I had been running 8800GT SLI for almost 2 years and was running fine till some weird things happened I no longer able to run the cards in SLI even though the cards work fine alone. So I decided too just move up too a GTX260. I was able to buy a pre owned for $137.00

I would not have did so had my cards continued to work for they played all the games I play just fine. Kind of sad.

I remember that the 8800GT SLI was known to be a powerful and very interesting double-GPU configuration, however I have not the mobo for such a process, pity.

Btw could you give me the name of the web site where you found your GTX260 for a so little amount of money? I'd like to have a look on it 'cause $137.00 sounds more than seductive to me