Not sure which way to go

[XstollieX]

currently running a 9800 gtx XXX. I am going to be getting about 600 buck for some stuff i sold and thinking about upgrading. Should I get a second 9800 (or 2 for a trip sli config), a gtx 260 (possibly 2 if i can get some more bucks), or a solo gtx 280. Looking for opinions because i cant decide. Going with trip 9800's or 280 will more than likely need to get a new psu.

Thanks for all opinions.

[top]

It all depends on what games you're playing atm... If you're playing older games(maybe +2/3 years old), triple sli 9800GTX's or the dual 260's would be nice. But if you plan on playing the latest games, then the 280. I would say to just wait and see who is gonna win this new battle between Nvidia and ATI but you've already made an investment. Reason being because IMO the 9800 is not much better than the 8800.

[vbironchef]

I think you should wait on a new graphic card. Your 9800 gtx XXX is still very new. I think you are just wasteing your money. Just wait a couple of months, you know the prices are dropping fast.

[DaddyRabbit]

If I were in the same situation (which I'm not ) I would have three choices:

1) Sit on the money and wait, the 9800 is a good card and the "new battle" has just been engaged between AMD/ATI and Nvidia so over the next couple of months price for performance is gonna' be all over the place. With the release of the 4870 and announcement of the 4870X2 Nvidia already massively butchered prices on the 260/280 and the 280X2 is coming out soon. Also your monitor size isn't stated, unless you are gaming at high resolutions like 1920x1200 + your card should be great for most of todays games maxed out.

2) If the "upgrade itch" is intolerable (been there, done that, have a closet full of T-Shirts) upgrade something else. First thing I would look at is upgrading the Q6600 to a Q9550, or upgrade to a Q9450 AND upgrade the PSU in preparation for future upgrades or upgrade to a 9450 and squeeze in a 24" monitor... The combos are many as there's a lot of upgrading you can do with $600.

3) If you are stuck on a GPU right now, even though I really like my 4870, the GTX280 is probably your best bet since you have a 780i board, and with the recent panic price drops from Nvidia, you can probably still upgrade that PSU as well .

[vbironchef]

DaddyRabbit , Great post! I would wait.

[XstollieX]

Right now i am running a 17" vx724 monitor. I am planning to upgrade to a larger 22-24 in the future. I suppose i could sit on the cash until i can do that. I just have that upgrade itch. Would the q9450 be much of an upgrade? I had my q6600 @ 3.2 how well does the 9450 oc?

[martini161]

not much of an upgrade, the only real benifit your getting is less heat cause of 45nm

[DaddyRabbit]

I am asking the same question with respect to CPU upgrades, I'm wondering what I could get for ~$300 that would be noticeably better than what I have. I just don't think that right now, given my rig, that I would get any real payback for my money. I would wait a bit and see what comes in the next few months.

A CPU upgrade might not buy much but at 17" resolutions a GPU upgrade will buy you nothing. To "scratch the itch" I would go with a monitor upgrade (22" or 24") and put the cash aside. Your current card in current games will serve you quite nicely until you can add a bit to that cash and upgrade the GPU in a few months when $500 cards are $300. On a side note, while my 4870 was a good upgrade I already had a 24" and my 8800GT did a pretty good job on the 24" but, honestly, of the latest two upgrades (24" monitor and the HD4870) the monitor gave me the best enjoyment.

My two pennies

[smack323]

I would undoubtedly upgrade the monitor.. right now on newegg.com you can get a 22' monitor for under $200 shipping included. or a 24' for $340 shippin included. This will leave you with enough cash left over to upgrade your card a few months down the road once the prices drop more. the wow factor from going from a 17 to a 22' will be worth it alone..

[XstollieX]

I would undoubtedly upgrade the monitor.. right now on newegg.com you can get a 22' monitor for under $200 shipping included. or a 24' for $340 shippin included. This will leave you with enough cash left over to upgrade your card a few months down the road once the prices drop more. the wow factor from going from a 17 to a 22' will be worth it alone..

I agree, I would love to go to a larger monitor but explaining that to the wife is a bit difficult. She doesn't know how much I am getting for the parts i sold. I can put stuff into the comp because she cant see it. External stuff is a bit more difficult. I was gaming on a 24" the other night and it was great.

[smack323]

I can put stuff into the comp because she cant see it. External stuff is a bit more difficult..

OMG i laughed out loud when i read that- i know EXACTLY what you are saying. I snuck my 22" monitor in one day after work- bout three months go by ~ then i get "so you bought a new monitor huh?" I was like whatever are you talking about - that old thing

well if thats the case i suggest you take the $600 and make yourself and a stripper happy next time spending $200 on a monitor wont seem so bad to her..

[vbironchef]

smack323 that is the funniest thing I heard all day

[DaddyRabbit]

smack323 that is the funniest thing I heard all day

Yeah funny, but VERY dangerous!

Whoever said "It's better to beg forgivness than ask permission" never met my Wife (oh well the swelling will eventually go down and makeup will cover the bruises ).

My, less fatal, recommendation would be to buy a monitor (nice 22" or decent 24") take the Wife to dinner or buy her flowers or something and tell her "See honey, I saved enough money to get you something!" Then bank the rest for the "stealth" GPU upgrade. At NO stage in this will you have lied and, in some cases, omission is not deciept. If she asked just how much you made though; well you're on your own there buddy!

[XstollieX]

most of my rig was bought this way. Did some machine work for my dad which payed for most of my rig. Only because he could only pay me with stuff he could right off . It has been a fun time trying to explain the armor case. If she finds out though

[stereo55]

Definitly upgrade your monitor first (22"-24") . You have a very good card with that 9800GTX and your really not putting it to the best of use with using a lower-end resolution . Spend $300-$400 on a nice 22"-24" (i say go 24") and you will still have enough for a second 9800GTX (even at current pricing @ about $200) .

A nice 24" lcd and a pair of 9800GTX/Sli will do nicely for quite some time and should run everything you throw at at with ease . Gaming will take on a whole new aspect and be alot more enjoyable .

[aircommando13]

yea just remember that the longer you wait, the better graphics card you can get for your money. The 55nm revisions will come out soon, then not long after that nvidia will announce a GTX 300 series, and history repeats itself. waiting is better, yet we want to get things as soon as possible, its human nature. You have a very good gpu, id go with the monitor and take a break from this gpu madness.

btw if you ever go to France, I'm warning you keyboards are a nightmare!

[top]

yea just remember that the longer you wait, the better graphics card you can get for your money. The 55nm revisions will come out soon, then not long after that nvidia will announce a GTX 300 series, and history repeats itself. waiting is better, yet we want to get things as soon as possible, its human nature. You have a very good gpu, id go with the monitor and take a break from this gpu madness.

+1

About every other series or so of video cards are no better than the previous, if not worse. IMO, the GeForce 5 series was a total waste of money. I don't remember anyone saying any good things about a particular model from that series. And from what I've been reading about the 9 series and their benches, the series follows a similar path. Now the 200 series may be the better card, but it's best to look for a card that can get at least a 30% increase in performance in any game or bench. Or in other words, I was not too completely satisfied with the 200's series benches.

Wait for the card that everyone is talking about(Like they did with the 8800GTX) and go for that one!