Advice on GFX and monitor upgrade

[Million]

Hi all,
I think with my birthday and christmas comin up, it's time to consider some upgrades. Current specs are on the left <<<
I am thinking about going for a 24 inch monitor, and a new graphics card to keep up. I already have a Q6600 to put in. So, what graphics card would people recommend? Just so you know I will be watercooling it. My usual way is to stay one step behind current tech to save costs, so I will be looking to get a bargain, possibly second hand.
And just as an aside, anyone know what I might get for my 20" samsung 205BW monitor?
Thanks!

[Webby]

Going to need a budget, also the current crop of high end graphics cards really do wipe the floor with the last generation cards so you may be better served getting a new card rather than a top of the line last generation second hand (especially in terms of ATi).

24" monitor will have a resolution of 1920*1200 for that I think you will realistically need a HD4850, 9800GTX+ or better graphics card, what to get will really depend on the budget. See this post for a lit of current cards and the pricing http://forums.hexus.net/graphics-car...ml#post1559403

If you really want to get a last generation second hand card the only ones worth looking at will be the 8800GTS 512MB, 8800GTX and 8800 Ultra and they will only be worth getting if they are bargain priced.

[Pob255]

It's a bit had to say which generation are which with the nvidia cards
both the 8800gt and the 8800gts 512mb are basically 9 series not 8
they basically rushed them out to fight off the threat from the ati 3870 & 3850 cards

I'd agree with webby that you should seriously look at the current generation esp the ATi 4850 & 4870 they are exreamly good performance vs price

the 9800GTX+ and even the 9800gt are still good cards at a low cost.

as to 24", it is a step up in resolution so there is a performance hit with it, if you can I'd look at the card first then consider selling and upgradeing the monitor.

[Million]

The reason I didn't give a budget is that I really don't know what i'm looking at at the mo for prices - let's say sub £150 as a ballpark figure - is that reasonable? What's the kind of price gap between new and last gen GFX then?

Also, what's a bargain price for one of the 8800s, just so I can consider it?

Thanks very much for the advice

[DaveVader]

With that budget I would easily go for the 4850, possibly the 1GB version, don't know how much that is though.
You don't even have to spend &#163;120 on a 4850, and watercooling it means you can overclock it pretty well.

[Million]

Ah awesome, so I think i'm contemplating the HD4850. Because i'm going to watercool it, I don't care how cheap and nasty the cooler is, so if by going for one with a shiite cooler, can I save some pennies?

[Webby]

The Palit version on Scan is &#163;102 (if they have any stock) although some people are reporting errors with the cards but this could just be because more people have bought them because of the price (also Scan is a popular retailer on Hexus so a cheap item from them may see a larger than average failure rate on these forums due to the number sold to members)

The only thing with that card is that it is not a reference standard design PCB so full cover water blocks will not fit. GPU blocks like the Swiftech MCW60 and Dtek Fuzion GPU will fit no problem though.

For playing at 1920*1200 I would be tempted to getting a 1GB model the extra memory can only help at that resolution, that would push the price up to ~&#163;130 though.

As for second hand prices you would have to be getting a 8800 GTS 512 for &#163;60, a GTX for &#163;80 and an Ultra for &#163;90 for them to be even starting to look like worthwhile investments. Personally a new card is for me the way to go.