Video card + monitor quandary
Hi.
I'm currently using an 8800GT 512Mb and a Samsung 204bw display @ 1680 x 1050
My motherboard supports Crossfire (albeit not at full 16x) so I'm thinking about switching to an ATI card and then maybe picking up a second one in the future for cheap. I know people often say a single card is always better but I just really like the idea for some reason.
However I obviously don't want a video card setupt that is total overkill for my display resolution on everything but Crysis. So there are a few options I think. My girlfriend's PC has an HD4830 in it so she doesn't really need my 8800GT as a hand-me-down, in which case I'll just sell it. They seem to fetch about £65 on eBay.
Video cards
XFX HD4830 512MB -- £75, ebuyer
Palit HD4850 512MB -- £112, Scan
Gigabyte HD4870 1GB -- £155, OCUK
Powercolor HD4890 1GB -- £195, Novatech
Displays
Dell 2209wa (22" 1680 x 1050, IPS panel) -- £198, ebuyer
BenQ G2400WD (24" 1920 x 1200, TN panel) -- £225, ebuyer
Dell 2408wfp (24" 1920 x 1200, IPS panel) -- £430, ebuyer
Sooo...waddya think? Obviously buying a solitary HD4830 is going be basically no increase from what I have now, but it gives me options to Crossfire in the future. And at 1680 x 1050, two HD4830s should perform pretty well right? In terms of bang for buck, with prices the way they are now the 4830 seems better VFM than the 4850. Are HD4850 prices likely to come down soon do you think? They seem like they should be more like £95-100 or so really.
Hmm...so if I currently rule out the 4850 on the grounds of being slightly poor bang for buck compared to the cards either side of it, the options seem to be:
HD4830 and Dell 22" (no increase in resolution for me but a good increase in picture quality and small increase in size. Missus can have my 20" Samsung)
Total outlay about £270 now plus whatever a second card costs down the line (assumes selling 8800GT)
HD4830 and Dell 24" (but is two HD4830s enough juice at this resolution?)
Total outlay about £440now plus whatever a second card costs down the line (assumes selling 8800GT)
HD4870/4890 and BenQ 24" (with the beefier video cards no way can I afford the Dell 24" as well)
Total outlay about £315 (4870) or £355 (4890) now plus whatever a second card costs down the line (assumes selling 8800GT)
Hmm....decisions decisions. :/
Re: Video card + monitor quandary
why do you wanna rubbishrubbishrubbishrubbishrubbish alot of money on something that isn't an ugrade. Crossfire is daft from an economic perspective. Keep the 8800gt and wait to upgrade to a better card when you need it/ they are out.
Re: Video card + monitor quandary
Hmm, you're probably right. It's not going to be worth getting new displays right now.
However I'm not sure why Crossfire is not worth it economically? Right now you can get two HD4830s for a little less than a HD4870 1GB and they will outperform it. And in 6 months time a second-hand HD4830 will probably be like £50 on eBay.
I think I might just keep the display I have now but sell the 8800GT and buy an HD4830. At least then I have the option of getting a second one if I want to. Okay so until I got a second one I wouldn't see any real performance boost, but the outlay is virtually nothing so there's no reason not to do it really.
Re: Video card + monitor quandary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
foxrocks
Hmm, you're probably right. It's not going to be worth getting new displays right now.
However I'm not sure why Crossfire is not worth it economically? Right now you can get two HD4830s for a little less than a HD4870 1GB and they will outperform it. And in 6 months time a second-hand HD4830 will probably be like £50 on eBay.
I think I might just keep the display I have now but sell the 8800GT and buy an HD4830. At least then I have the option of getting a second one if I want to. Okay so until I got a second one I wouldn't see any real performance boost, but the outlay is virtually nothing so there's no reason not to do it really.
TBH the main reason to go for the 2408WFP would be for colour critical work TBH like photography. The Dell is an S-PVA display. Here is a review:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_2408wfp.htm
I have used this display at work at it very nice indeed.
If you want a better colour critical display get the HP LP2475W:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/hp_lp2475w.htm
This has an H-IPS LCD panel and costs around the same as the Dell.
Also you will need to calibrate the screen with something like a Spyder2:
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1012615
If you are not doing colour critical work perhaps a TN type LCD panel would be better.
Regarding the HD4830 it is a decent card and I have one myself. It is a good overclocker too!! The HD4830 is slightly faster than the 9800GT which is a rebadged 8800GT. I got my HD4830 for around £50 secondhand recently and use it with a 20" display too. TBH the crossfire upgrade maybe a good idea as long as you do not spend more than £100 to £110 on both cards TBH.
The HD4830 is going to be replaced by the slightly faster and lower power consumption RV740 GDDR5 next month though!! It should end eventually in the same price range as the HD4830.
If you are spending more then get a faster single card.
I would only upgrade if your card is not doing the job well even after overclocking.
Re: Video card + monitor quandary
Quote:
Originally Posted by
foxrocks
Hmm, you're probably right. It's not going to be worth getting new displays right now.
However I'm not sure why Crossfire is not worth it economically? Right now you can get two HD4830s for a little less than a HD4870 1GB and they will outperform it. And in 6 months time a second-hand HD4830 will probably be like £50 on eBay.
I think I might just keep the display I have now but sell the 8800GT and buy an HD4830. At least then I have the option of getting a second one if I want to. Okay so until I got a second one I wouldn't see any real performance boost, but the outlay is virtually nothing so there's no reason not to do it really.
yeah but 6 months down the line there will be card out that craps all over the 4830 in crossfire for about the same money.
Also 2 4830's perform the same as a 260 yet the 260 can be had for a 130 at the moment and it doesn't have the hassle of being crossfire.
Seems to me you are upgrading for the sake of upgrading but infact you aren't actually upgrading because you won't get the 2nd 4830 for six months. Keep your money (say the extra 30 used to buy a 4830 against selling the 8800gt) and add it to what you are going to put out on the 4830 in six months and put it towards a better kick ass single card then.
Re: Video card + monitor quandary
Thanks for your input guys.
You're probably right about me wanting to upgrade for the sake of it tbh! It might be because I'm building an i7 rig for a mate tomorrow and it's made me get a bit jealous so I have an itch to change...something!
