So right now i'm looking for a new graphics card. I've been out of the computer modding game since 2008 and I haven't been keeping an update of what is good anymore.

Right now my basic specs are:

2.40GHz Quad Core
3.0GB RAM
nForce 650i SLI motherboard
ASUS EN8600GTS fanless silent cool 512MB Graphics. (I was also thinking of SLi-ing this card, would it be enough?)


I'm looking for a card that can handle Black Ops for about $200. As of now I lag enough that I cant perform my best, I set the textures to low, turned of shadows/bullets and anti-aliasing. I'm also playing in 1024x768.

Suggest me a new card!

 

You can probably find a 1gb gtx460 right now for under 200. The amd 6850 seems to be a little better than the stock gtx460, and should sit right at 200 as well.

I don't know if a 8600 gts in sli will be a worth your time. From the benchmarks I remember seeing it pretty much puts it on par with a 8800gts.

 

woww first off you need a higher resolution! or there's really no point to getting a better card

and there is zero point in SLI-ing with your 8600, I know it seems like well why not right? but it'll actually hurt you in any potential graphics games because it'll just throttle whatever clock cycles above what it is capable of that your new card can do. (does that make sense?)

I'd say if you absolutely HAVE to stick with nvidia (I'm an ati guy myself) then get a gtx 460 and MAKE SURE IT IS THE FERMI ARCHITECTURE. cannot stress that enough.

if you could stomach something around 220$, then i'd say go with the Sapphire 5850HD (ati) I have that card (upgraded from a 5770) and it is amazing. I actually ended up cross firing the two (they have the same clock speed and etc.) because I needed more low end (shaders and dx11 specific elements) and I couldn't be happier with the results.

also make sure that you have a power supply to match!

 

A 650 watt power supply should be sufficient if you do crossfire two cards together.

 

I agree with the 460 and while your at it how about throw in another gig or 2 of ram for your system.

 

thanks for all of your help guys! I ended up getting the evga gts460 for $180.

 

good choice!

seriously though, more ram and resolution. you'll thank me some day.

 

More ram is impossible with XP. I'm too lazy to upgrade and re-install everything.

 

You can go with XP PRO x64?

 

reinstall stuff? You just take out the current ram sticks and put in new ones! If you have 2 slots, then 2 x 2.0GB's, if you have four, leave your 2 highest ones in there and add 2 more! More ram is always better!

 

I am guessing the reason he mentioned reinstalling stuff is due to the memory limitations with XP x86. The maximum memory a 32-bit OS can address is 3.25 GB in some cases it can be up to 3.75 GB.

So, if he has 3.0 GB of ram and a graphics card which probably has 256mb to 512mb of memory. He is at or beyond the limit of his operating system.

 

I meant if i installed a different OS. I know ram is one of the easiest things to put in

Dont really like vista or 7.

Oh i didnt know that! I can sneak in an extra 256 or 512 gb stick, I have 1 slot left.

 

You really need to upgrade because you probably won't be able to use some of those newer video cards due to directx, I don't know for sure but some games/videos don't run on xp as far as I know.


Just get windows 7 Home premium 64bit, put 8gb in the Mobo and call it a day.