last minute questions before i buy...

uglyjohn

Basically at this stage i have decided to go for a hd 3850 or HD 3870. i would really appreciate some last minute advice.

The reason im not going for a nvidea card is money and power, i have the money but i dont want to blow a load on a high end card. in terms of power im not really bothered changing the psu that came with the pc (dimension 9150).

I have heard that it can handle the 3850, what about the 3870? does it use much more power?

next question...is there any material difference between all the different brands of cards?
i dont really feel like paying extra for some crappy game ill never play.

i was going to go for one of these :

http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4XMS&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=3870&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=342330

any advice?

Catsmokinpot

I'm a bit of an ATI fanboy i Bought a radeon x1950pro from HIS and it started resetting itself, I've finally reached the end of my tether with it and just ordered the MSI version of the HD 3870 today,

https://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=343521

As far as I can see for a little bit extra you don't get a whole lot more. I think the only difference is the clock speed and ram in the 3870 is a small bit better, But I'm gonna get the 3870 because its only a few quid extra and I got money to burn.

I'm willing to give ATI another chance. Any other ATI Card I've had before the x1950 has been brilliant, i was so disappointed and felt robbed. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one,

The value for money with ATI is really good, but if this one fails, ATI is never getting a penny from me ever again.

uglyjohn

thanks, i would like to go for the 3870 but do you have any idea about the power? i dont want to spend €200 and then find i cant use the damn thing!

TerrorFirmer

The X1950Pro was a savage card, sorry to hear you had a bad experience but you can't decide never to use Ati again based on one fail! I've had plenty of both brands fail, it just happens. when you say the card kept resetting itself, that could be anything other then the card - driver problem, overheating, insufficient power, etc.

Definitely don't get the MSI one, I have that one, it's only slightly overclocked and offers pretty crap value for money to be honest. I got it as a present, and I wouldn't spend that much on a 3870 myself - not when for the same price you'd get an 8800GT. I wouldn't spent more then 200 on a 3870, Dabs have 8800GT starting at about 225.

Don't bother ordering the Austek one from Dabs either, I had one on order for an entire month, every single day a different due date. The 9150 has a 375w psu, right? I'd say you should be OK, I know that particular machine has shipped with high end cards.

Sqaull20

The 9150 can handle a HD3870/8800GT no bother...

There's a powerseller on ebay selling cards very cheap at the moment

HD3870 €180.47 Delivered

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ATI-Radeon-HD-3870-HD3870-512MB-PCI-E-PCIE-PCI-EXPRESS_W0QQitemZ230220814892QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

HD3850 512mb €160.49 Delivered

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD-3850-512MB-PCIE-PCI-E-HD3850-NEW_W0QQitemZ330210415085QQihZ014QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

8800gt 512mb €185.32 with Tomb Raider Anniversary

http://cgi.ebay.ie/NVidia-GeForce-8800GT-512MB-8800-GT-PCI-E-PCIE-XVISION_W0QQitemZ230219566756QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I would go with the 512mb 8800gt, power consumption is great and beats the HD3870 in 90% of games

RoyalMarine

ah squall where were you with those ebay links last week when i bought 2 8800gt's

almost 250 a piece from dabs

uglyjohn

wow, thanks lads
i never even considered ebay. an 8800gt for €5 more than a 3870 looks pretty sweet. i think ill go for that and a bit of ram too.

Royalmarinecomm, how many graphics cards do you need? you seem to bid for every single one that turns up on adverts!

AlmightyCushion

Sqaull20 wrote: »

The 9150 can handle a HD3870/8800GT no bother...

There's a powerseller on ebay selling cards very cheap at the moment

HD3870 €180.47 Delivered

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ATI-Radeon-HD-3870-HD3870-512MB-PCI-E-PCIE-PCI-EXPRESS_W0QQitemZ230220814892QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

HD3850 512mb €160.49 Delivered

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD-3850-512MB-PCIE-PCI-E-HD3850-NEW_W0QQitemZ330210415085QQihZ014QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

8800gt 512mb €185.32 with Tomb Raider Anniversary

http://cgi.ebay.ie/NVidia-GeForce-8800GT-512MB-8800-GT-PCI-E-PCIE-XVISION_W0QQitemZ230219566756QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I would go with the 512mb 8800gt, power consumption is great and beats the HD3870 in 90% of games

I've been tempted to upgrade my desktop but I really need to save money. When I see prices like that though it makes me want to spend it all.

Catsmokinpot

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

The X1950Pro was a savage card, sorry to hear you had a bad experience but you can't decide never to use Ati again based on one fail! I've had plenty of both brands fail, it just happens. when you say the card kept resetting itself, that could be anything other then the card - driver problem, overheating, insufficient power, etc.

from what i have heard and seen it's a problem with the card itself, it was a HIS with an iceq cooler, I bought a 700W PSU especially for it.

You were lucky to get one that was working, i have never had an Nvidia card fail on me, but the thing that steers me away from nvidia is the price

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Definitely don't get the MSI one, I have that one, it's only slightly overclocked and offers pretty crap value for money to be honest. I got it as a present, and I wouldn't spend that much on a 3870 myself - not when for the same price you'd get an 8800GT. I wouldn't spent more then 200 on a 3870, Dabs have 8800GT starting at about 225.

ordered it already dont mind at all about the price, just wanted a mid range card to tide me over.

RoyalMarine

uglyjohn wrote: »

wow, thanks lads
i never even considered ebay. an 8800gt for €5 more than a 3870 looks pretty sweet. i think ill go for that and a bit of ram too.

Royalmarinecomm, how many graphics cards do you need? you seem to bid for every single one that turns up on adverts!

ive only bought 3 off adverts.

7950gx2
8600gt
8800gtx

ive got a few computer's here at home, but i build and sell a fair few aswel.

uglyjohn

i was just about to buy from that powerseller when i noticed that vat is extra. when you add 17% on to the prices they are pretty much the same as komplett/elara/dabs.

anyway, im at work now so i have to stop looking at graphics cards. ill order one tonight.