I'm going to be hosting a LAN party on Aug 15-18 and I'm thinking I need to get a new video card for 2 reasons...

One to make my primary computer faster but also so that I can put my 8800GT in a secondary box for people that like to play but don't have a computer of their own.

Ideally I would get a 4870 X2 but I have yet to hear a concrete release day and I'm not sure weather it will be out in time for the LAN party...

So my question is this; given that my monitors native resolution is 1920 x 1200 do you think it would be worth it to spend the extra money get a GTX 280 since it has 1GB of VRAM over a HD 4870 with 512MB? What are your thoughts?

where is the party

BoT said:

southern Oregon,

the 4870's, well all the 3xxx's and 4xxx's have a boat load more stream processors.
would be a reason for me to get one, actually thinking about it.
i don't think the extra memory will make that much of a difference.

this might be interesting to you
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=194808

dang to far for me, would love to come

BoT said:

bummer, I could always use more people.

BoT said:

The only thing that worries me about the 4870 is the 512MB frame buffer, I just wondering if future games will be limited by that memory size, other than that I think its an awesome card.

The 4870x2 would be your best bet - if it were out - because it hammers the 280
at the 1900x1200 res. Obviously the 4870x2 would be beaten by 280 in SLi or
if a 280x2 was out. What about the 4850x2? If you played at a res of 16x12, then
I myself (i have a 16x12 res) I'd opt for the 280 easily.

MrBungle said:
I run fine on 256 MiB 8800GT. XD

Because most games are ports from Xbox 360, I doubt the extra graphic memory proves very beneficial.

Tam the Bam said:

I don't think its out yet... is it?

You're right... that's not even out yet! Duh to me!!!

So ford says I should downgrade to the 256MB 8800GT and Tam says upgrade to the GTX 280, kinda polarized results. XD

Lol now you chose the middle option! And you're sorted!!!! lol

Lol now you chose the middle option! And you're sorted!!!! lol

You could always go to you local BB, pickup whatever card you want and return it after using it at your LAN party. BB's return policy is ridiculous.

unfortunately the closest Best Buy is 168 miles away....

i'd say a 4850 is a good bet to go for, its new and its got awesome power, then u can always pop another one in for the future...
i still say to at least go for the 8800gt 512mb, nvidia should be out soon with the 9800gt, which is basically a 8800gt...
the tricky thing is that nvidia restamps the old 8800gt into a 9800gt and sell it on as a "new product", however some of these 9800gt will have a revamped 55nm processor instead of 8800gt with the 65nm... G92 -->old, G92b -->new
difference will be a cooler gpu, as well as leave some headroom for more overclocking... you will not be able to see it on the box which version ure getting though..

GtoX (capt Guns) said:

crossfire is an option, but I'd do it with 4870's. I'm looking for something a little more powerful than a single 4850.



Already running an 8800GT 512MB, the video card is for the system in my sig.

budget for this graphics card upgrade is 500ish USD.

Tam the Bam said:

screw it, I decided to take your advice... GTX 280 on the way.