Minor Upgade

[KillerStickMan]

Well I'm looking to make a minor upgrade to my system so I can play teh video games faster. I'm looking for a new graphics card and maybe 2 more gigs of ram.

Either looking for a 4850 or 4870 512mb on both.

So we have the
MSI 4850 512mb - $149.99(-$30.00 MIR)
or
HIS 4870 512mb - $159.99(-$10.00 MIR)
or
Sapphire 4870 512mb - $165.99(-$15.00 MIR)

So the question for that is, is the 4870 worth the $30 extra? If so, HIS or Sapphire?


And on to ram...

Crucial 2gb(2x1gb) - $22.99

Not really much question on the ram, just if you guys see anything better or cheaper.

So just post your thoughts on this, thanks in advance.

[Eagle101]

Re: Minor Upgade

definitely the 4870, i am sure everyone will say that, i recently purchased one online from my previous thread:

http://www.totalgamingnetwork.com/main/showthread.php?t=187831

[jesus]

Re: Minor Upgade

I'd go with the HIS 4870 cause you get STALKER clear sky for free

[=98=]

Re: Minor Upgade

Go with the 4870, try and get the money together for a 1GB model, but if you can't, any will do.

[KillerStickMan]

Re: Minor Upgade

I think I'll just stick with the 512mb version since I have a 1280x1024 and don't plan on upgrading. Plus I wanted to stay under $200, just checked to see if it'll fit and it will. Think I might get this ram instead. It's the same stuff that I have already so I know it's good quality. Anything else you guys have to offer? I'm probably gonna order it later tonight.

[Wizrdwarts]

Re: Minor Upgade

I would go with the 4870s, $30 now will be worth it in the future.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

4 gigs, $20 after rebate, not a very good overclocker but if you're running stock it is an awesome deal.

[KillerStickMan]

Re: Minor Upgade

I would go with the 4870s, $30 now will be worth it in the future.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

4 gigs, $20 after rebate, not a very good overclocker but if you're running stock it is an awesome deal.

I always hate fooling around with MIRs, I may not even do the one on the video card. And personally I think I'll be upgrading my motherboard to DDR3 before I would need 6gb of ram.

- Edit -

Just ordered it, should be here by tuesday or wednesday. So just follow Alex's guide in the other thread and I should be fine?

[AlecJ32]

Re: Minor Upgade

Go with the 4870, try and get the money together for a 1GB model, but if you can't, any will do.

....Which will take up an extra 512mb of address space, so if he does get the extra 2 gigs of ram, that's a 512mb less ram he'll be able to address as a result of the 32-bit memory mapped I/O limitation.

32-bit operating systems cannot address more than 2^32 bytes of memory, and that includes video memory, so after that 1 gig of video memory gets mapped, he'll be left with no more than 3072mb of ram that his PC can actually address, potentially even less.

If he plans on eventually upgrading to a 64 bit operating system, it won't be an issue, though.

I suppose it comes down to which would be more useful. An extra 512mb of system memory, or an extra 512mb of video memory. I haven't been keeping up with the gaming industry that well, so it's probably best to get a second opinion.

[KillerStickMan]

Re: Minor Upgade

Well, too late but thanks for the input. I put the order in last night for the 4870 512mb and 2gb of ram.