Best Graphics Card(s) for MMOs?

garbonzo

I'm thinking about upgrading my graphics card - maybe going SLI - if AoC is as good as I hope (and if it won't run at max on my GeForce 7900GT..probably not.)  Anyone care to offer suggestions on what they've used/liked recently?  Any opinions on whether it's better to go with the absolute best single card instead of maybe two slightly weaker cards in SLI?  (Of course by the time AoC actually hits there will likely be some new stuff out...)  Thanks for comments. 

Tsolless

I'm using a NVIDIA Geforce 7950 GT 512 MB. I can pretty much play anything at max settings without any frame rate difference.

Randd

I got a 8600gts about 3 weeks ago. So far not a single complaint. Think it ran me about 130 from Newegg, using only a single atm but will probably crossfire when aoc comes out.

 ~edit~ should add, fear and oblivion at max settings and the beta's i'm involved with run great at max.

stringboi

SLI is usually the better route to take over any single card.  If you were to head into the 8800 Nvidia's....I'd say get two GTS's,  they should out perform a single GTX, and so on upwards....2x GTXs > 1x 8800 Ultra.

thaak

I've got my ATi x1900xt that I can run anything at full settings with. I just upgraded my processor/motherboard/RAM and got a good motherboard to run crossfire with...and I'm thinking about getting another one...but I just need some freakin money.



All you nVidia people...

garbonzo

Yep, I need to save up some money... Think I will try to go SLI.   Thanks a lot for the comments. 

CleffyII

Going SLI with 2 8600's isn't as good as going with an 8800 320 mb vid card.  It also costs more and consumes more power.  Only SLI if you have a reason to otherwise its just a waste of money.  Personally I would get the 8800 320 mb vid card.  Nice price and descent enough power.

SLI is really useful for 3d modeling.  Get a FX board and hook up 4 quattro's.  You can display alot of polies.  However, Quattro's aren't gaming cards and don't perform well in that function.

Keebs1984

I just got my ATI 2900XT for DX10 games (BioShock is coming out soon so hopefully it will look phenominal).

Right now, however, I am using a Nvidia 7800GT. Its alright I guess. . . I can't really complain.

I'll let you guys know whether the 2900XT is worth it or not once I get it installed. By the way, the card is f-ing massive.

Ranlawl

Originally posted by CleffyII


Going SLI with 2 8600's isn't as good as going with an 8800 320 mb vid card.  It also costs more and consumes more power.  Only SLI if you have a reason to otherwise its just a waste of money.  Personally I would get the 8800 320 mb vid card.  Nice price and descent enough power.
SLI is really useful for 3d modeling.  Get a FX board and hook up 4 quattro's.  You can display alot of polies.  However, Quattro's aren't gaming cards and don't perform well in that function.

Sli if you already have a graphics card your gonna SLi with, and sometimes it is cheaper than buying a 8800, its not which is the best gfx card, but which one meats your needs the best, your not getting a 8800 gtx for WoW, thats overkill, but you dont want a 6200 for sumthin like EQ2, WAR, or Aoc, and you can always scale down quality to enhance performance, and use a smaller resolution, but it is whatever fits your needs imo

Goldknyght

I have a 8800 640mb GTS and it works like a charm. Minus for vanguard it works but damn is that game still forever laggy at times.

the_trout

 

Nice comparison tool for single cards here...

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html

Dual cards here...

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_sli2007.html

I personally run a 8800GTS 640mb @ 1650x1080 dpi.

I run all my games at max settings. In my opinion SLI is a waste of money when you look at what you get for the added cost. The only way I would recomend it is if you allready have one SLI cards and are trying to gain performance on a tight budget or if you absolutley want to be at the bleeding edge. Im sure others will disagree. Good luck whichever way you go.

twhint

Generally, if you upgrade your video card, it's a good idea to get the best that you can afford. This way, it will last you into the future, as well as be compatible with the next motherboard/CPU upgrade you get, if you upgrade piecemeal.

Right now, the 8800 is the undisputed fastest card out there. The new ATI offering doesn't even come close, and the 2900 is competing in the mid-range cards anyway, with the 8800 in the high range.

In the mid-range cards, I would get the next-generation, such as the 8600 or the 2600, as they are fairly cheap and are DX10 compliant, which is what you would want if you're upgrading at this point, since DX10 games are starting to appear. The 8600 GT and GTS are the best cards in this class at this point in time, but with the supposed potential of the 2600, that could change with the right drivers, since the 2600 has about 100 million more transistors, shader power, and theoretical memory bandwidth than the 8600.

My recommendation is to read what's out there on the price point you are looking at. If money is no object, the 8800 is the card to get, no question. If you're limited, then I would look at the 8600 vs. the 2900 or the 2600.

 

Added - I forgot to weigh in on SLI. SLI is more of a gimmick than anything else. It doesn't provide the price to power relationship that would justify even going this route, unless you are simply going for the fastest possible rig you can. You're looking at probably a max of 35% performance upgrade using SLI, and that's probably being generous. And to give you an idea, a single 8800 is faster than 2 7950's in SLI.

gpett

 

Originally posted by the_trout


 
Nice comparison tool for single cards here...
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html
Dual cards here...
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_sli2007.html
I personally run a 8800GTS 640mb @ 1650x1080 dpi.
I run all my games at max settings. In my opinion SLI is a waste of money when you look at what you get for the added cost. The only way I would recomend it is if you allready have one SLI cards and are trying to gain performance on a tight budget or if you absolutley want to be at the bleeding edge. Im sure others will disagree. Good luck whichever way you go.

Listen to the man.

 

SLI, Crossfire, and RAID 0 are all wastes of money.  If you have the money to waste.. go right ahead.  But, in most cases you get better price/performance with a single good card.

If you aready have a card... ebay it to offset some of the costs of a new upgrade card.

At this point in time, I see no reason to get anything other than an 8800.  I personally am waiting for the fall release of the new line of cards. (G92 Geforce 9800)

Ecranomical

One of the best cards out atm, is the 8800gtx evga.

Personally with D10 comming out, i would wat for the 9xxxx series cards. Even tho the 8800s are D10 ready, they're probably not going to perform that well since they are the first i guess. with the 9xxx series cards, they would probably fix all the little kincks etc. If you must get a card AT THIS MOMENT i'd go with the 8800gts 320 or 640, the gtx is overkill in sli unless you plan on going atleast 22"+ with max settings (the thing's a beast!).

wildtacos

You know if you want just a minor boost without buying a whole new video card you can overclock your video card or processor a bit just don't go overboard or something will melt.

Ozmodan

SLI is a complete waste of money.  Most MMO's don't even support it.  I suppose if you are a big fps fan it might be worthwhile, but just throwing money away for someone that plays MMO's

trev9999

Right now two 8800GTXs would be the fastest. This might be untrue if you compare the benchmarks of the two of Radeon's fastest cards to the two 8800GTXs but you'd have to look up the scores yourself.

Morpgeus

Hello,

I see some excellent advice concerning the 'pointlessness' of SLI. If you take 2 GTX Ultra's - you might get your rocks off  - but other than that it appears to be mostly 1) unsupported by much software 2) possibility of seeing the diff on your screen (one set of lines being drawn by one card, the other half by the other card you do NOT want to *see* this 8-) 3) complex to make run hence the often DISadvantage in speed (costs CPU too I think? not good...) 4) really not much cheaper, since the only SLI that might make sense is the highest one (VERY big increase in price for little performance gain).

Now with a good Chipset (like the i680 right now) you should not have the 'interlace' prob. And while the board is SLI (fully, 2x32 PCIe I think) it is much smarter to put in a GTX. That's 20% over a GTS. GTS is more than enough for most anything though. I happen to run 22" at 1600x1200 minimum so I can use the GTX (waiting 2 more months, should see 100 to 150 dollar/euro devaluation according to local stores).

A thought: how about an Ageia FX card extra? Only 200 bucks or so - and that IS supported (at least I read so, have not tested yet) by quite a few MMORPG these days. And many action-type games.  Try http://www.ageia.com/ - the ASUS I checked is just a PCI (not PCIe). I would defo check game titles you intend to play first though - see if it actually is supported (CoH for instance says it does support Ageia).

Not a specialist so any additional info appreciated

Good luck,

Lucas