Now I'm torn.

[[XC] 2long4u]

I have a 7950GT right now and I think it's time to upgrade. Here is my problem.

I want to get an Nvidia so I can fold. The problem is I don't want to get a 260 when I could get a 4870 that would beat it for cheaper and cooler.
I heard the 9800 series are not as good as the 8800 series. The 8800 series is super cheap right now but the 4870 would destroy that card.

I need some advise.

[SparkyJJO]

both? :D

[The_Barnacle]

Hmm, how bout a 9800gx2? Then you can run 2 GPU clients on 1 card and play games at insane resolutions

[[XC] 2long4u]

Ugh $520. I wasn't planning on spending that much. A 260 is the highest I would go at $350.
Any other suggestions?

[[XC] 2long4u]

I see they didn't bother to make an 8800 X2

[SparkyJJO]

$350... hmm. 4870 at $300 shipped leaves only $50 left. Hard to get an 8800 for that much :/

Isn't the ATI client supposed to pick up speed at some point? Surely the 4870 is quite capable of folding too, isn't it?

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

If you can muster it, get the 8800gt 256mb from newegg. Its 100, but w/ a 30 MIR. So its 20 bucks over your budget (370 = 300 + 70), but it would be epic. EPIC I SAY!

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

If you can suck it up:

9800gx2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162010

390 after MIR. If you can muster another 40 bucks, you're set. Choices choices.

If you can do SLI, get the 8800gts @ fx video cards (in the online deals sections), 150 after MIR, so its 340 (can't do 2 MIR @ one addy), and you get a lot of power.

[[XC] 2long4u]

No SLI I have an intel chipset. I could do crossfire tho.
You can still fold on the 8800 right?
I might just get the 8800 GTS 512

[LagunaX]

For $360 you can pick up a pair of sapphire hd 4850's for crossfire at:
http://fxvideocards.com/
For $289 there is an hd 4870 there also.

Either 1) do the crossfire hd4850's now OR 2) just pick up one hd4870 for now and pick up another one several months down the road when they drop even more...

Personally my 8800gts (800/2000/2200) will have to do until the hd4870x2.

[[XC] 2long4u]

I don't really want to do crossfire. I've heard a lot of bad things about it.
SLI also. With drivers and such.

[SparkyJJO]

Well I suppose it comes down to what are your priorities, game performance or folding performance? Also consider this, would you be willing to stop the GPU client when you go to play games? When I ran the first GPU client on my X1900 that is when I stopped playing games so much because I didn't want to interrupt it.

[[XC] 2long4u]

so whats better 8800 or 9800?
The 9800 has the same chip as the 8800.

[Marvin_The_Martian]

9800 is smaller process means less power draw ( important for a cruncher! ) and it clocks higher.

Edit: how the heck could I be up all night and just notice this thread now?

[ColonelCain]

Well, I see two options, personally.

As someone said earlier, you need to weigh the importance of folding vs. gaming.

You Could:
1) Get the 4870, hoping that stanford will come out with a new client for ATI, possibly based on CTM.

2) Bite the bullet, get the 260 for the folding performance, and still be able to play games smoothly, just a few to many steps away from the 4870.

[[XC] 2long4u]

The other big thing is evga has a lifetime warranty. And Ati is only a year.

[DAK1640]

2long4u;3126335']The other big thing is evga has a lifetime warranty. And Ati is only a year.

8800GT FTW...It handles all games just fine unless you have very high resolutions...:up:

[SparkyJJO]

2long4u;3126335']The other big thing is evga has a lifetime warranty. And Ati is only a year.

No, if you get a visiontek or powercolor they have lifetime warranties as well.

[Marvin_The_Martian]

No, if you get a visiontek or powercolor they have lifetime warranties as well.

Is it a modder friendly warranty, and this time not limited to the USA?

Sorry haven't send you the pm yet, waiting till the missus get's here and take care off the kido so I can get some sleep :)

[SocketMan]

No, if you get a visiontek or powercolor they have lifetime warranties as well.

I thought Visiontek canceled their lifetime warranty,Crossfire has gotten better
since the start. I usually go for ATI if it's ati chipset and NV on Nvidia chipsets:
ashes to ashes dust to dust .
Folding wise NV is getting a lot more ppd atm almost 2:1 can't argue
with the lifetime warranties either. Decisions ,decisions....

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

If you trust MIR, you can get a 9800gx2 for 360 bucks.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3128575#post3128575

[Kingcarcas]

I'm in the same situation, Zipzoomfly has a GTX260 for $300 with a $40 MIR. 4870, shorter, less memory, lackluster folding performance right now, better in games. GTX260, more memory(1680*1050), longer (might have to cut up my case), 6500PPD, not as good in games but better than my 3870. Power consumption depends at what review you look at, then there's the fact that i'd rather support ATI right now........we'll see how it all plays out.

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

For the cash, get something like an 8800gts for games (it'll run 1680x1050 fine, mine does 1920x1200 no prob) and two 8800gt 256mb cards. Your ppd will increase substantially!

If you want to go crazy w/ MIRs (good luck), you have this option:

8800gts $150 after MIR http://fxvideocards.com/ZOTAC-GeForce-8800-GTS-G92-512MB-ZT-88SES2P-FSP-256-bit-GDDR3-PCI-Express-2.0-x16-HDCP-Ready-SLI-ZOTAC-Video-Card-p-16280.html

8800gs $65 after MIR & promotion code http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130332&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL071008&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL071008-_-VideoCards-_-L0A-_-14130332

Promotion code!
http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/July-0-2008/Promo071008in/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL071008&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL071008-_-email-_-E0B-_-CPU

8800gt 256mb $70 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125089


If you're only using one video card, what about a 9800gx2? 360 bucks after MIR is crazy!