Video Card Recommendations?

[ShortyBoo_SC]

I have had my ATI Radeon x1900 512mb for several years now and I think it's about time I get a new one. I bought it back when it was a high end card and was retailing for around $600, so that should give you an indication to how long I've had it.

Anyway, I would like to get another Radeon since the last time I used an NVidia card, I got bsod crashes every hour while playing TS2. Since I'm still going to play TS2 along with TS3, I want a Radeon just to be sure I don't get that issue again. I don't understand how ATI numbers their cards now so I can't figure out which cards are way better than mine vs. which cards are only a little better than mine.

My brother has a GeForce 8800 and I'd like to have the Radeon equivalent, or maybe a little higher. Cooling isn't an issue, psu might be (I have a 650w) but I can upgrade if needed. So any recommendations for video cards for me? I'd like to start researching specific cards so I can get my new one by February.

[HystericalParoxysm]

The 4850/4870 range is pretty darn good right now. Delphy has a 4850 and it's a better card than his old 8800, or my 9600. Extremely good value for the price too.

[PuX- 80's]

In graphic card language, what do the numbers mean?
Is it that the higher first number is just the latest card edition?

[callistra]

Nvidia cards work just as well as ATI cards with TS2. Each have their own set of potential problems. A true BSOD, assuming you're really sure it was the gpu, would either have been a defective card or a corrupted drivers of some sort. My current card is Nvidia and I've had no problems.

I'm not trying to convince you not to get an ATI card, but just to let you know that whatever the problem was Nvidia cards are compatible with TS2 and BSOD issues are definitely not a necessary part of the game play.

Also we do not allow individual threads on computers or components to run Sims games. If you wanted a recommendation for playing games other than TS2 then you need to please tell exactly what else you want to play. Both the 4850 and the 4870 are strong cards at excellent value but what you want to play really would determine what the best card for you is. I'm also curious what OS you're using, the resolution you plan to game on (check your monitor) and your budget. If you're just looking to play TS2, then please have a read through our rules before making any new threads.

The 650w will be overkill for any card up to the 4870x2, so you're good there.

[ShortyBoo_SC]

Nvidia cards work just as well as ATI cards with TS2. Each have their own set of potential problems. A true BSOD, assuming you're really sure it was the gpu, would either have been a defective card or a corrupted drivers of some sort. My current card is Nvidia and I've had no problems.

I'm not trying to convince you not to get an ATI card, but just to let you know that whatever the problem was Nvidia cards are compatible with TS2 and BSOD issues are definitely not a necessary part of the game play.

Also we do not allow individual threads on computers or components to run Sims games. If you wanted a recommendation for playing games other than TS2 then you need to please tell exactly what else you want to play. Both the 4850 and the 4870 are strong cards at excellent value but what you want to play really would determine what the best card for you is. I'm also curious what OS you're using, the resolution you plan to game on (check your monitor) and your budget. If you're just looking to play TS2, then please have a read through our rules before making any new threads.

The 650w will be overkill for any card up to the 4870x2, so you're good there.

Well, my GeForce 6600 GT (it was a new card at the time) crashed after an hour or less of gameplay, every single time I played it and it didn't matter what drivers I used. So I got my ATI card and it stopped happening. And back when I had the problem, it was before anyone else had the blue screen problems with Nvidia cards. Back then I had asked on every Sims 2 help forum I knew of and no one had a solution, so when I found my card for $400, (which was $200 cheaper than anywhere else at the time) I grabbed it. A few months later, other people started getting the same problem, but I had already switched by that point. So I really don't trust Nvidia cards anymore.

The card isn't going to be just for TS2. Like I said, I will be playing TS3 when it comes out, and I'm planning on getting GTA IV as well as Mirror's Edge when it comes out and my brother plays Guild Wars on my PC. Right now I have my resolution set at 1280x1024 and I'm running XP. I'm not planning on getting Vista. As for a budget, I'm looking to spend $300 or less. Maybe a bit over.

[HystericalParoxysm]

BSODs, requiring a restart of the computer from a blue screen with white error text, are different from the nVidia blue screen error, where the game freezes/crashes after going to a game-blue screen with no text. The nVidia blue screen error is fixable with cheats and many users with nVidia cards (like myself) have never experienced them - BSODs are usually a sign of bad drivers, poorly seated hardware, insufficient power, or some other issue. I've got an nVidia card and it's a lovely card. Handles anything I throw at it beautifully.

But that being said, ATI seems to be a better bang for your buck right now. 4850/4870 should be within your price range and they're very nice cards. Might even be overkill considering what you play, but I generally believe in doing the best upgrade you can afford, to avoid having to do another one very soon.

[kailay_SC]

i also have never experienced any problems with my nvidia but i guess it was more the older cards that had problems. lol

[singing_Noel]

I remember having a Nvidia 128MB, and it went obsolete after three months. I upgraded to a VisionTek with an ATI chipset, and it ran on 256 MB, so I was pretty impressed with it. The great thing about VisionTek, and ATI, atleast for me, is how user-friendly it is, I've had the same card for about a year, and it's still the top in it's series. Plus, ATI is becoming pretty big, and I have a lot of games that support it too.

I recently have a VisionTek HD with an ATI chipset, that has 512 MB of memory, so I'm pretty proud about where I'm at. I plan on upgrading one last time [I hope. This habit is burning a hole in my savings], to THIS (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13506&type=page&skuId=8992593&productId=1218007083797&defurl=false&h=387), sometime in January, so that I'll be set for the Sims 3.

I really recommend VisionTek to anybody that's really looking for a great, simple videocard.

[callistra]

6600GT was compatible with TS2. I know a lot of people who played on that card, and some that still do. As HP said, there was something wrong with your particular set up.

We don't allow individual threads on cards to run TS3 either, but since you're playing other games it's okay to have your own thread. The 4850 and 4870 cards are big time overkill for what you're playing but they're good value, and well within your price range. You could even consider the 4830 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&Description=4830&bop=And&Order=RATING), which is a $100 card. It's just a little slower than the 4850 and easily overclocks to the same performance. 4850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=4850&x=0&y=0) will run you about $140 and the 4870 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810) about $200 (that Sapphire is really good value right now and the remade cooler seems to be working better). ATI is better value right now and none of those games are Nvidia happy.. there are some games that play a lot better with the comparable Nivida cards. You shouldn't have any issue with those.


Noel, memory is a poor indicator as the the speed/strength of a card. There are some 256mb cards which will eat some 512mb cards alive. Also ATI is not just becoming big.. ATI and Nvidia are IT as far as gaming cards go. Although AMD bought ATI and now no longer make their own cards. Other companies, like Visiontek, make the cards using their chips. Nvidia is the same.. other companies make the cards based on Nvidia chips. Visiontek makes MANY cards based on MANY ATI chipsets. They are a good company though because they offer a lifetime warranty. The trade off is they are one of the more expensive companies to buy from that use the ATI chips. I'm not sure what you mean by "user friendly" though. They all install the same way and use the exact same drivers and optional software.

[ShortyBoo_SC]

The blue screen error I got with my 6600 GT happened like this: I'd be playing the game, then I'd get this bluish-purple screen with the hour glass like the game was loading for a few seconds before the game came back up. About 2-3 minutes after that happened, I'd get the BSOD (the bright blue screen with white letters) with an error message like "NV4-disp.dll - Driver stuck in an infinite loop" or another similar message, but it was always the NV4-disp.dll which is why I knew it was my video card, then I'd have to restart my computer. Like I said, I tried all kinds of drivers and it never helped. So that turned me away from NVidia cards.

Anyway, I've narrowed it down to either the SAPPHIRE 100265L Radeon HD 4830 512MB which I found for $115 or the SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB which would be $160. Either of those is in my price range. Then I won't have to upgrade anything else since everything else is pretty new. I replaced my DVD burner after SecuROM killed it after I installed BV and I replaced my hard drive, motherboard, processor, RAM and power supply last summer.

[kennyinbmore]

Securom doesn't damage hardware

[ShortyBoo_SC]

Securom doesn't damage hardware

Well, my DVD burner stopped burning and reading CDs/DVDs right after I installed BV, and I'm not the only one who had that problem, either.