Friend looking for a new video card (again), need 2nd opinon

[rditto48801]

1280x960 (the max 4:3 ratio setting my present monitor can apparently handle),

that's widescreen aspect ratio; 4:3 would be 1280x1024.

You are mistaken, or my math is horrible when it comes to aspect ratios.

*checks google*
*checks wikipedia link*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_resolution

They have a nice color coded chart there.
Using 1280 as a base.
1280x1024 is 5:4
1280x960 is 4:3
1280x720 is 16:9
(16:9 being official wide screen format?)

[BlindNero]

oH? Weird.. on my smaller CRT's (when i still used 17"), 1280x1024 was the ideal, x960 would not fill the screen. maybe has to do with the refresh rates combinations too.
I find the many many resolutions options confusing anyway
Thanks for correcting me!

[rditto48801]

Now that you mention it, at 4:3, there does seem to be a slight bit of 'unused space' to either side of my screen when I look at my CRT monitor (which is 17in). I never really paid much attention to it myself.
Maybe there is a reason they had the max resolution be a 5:4 aspect ratio for some reason?

[BlindNero]

... which one then corrects with the screen size buttons on one's monitor! I guess that's how i made my screen perfect: i slightly stretched 4:3 to 5:4 unknowingly.

[BlindNero]

AND/BUT/HOWEVER: in Dark Messiah (Source engine) Options screen 1280×720 is referred to as a 16:9 aspect ratio. As listed here.
Wiki could be wrong too.

[rditto48801]

According to the one chart I found, 1280x720 is an aspect ratio of 16:9.
Even though my monitor at max settings is 5:4, and at present it is set at a 4:3 resolution, it can handle 16:9 with ease, although the picture is a bit on the squished/narrow/narrowly squished side, without needing to adjust the monitor settings. It apparently just 're-sizes' it to fit my screen.


On a side note, my plans to get a video card just had a major change.
I had $100 saved up, and my mom had some extra money to spare, and she gave me some extra money (with no need to pay her back), bumping my budget up to $254 on the spot (not including a few dollars in spare change I have).
My plan to save up over several months just got cut down to basically 2 weeks.

So, with a 600w power supply and a PCI-E 2.0 capable MB, it is time to give my computer more power ! (graphics power, that is)
(darn, can't find a good youtube video with Tim the Toolman Taylor doing his 'more power' bit... well, I found one apparently involving a gas powered chipper shredder hooked up to the garbage disposal of a kitchen sink...)


Edit:
I removed my last question, I am an idiot and totally forgot about the 'help and support' option accessed via the start menu.

[BlindNero]

Oh... sorry i mixed things up! I meant: according to that list, both 1280 x 960 and 1280 x 1024 are 4:3. Now that is strange isn't it. I give up trying to understand and what's it called i don't care.

Hey congratulations on your new videocard. And.... which is it gonna be?

[rditto48801]

I am undecided at the moment.
I might go for one of the 4890 you mentioned previously, or I might go for one of the newer 5xxx series, like the 5770 or 5830.
Since I don't like upgrading often, I will want one that will be able to last me for a while before I will need to upgrade to upgrade again.

I am also going to keep in mind to get a new monitor sooner or later.

[BlindNero]

Then you should go for the most powerful to not regret it one second. With 5770 you will probably bump against its limits within a year of new titles. If you never play from 1680x1050 / 1600x1200 and beyond, HD5850 would be the best choice with lots of headroom for future.
5830 is a handicapped HD58xx with a too high pricelabel. TweakTown test shows that in crossfire (2 of them) have great performance but only a single one disappoints for the price. For a few bucks more you get HD5850 which is much much more powerful. That kinda money for one card hurts for a moment, but you'll soon only enjoy its great service.

Oops i just saw on Tigerdirect prices went up a little!
Or buy 5770 and accept to maybe upgrade next year, thus spreading spendings. Would be reasonable too.

[rditto48801]

Well, it should be of little trouble to wait 2 weeks for next month, and see if I can get enough next month to go for a 5850.
What would be a good brand to go for if I do get an HD 5850?
Ones I see are Sapphire, XFX, Diamond, and Visiontek.
At first glance of the ratings, it seems like XFX has the highest average among the listed video cards on Amazon.com, so if you can't really recommend any specific brand, then I will see about getting the XFX made version.