Which to get?

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

I plan to be getting a video card for my birthday, and am curious as to which is a better option, also how much importance is stream proscessors?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500006

[Jelly]

I've never heard of Zotac, so I'd say the Sapphire 4850. It's an excellent card anyway.

[Hotrod]

The HD4850 is much better than the 8800GT, and will last you longer. It's the best bang for the buck as well. The only thing is that it heats up to a higher temperature, but it's built to be that hot.

[Evil_Monkey]

I'd definitely say go with the 4850. Its overall a better card even though the core clock is 75Mhz lower it has a hell of a lot of more stream processors, the core clock can be overlocked if needed to get that 75Mhz back. You may want to have a read though the wiki on stream processors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_processing)

[ultama121]

4850. No contest.

[Anton]

Go with the 4850.

Also, the stream processors are measured differently on ATI cards than Nvidia cards.

So there aren't that many more than the GT.

Or atleast that is what I read on Tom's Hardware.

[Amit]

You can better branded 8800GTs for $100 at other places. Its time is rapidly waning. HD 4850, the ASUS version includes software that will help you cut your high temps quite a bit. If not ASUS there's a fan speed unlocker on the net.

[Warsaw]

How big is your monitor? If it is 22"+, I suggest getting the 1GB model of the HD4850.

[Xetsuei]

How big is your monitor? If it is 22"+, I suggest getting the 1GB model of the HD4850.

He won't need it.

[Amit]

His specs say his "primary" monitor is 1080i VGA. I assume that means he uses a 1080i HDTV with VGA input as his display. Big or small, don't waste your bucks on the 8800GT.

[Hotrod]

He won't need it.
That is unless he's playing Crysis on Very High settings at 1680x1050. I had to bring mine down to 1280x720 to have a decent framerate on Very High.

[Warsaw]

Extra memory buffer also helps keep the frames consistent when you crank up graphics on any game.

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

Im running the IBM P77, It can run up to atleast 1920x1080
Its great, the original pricing was 300 or so I believe.

[Amit]

Im running the IBM P77, It can run up to atleast 1920x1080
Its great, the original pricing was 300 or so I believe.

Are you fucking around or something? 1920x1080 on a 17" CRT? What the hell does that look like?

[Xetsuei]

I guess he forces the resolution. You should really use 1280x1024 instead.

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

I do use 1280x1024, I just like to feel special because I can run it that high though :)