If I wanted to upgrade...

[MadBadger]

Hello forum,
Roughly 8-9 months ago I built a latest gaming rig with your help (see signature for specs). I had a blast doing it, but since then I've stopped following the state of the industry. The other day, I was helping a friend update his Dell desktop and caught the bug again for component shopping. I'm still perfectly satisfied with my rig, but I was curious as to what the community would suggest for a mild graphics card update. I'm currently running a 8800GT sli rig on a 750i FTW mobo. I have a 700W PSU with roughly 40 amps available on the 12V rail. My monitor is 1680x1050 and I wouldn't want to spend more than $200. What would the community suggest?

Again, this is more of a way for me to see where video cards are at today. Thanks everyone!

 

[customisbetter]

8800 gt in SLI is still a great performer in almost any game nowadays.

i also would get a card upgrade until you get a monitor with a res of 1900x1200 or higher.

 

[Zenthar]

As customisbetter said, 2x8800GT is tough to beat, I think nothing short of a 4850x2/GTX280 would compete and even those won't give you your money's worth over what you currently have.

When you make a "too solid" build, there isn't much you can upgrade over time until you just have to change everything. Actually one of the reason I went for a cheaper C2D setup 1 year ago instead of a C2Q .

 

[coozie7]

Only the GTX295 or HD4870X2 are going to offer any useful upgrade and they`re both twice your budget, nothing in the $200 price range is going to do anything but slow your games down.
Buy some cigars instead

 

[Jaysin]

And $200 isn't going to get you a decent 24" monitor so double your expenses down the road and get the Benq 24".

 

[boulard83]

im in the same tough .. your 8800 SLI is already a nice settup. Only cons is if you play some games that dont support SLI and if its WHY you want to change ... you need to go for GTX280-285 or HD4850x2 or HD4870X2 or GTX295 to get better performance.

Im currently waiting my BFG GTX285 H2O. (GTA4 dont support SLI and i love this game)