Temporarily Decommisioned

[Crush3d]

Hello all,

Figured I'd get your opinion on something since you are all such a wonderful, valuable resource!

So not long ago I bought an EVGA GTX 570.. well since EVGA is so kind, I am eligible for the Step-up Program. For those that don't know what that is.. well.. basically.. within 90 days of purchase of your EVGA card, you can upgrade it for just the price difference. I am very seriously considering doing this (upgrading to a GTX 680) which brings me to my point..

Doing so will decommision my gaming significantly during shipment there and while awaiting for my new card.. I'm figuring a week there.. a day or so for them to register it.. and a week of shipping for the new card.

I'm running with an i5-2500k on an ASUS Z68 Pro/Gen3.. other specs available if needed..

What are my options here..

I can try gaming with the onboard graphics, which, in all honesty I'm not expecting great performance from.. should I buy a cheap card and use that for a few weeks? Keep the cheap card? Try to return it when I get my new card in? Ideally I was hoping one of my friends would have a spare/old card lying around.. no luck on that front yet.

Thoughts, opinions.. help me out here!

 

[Sunius]

I'd go for the upgrade program. Just use your onboard for the time, I'm sure you will find games that work on it just fine! Actually only the most demanding games will not work on it (e. g. Crysis or BF3), but others will work on low-medium settings for sure!

 

[jaguarskx]

The Intel HD 3000 is more or less equal to the Radeon HD 5450, but no DX11.

You can play games with it but on low resolution. I tested the HD 3000 on my Lenovo Y470 laptop with a 1366x768 resolution screen and nVidia GT 550m. Fallout 3 was playable with a mix of medium and a few low settings. Easily more than 30FPS. Crysis was playable at low graphic settings with frame rates ranging between 18 - 24 most of the time. Mass Effect 1 is playable with medium settings, but it periodically crashes. Intel HD 3000 driver issue 'cause it never crashed with the GT 550m.

 

[Crush3d]

So would buying a temporary card be worth it.. I really only play ME3 and LoL right now.. Could I return a card?

 

[Guest]

you totally sound like a crackhead asking if he shouldn't go to a shitty source while his usually dealer is waiting for quality rocks.

GO TO REHAB!

then your card will be ready once you get out