Question regarding WoW: Cataclysm, and video cards.

Hey guys and gals, I'll start off by throwing it out there that I am pretty useless with PC's in general, lol.

So pretty much I have a pretty basic XPS 630 system with a dual core processor, and am running Vista. Not sure on the exact specs of everything in my PC, but hopefully isn't important here.

I was running with two 512mbGeforce 9800gt video cards before, one died, so I was then running with just one, and that one just recently started playing up as well. So I am looking to get a decent new set of video cards to run Cataclysm at the top graphics/FPS (note that it's pretty much ONLY Cataclysm that I will be using this PC for).

My question was what do you guys think would be a suitable pair of video cards for these needs? I have a looked around, but like I said, I am just hopeless at this kinda stuff. Do you think I would be able to simply buy two 512mb Geforce 9800gt's over again and and play it at the top settings?

Thanks a lot for your time for reading this, and if you need to ask me anything about my specs or something, go ahead, I'll try and keep a close eye on this thread. :)

I'm liking the look of the GTX 470 a lot.

I was a bit wrong sorry, I looked at my specs, and I actually have a intel core 2 quad cpu with 2.66GHz.

Just wondering, is the GTX 470 compatible? Or is there anything I need to make sure I have so it will work with my system, or is it as simple as just buying two GTX 470's, putting them in, and then good to go? :)

Get 2 460's instead of2 GTX470's, its overkill, and the quad at that speed will be a bottleneck probably.

I'm liking the look of the GTX 470 a lot.

I was a bit wrong sorry, I looked at my specs, and I actually have a intel core 2 quad cpu with 2.66GHz.

Just wondering, is the GTX 470 compatible? Or is there anything I need to make sure I have so it will work with my system, or is it as simple as just buying two GTX 470's, putting them in, and then good to go? :)

Shaneariffic

Get 2 460's instead of2 GTX470's, its overkill, and the quad at that speed will be a bottleneck probably.

GTR12

Agreed even a sinlge 460 would be good enough for WOW. Dual GPU's are not nessecary.

I am almost certain I do have an SLI motherboard from memory, and I am sure it supports PCI 2.0 GPU's, but I don't know exactly what my PSU is, lol. I checked in device manager and couldn't find it. (it's no doubt right in front of me there)

But I am thinking of just grabbing 2 460's and just trying my luck, haha.

Thanks heaps for the help you two, appreciate it. :)

I am almost certain I do have an SLI motherboard from memory, and I am sure it supports PCI 2.0 GPU's, but I don't know exactly what my PSU is, lol. I checked in device manager and couldn't find it. (it's no doubt right in front of me there)

But I am thinking of just grabbing 2 460's and just trying my luck, haha.

Thanks heaps for the help you two, appreciate it. :)

Shaneariffic

Sorry for the delay, I opened it and had a look, but I really couldn't find anything saying PSU. All I could find that I thought was useful was the writing "druid motherboard" if that means anything, lol.

Also, another thing I missed is it's an XPS 630i, dunno if that makes any difference. Thanks again for your time.

Oh sorry checked again with my brother, and I have max 750w, and AC-input 50-60HZ. Hopefully that was all you needed to know about the PSU, lol.

And yeah I have heard that angrules, lol. At least good most of the time will do. :)

I'd be carefull buying 2 cards for WOW. Firstly it's overkill and second i believe WOW has some problems with dual card setups.

I have a HD4890 and am maxing WOW easily. A single GTX460 or HD6850 is more than enough, heck a HD5770 is enough.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793.html

Look at this article, they test a whole bunch of cards for Cataclysm.And my points where confirmed. SLI/Crossfire currently doesn't work in WOW seeing as both the GTX295 and HD5970 are very slow. ANd second an HD5770 or GTS450 is enough to max it and run @ 60fps.

So in conclusion, don't buy 2 videocards if you're only playing WOW as only 1 will work. And don't spend a boatload of cash and just buy a $120 5770 or GTS450.

Thanks a lot, Heyhuub. I reckon I am just going to go with a single 460 after having a look at that.

One last thing guys, is there a specific size I should be looking for, or just stick with the 768mb one? Also I looked them up and there was stacks of different brands of them, anything in particular I should look out for?

Thanks :)

THe 1GB version of the 460 is about 5-10% faster than the 768mb version. There are allot of different models yeah, a lot of them overclocked. A stock clocked one is cheaper most of the time. When you pick one i recommend you to find a review of it to look at temperatures and noise levels, but with the 460 these factors are pretty good most of the time. Even for ones with stock coolers.

Ah, awesome. And does the brand matter? Should I get an nvidia one? Or is that not really important?

Ok, I think I have found one that I like, sounds like it has some really positive reviews on it.

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GeForce-GTX460-1-2DVI-I-GV-N460OC-1GI/product-reviews/B003UUEOPE/ref=sr_1_2_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Just wanna double check if you guys think this looks ok, then gonna go ahead and get it.

Oh and Merry Christmas btw. :)

Gigabyte is a good brand yeah. With the dual fans on it the cooling will be excellent as well, so i'd say buy it.

Merry Christmas

Ok, I think I have found one that I like, sounds like it has some really positive reviews on it.

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GeForce-GTX460-1-2DVI-I-GV-N460OC-1GI/product-reviews/B003UUEOPE/ref=sr_1_2_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Just wanna double check if you guys think this looks ok, then gonna go ahead and get it.

Oh and Merry Christmas btw. :)

Shaneariffic