Getting the upgrade itch but am on a budget

[DaMaN]

FP, is the CCC (Catalyst Control Center) a needed option in your opinion?

[FlyingPenguin]

Strickly speaking you don't need it, but without it you can't change any of the high-end settings for 3D, video overlay, etc. Most people never touch any of this anyway since you usually let the game handle it. I never mess with any of that.

The CCC does give you better control over multiple monitors though, although Windows can manage it.

However, although I am a firm believer in less it best, I still install the CCC (and the NVidia equivalent). It's still useful sometimes, and there's really no down side to it nowadays.

[normalicy]

I just did a switch from a GTX260 to a HD4890 & did like FP said. No issues. In fact, I have one computer with both sets of drivers installed because I swap cards out so frequently (test rig). Never had an issue with it.

[DaMaN]

OK, I made the switch and it went through without a hitch. My biggest issue was rearranging the components in my case because this 5850 was considerably longer than my 8800GTS. After some house cleaning and rearranging some wiring, I was able to fire it up and it works beautifully. I install CCC with drivers 10.3 and they are smooth as silk. My old Nvidia drivers were a little buggy in letting go of memory resources after gaming. Now I have to find a machine to insert this 8800GTS into at home... =)

[DaMaN]

Thanks to everybody who helped me, PCA rocks!

[normalicy]

You need to put it in my machine .... well my other machine anyhow.

[FlyingPenguin]

DaMaN, now you need in burn-in that card with some MW2 with the Old Farts Clan. We still play every Sun and Wed night.

We're also starting to dabble with BFBC2.

[DaMaN]

Just got BFBC2 last night, going to give it a whirl later today after work.

I need to pickup MW2 after i look at my finances later