well, even there you can see optimization as a rolling thing. IE, take a look at the optimization of a game when the console is first released and then games from several years later. In my experience, the graphics get better, the gameplay gets smoother, etc. Because you have to squeeze more bang into it to make your game look new and shiny compared to stuff from 2 years prior.

Yeah that's basicly what I meant. On consoles developers have to find ever newer ways for optimization to satisfy gamer's lust for ever greater graphics, but on the pc you're just supposed to upgrade.

Well it is done, I have a new used GPU.

I bought a used 9800 GTX+ for 1000Eek or $80 / €64 / £55 . I played a round of L4d2 from start to finish on advanced and it worked like a charm.

awesome, congrats. does this one screw down properly?

Nope. This one tilts, err well, it causes one end inside the lane to raise whereas the previous card bent downwards. The problem is not with the cards or the mobo, its the Shark case but it works for now. However the 9800gtx+ fit so closely in there, there's not even room for a cigerette behind the card so had the power connectors been at the back like old cards have i would have been fucked. Had that been the case i would've had to pull out a metal saw and i even hate to think about it.

haha, ok. At least it's working. Sounds like you need a new case for your next build.

Doing a minor upgrade:

1. SSD - 180gb vertex 2 from OCZ
2. Win7 - Because XP has become so slow and apparently after format i have to call somewhere to get a new ID number for XP license.

I'm also keeping an eye on the local used parts market for AMD cpu but nobody wants to sell em, there's buttloads of i5's and i7's but they are all too expensive. I have windows already here on my table but the SSD arrives on tuesday.

awesome... you're going to be amazed at the SSD. It's insane what a difference it makes. Good on your upgrade to win7, too. It's seriously better. It requires a lot more RAM, though... you need about 1GB for XP to really fly... with win 7, you need like 4GB. But RAM is cheap and it's so worth it. Just be ready to relearn some things... it changes some stuff for the better, imo, but for people used to xp for 10 years, it's a change.

What's your CPU? You already have a quad core, right?

Nope, still on my E8200@3ghz.

CPU: E8200
GPU: 9800gtx+
RAM: 4gb
HDD: Soon to be SSD
OS: Soon to be W7

Don't really need much more, the max res on my display is 1400x1050(native) or 1440x900. Can't run crysis or metro on max but most games run just fine and look fine as well. If i were to buy a new gpu it would probably be a Gtx550.

I want/need a new GPU, but I run at 1920x1200. I'm waiting for at least one more generation of cards... if I were to upgrade now, I'd gain about 25% for a $250 card. I want double that before I'm willing to drop the cash.

I think shiny just wants me to upgrade, since she knows she'll get my current card when I do.

Hahaha, she's a scavenger like me, unfortunately i hunt for bargains online because i am the only computer person in family. If something is left over it is because i left it.