Video card upgrade & new clouds

[bc21]

Ok last night I took a huge frame rate hit when in the clouds or near them. So much so that the game is unplayable. From 48-55 ish down to as low as 5 fps. I would like HTC recommendation for a video card. I have a Radeon HD4350 right now. Thanks BC

[Bizman]

You know that in Radeons the thousands tell the generation and the hundreds tell the power rating in that generation, don't you? Tens indicate minor differences like clocking. That said, three hundred is not very much compared to the most powerful eight or nine hundred series. Of course, the price difference is about tenfold, but so is the efficiency. There's charts and reviews in the net comparing the bang for a buck, too, since few of us are economically independent enough to get the ultimate rig for this hobby.

[The Fugitive]

HTC won't recomend a card, they don't want to be responsible for that recommendation. If you ask skuzzy what he thinks about a card he will give you an opinion, but would say whether or not he "recommends" the card.

That being said, CLICK HERE for a list of cards tested with the same setup to rate the performance as they compare to each other. As you go down the list you are looking at older/cheaper cards. Yours doesn't seem to make the list  The cards near the top of the list are going to be the newest greatest and most expensive cards available.

Pick your performance range that you want, and then after you choke on the prices a bit come back and pick one you can afford   

List which you like here and these gurus will help with the pros and cons of those you picked.

[Skuzzy]

The key video card feature, as it pertains to the clouds, is 'fill rate'.

[Bizman]

Fugi, that chart is a gem amongst tools to find a suitable video card! Bc21, when buying a new card I'd recommend such comparisons rather than the manufacturer's reviews. In the latter there isn't equivalent difference between the marketing jargon and price. Like with your card: "break-through efficiency that doesn’t compromise performance" doesn't sound like 1/10 of " massive graphics processing muscle" of the HD4890, does it? Yet the prices differed about that much.

[bc21]

AMD Radeon HD 7770
HD 7770 1GB GDDR5 1000MHz
 
  3128

This is the one I'm looking at locally Price at Frys is about $150. Will this run the clouds better?

[Bizman]

Certainly it will run the clouds much better. The #770 cards have a good reputation for being both reasonably priced and relatively powerful. They're also known for being quite easy on the power supply.