Games are getting more graphic intense every year. I suggest preparing with a decent card. Instead of buying a
whole new one later, you can just pay a litter more and be supported for another (More or less) ~10 years.
That isn't the case. Since about 2007, the demands of new PC games haven't really increased at all. The Cryengine is still the best looking, and most resource intensive, one around. The trouble is that many PC games we have now are either console ports or at least are multi-platform so the development budget is tight. Developers don't have that much incentive anymore to produce incredible looking games that really challenge our hardware.
Spending more now rather than later is not always the best idea, but in certain circumstances it makes sense. I don't think spending an extra $100 is really going to benefit him now, nor in the long run.
I have a 5870 and I agree that any game that isn't pretty new doesn't really get much use out of it, also I've seen some benchmarks and heard talk of it but we all know bench marks aren't always the best source
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/37499-hd-6870-hd-6850-vs-gtx-460-1gb-overclocking-study-5.html
If those benchmarks are correct then the 6870 is probably a better deal.
If you need to make a topic about which card to get then the 5870 isn't for you.
You know, I was itching to say something along those lines earlier, but I just felt it was a bit too rude to say. I have to agree.
I payed extra for the HD5870 because I wanted to use Eyefinity, but in retrospect I probably should have just saved $100 and bought the HD5850. Seeing a HD5870 now for $300 is a real "kick in the balls" as I payed $420 for mine, but that is the way of things in the computer hardware market. Even at that price I feel there are better options out there.
...when I bought DDR3 ram. Spent like 600$ on 12 gigs of it...
If you put down $600 for memory, then you have more money than sense.
