"Budget" Video Cards

[Plow]

So, the massive, beautiful piece of artwork known as Wintergrasp decided that every capacitor on my video card needed to literally blow its top off.

As such, I'm now in the market for a new card. The old one was an 8600GT, and it ran everything I do more than easily enough, other than sometimes GH3.


What I'm looking for is basically the best bang for the buck. I'd like to keep it low, like in the 50-75 dollar range (ebay/amazon pricing not like $50 at best buy, obviously), but I'm willing to go as high as maybe $150 max.

So, let's say, basically, I'm looking in the range of $50-$150, and my main priority is finding the sweet spot in there for value of performance per money spent.


I've found a couple chances at 9500GT's with 1GB for around $50, but after doing just a tiiiiny bit of research, it seems like stepping up to the like 90-120 range makes a pretty damn huge difference.


So, yeah, anyone know of any particularly good deals these days? Or any specific thoughts on what to aim for or avoid?

Thanks!

[Epical]

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100265L Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Upper end of your price tier, but good stuff nonetheless.

[Plow]

Yeah, that particular card was actually why I decided to keep looking at more expensive stuff after finding the 1gb 9500's so cheap, but it almost sounded too good to be true heh. Going to be looking for the best deal I can find on it most likely, thanks!

I have no problem spending in that range, just if I'm going to get up in the $150 range it better be for something pretty damn amazing heh.

[Avanarius]

Nvidia basically has no new low end cards yet, so your stuck looking at the 9000 series which is pretty dated now.

I'd definitely take a look at the 4830 as mentioned above. Excellent bang for buck.

I believe it performed on par or better then the 9600gt so considering your last card, it'd still be a step up without breaking your wallet.

[Stee]

BFG GeForce 9800 GT OC Video Card - 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, (2) Dual Link DVI, HDTV BFGE98512GTOCE at TigerDirect.com

outdated now but for 99.99 this card is awesome

[Plow]

The price on the Sapphire just went down $10 from like 20 mintues ago >.>

99 now lol

[Stee]

lol ok choose the sapphire

[Blubbartron]

I actually just purchased the ASUS TOP Radeon HD4850 from newegg. It's like $130 with MIR. Comes pre-overclocked to 680 mhz on the core, 2100 on the memory. Also, apparently the 512 of memory is "hypermemory" or some such nonsense, so it registers as a full gig on the driver utility. Definitely liking it so far. After folding on it for a full day it never breached 78 C, whereas my old 8800 GTS would run consistently at 89 C.

[Plow]

I actually just purchased the ASUS TOP Radeon HD4850 from newegg. It's like $130 with MIR. Comes pre-overclocked to 680 mhz on the core, 2100 on the memory. Also, apparently the 512 of memory is "hypermemory" or some such nonsense, so it registers as a full gig on the driver utility. Definitely liking it so far. After folding on it for a full day it never breached 78 C, whereas my old 8800 GTS would run consistently at 89 C.

I was actually looking at that one, but what I'm hearing about the sapphire is that it's really easy to OC and the freaking jet engine attached to it keeps it at really low temps even with a lot of OC.

It's the same basic card, is there any real reason I should be able to get more performance out of one than the other outside the cooling? I.E. is having the overclocking done by the pros and the card built with it in mind really worth the $30, or is the exact same potential there with the sapphire?

[Plow]

oh, another question, should this power supply be good for it? I only run 1 dvdrw + 2 hdd

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

[Epical]

I'd go with a 500 instead -- Newegg.com - Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU 500W ATX 12V 2.0 Power Supply - Power Supplies

[Plow]

From what I understand a Corsair 450 is supposed to be just as good as anyone else's 500, the Corsair 500 is what I really want but ugh @ $100 for a power supply running 1 vc and 3 drives.

[Blubbartron]

I really don't know whether the ASUS or Sapphire card is better. If the Sapphire aftermarket thermal paste and cooler isn't enough to get you to 680 core and 2100 memory while still keeping under 80 C, chances are you'd waste that 30 bucks buying quality cooling products to put on yourself, or lose out on potential power.

[Fira]

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
100$ with 20$ mail in rebate
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Check out the system builder guides here, they look for the best deals around certain price ranges for each parts.
System Builder Marathon: Performance & Value : Is Spending More Justified? - Review Tom's Hardware

[Calina]

is having the overclocking done by the pros and the card built with it in mind really worth the $30, or is the exact same potential there with the sapphire?

buying the factory OC cards is worth it imo. They pick out the better of the cards that can handle the over clock so there higher quality cards. Usaly they can take even higher overclocks then given from the factory(I have my old BFG 7950 oc running well above factory overclock). Somthing the a normal card it would be hit or miss weather you get a good quality card or not overclocking wise.

all in all if you can spare the money go for it if your planing to try and overclock it^^

[levish]

i personally don't consider 50-75$ cards worth a damn for (current) gaming, the sweet spot is in the 125-175$ range for budget gaming (again this is a personal opinion)

that being said a 8800GT/9800GT/4850 should be a huge step up from the 8600GT

With respect to factory overclocked cards, its hit or miss. I bought a 6600GT (obviously a long time ago) that wouldn't run the memory at the "factory overclocked" settings without artifacting.

I personally prefer reference based cards

[Plow]

Thanks guys, I went with the Sapphire and the 650w Corsair power supply. $200 on the dot with free shipping, then $40 of mail in rebates, for $160 I think I did pretty damn well.

Thanks again!

[Resin]

Just the obligatory "you went overboard on the power supply" comment--a quality Seasonic 380w or the Corsair 400w unit would have been plenty, but for the price, you can't go wrong.

[Plow]

Indeed, it is overkill.

My thought process was basically, after rebate it's $20 more, and it opens up the possibility of a mobo upgrade and tossing in another sapphire a few months down the road when it'll probably be available for $50-60. Then, regardless of if I do that or not, it should still be quite good for my next box, anyway.

[Plow]

Hey uh... I installed the stuff and it's working fine.

I see no reason whatsoever that anything other than the video should have changed...


But I can't get any sound through the digital output I've been using for the last year or so.

Any ideas? I've been testing everything I can think of, which really isn't all that much lol, and I can't get any results whatsoever.


edit: tried analog output with some crappy old speakers, nothing ><


edit2: just making new thread for new problem


Got it all working and it's freaking amazing. Sitting at 47 after a good hour of full load.