Help me choose a graphics card

Riczter on 27/08/2013 - 23:16
Last edited 28/08/2013 - 00:09

Hey I'm fixing up an old Gaming PC that had a failed RAM and graphics card :/ and need to get a new graphics card for it to bring it back into the modern day. Any good deals at the moment for mid to low end cards? I'm on a pretty tight budget, not looking to play the latest games on ultra high settings, just looking for something reasonable at a really good price.
Any recommendations? Even if there isn't anything on special right now, are there any models I should keep my eye on that are in the price-performance-value sweet spot??

Its running a DDR2 Gigabyte mobo (GA-G31M-S2L) with an Antec BP550 Plus. CPU is Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz and 4GB RAM running Win7 x64.

Any ideas?
Thanks

Computing

Comments

  • issh on 27/08/2013 - 23:22

    What's your budget?

    • Riczter on 27/08/2013 - 23:31

      Dunno, its not for me, I'm fixing it for a mate, so I got limited information.
      I would assume $150-200.
      But I'm looking for the best value card at a few different price points, so I can offer a couple of options.
      For example best card under $100, best card under $150, best card under $200, etc.

      • ESEMCE on 28/08/2013 - 08:32

        what games are you planning to play..
        I have an E8400 and bought a GTX 650 Ti 1GB and playing L4D2 it's maxxing out the CPU on Medium Settings.
        In other words, the GPU is overpowered for the rest of the system.

        • Riczter on 28/08/2013 - 12:12

          Hmmm. Mainly old RTS Classics like AoE3, AoM, C&C3:TW, Maybe some starcraft, oh and sims3 but he wants a bit of future proofing as well. Is the CPU going to be a problem? Would it handle sims3 or Civ5?

        • ESEMCE on 28/08/2013 - 12:20

          I really don't know, but definitely worth checking if those games are CPU or GPU bound.

          My GPU died so needed a replacement, but probably could have saved ~$50 on a lower spec card had I researched a bit more.

        • leonheart1 on 28/08/2013 - 12:30

          That's weird. I was sure I was able to play on max settings with my E8400. You've overclocked it, right?

        • ESEMCE on 28/08/2013 - 13:03

          No it's stock.
          Wouldn't know the first step to overclock and not overly keen to try.
          It's a base model motherboard so may not even be capable..

  • ryanlundie on 27/08/2013 - 23:32

    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1442&products_id=22993]

  • Riczter on 27/08/2013 - 23:56

    Cool so the GTX650 is the best option at the under $200 mark?
    What about $100-150?

    • ryanlundie on 28/08/2013 - 00:00

      I would go with that card if you are looking to play any current generation games.

      • ryanlundie on 28/08/2013 - 00:02

        Also, what processor is in the PC?

        • Riczter on 28/08/2013 - 00:08

          Sorry I should have mentioned that. Its an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0Ghz

        • ryanlundie on 28/08/2013 - 00:19

          Hit and a miss with bottle-necking, should be fine most of the time if you get a 650 ti, but with very demanding games such as Battlefield 3 you might notice some choking.

    • _Bruce_ on 28/08/2013 - 07:35
      +3

      Note that the 'Ti' part is important.

  • _Bruce_ on 28/08/2013 - 07:38
    +2

    These options are fine if you don't want to pay for the 650Ti:

    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…
    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…
    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…

    May be better to wait for a front page deal though (or just buy elsewhere) as all of these can be cheaper.

  • garethb on 28/08/2013 - 14:47

    If it were me, I'd buy this 7850. Better than a 650ti and same price!
    http://www.ccpu.com.au/show_prod.php?class_id=video-ati&prod…

    • Riczter on 28/08/2013 - 14:54

      Ooh, now we are getting some competition. He has said that his budget is $200 for the graphics card… But he has 3 screens, 1 with hdmi and 2 with DVI, no display port… so for this reason alone the gtx650ti might be better if there is not much else in it….
      Also the 650 has 3 year warranty, not much information on the 7850…
      Thoughts?

  • ryanlundie on 28/08/2013 - 16:14

    Looks like the 650 ti is perfect as it has exactly 2 dvi ports and 1 HDMI

  • dreadpiratedan on 28/08/2013 - 19:48

    I'd go a 7770 over a 650ti any day. And nvidia are my card of choice normally. Pretty much same raw power and trades blows with the 650ti, but cheaper. By trades blows I mean 4/10 games you'd get better frames in the 7770, the other 6 would play better on the 650ti.

    But I would strongly recommend getting a second hand gtx 460, 470, 560, 560ti or radeon hd 5850, 5870, 5950, 5970, 6850, 6870, 6950, 6970. Last month I was hunting down one of the above for whatever price I could get. Heaps were going for around 100 on avaerage.. give or take 20. Missed out on quite a few steals by hesitating too much. Ended up getring a pretty beastly 5870 for $100 with a dead 580 thrown in. Couldn't have been happier with the card

  • bowtiehoon on 28/08/2013 - 21:10

    get a cheap ssd hdd, i recently did it to an old pc, it friggen flies…

    • Riczter on 28/08/2013 - 21:52

      Yeah I suggested SSD, but he cant afford both.

  • ryanlundie on 28/08/2013 - 21:43

    I can sell my MSI gtx 560 ti used for around half a year, in perfect condition just 1 small scratch from installation.

    • Riczter on 28/08/2013 - 21:50

      Oh yeah? How much? Although unless you are in W.A. I probably wont go for it, I would rather the piece of mind with the warranty on a new one.

      • ryanlundie on 28/08/2013 - 21:54

        Would do 130, still got the receipt and all that jazz. But shipping would be annoying

        • Riczter on 28/08/2013 - 22:01

          If it was for me then I probably would, but I don't need the potential headaches if theres a problem. Thanks anyway tho!

        • ryanlundie on 28/08/2013 - 22:02

          No worries, ebay it is haha :). So keen to get a 770!

        • Riczter on 28/08/2013 - 22:06

          try gumtree or ozbargain classifieds first. Feebay shits me off.

  • biozet on 29/08/2013 - 08:30

    just go with a clearance list gpu from msy…reduced price quality…best value often for under the 100 mark.

  • tonyjzx on 29/08/2013 - 11:38

    $100 7790… overkill for a s775 but will stand in good stead for a system upgrade

    the end

  • OzzyOzbourne on 29/08/2013 - 11:55

    I've been researching graphics cards for a month now due to a recent gaming PC build. Although I went with a GTX680, in your price range and for that PC I would say;

    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…

    is awesome value and performance. Slightly better than a 650 ti Boost (which is the next one I'd recommend), but similar money.

  • aim54x on 29/08/2013 - 15:32

    I have been looking for awhile as well….trying to upgrade something even more interesting (and older)…a HP XW6200 Dual Xeon 3.2Ghz (Nocona)….

    i have been looking at the 650Ti/650Ti Boost vs 7790/7850…just waiting for a good special

  • Wallyt99 on 29/08/2013 - 21:44

    I wouldn't. With similar cpu I recently got a new gfx card… I think 6870…. Found I was cpu bound and scored a core 2 q9550… Still cpu bound. Can play the latest games - eg last light…. But nowhere near high settings. Sometimes slows to 20~30 fps on low/medium.

    If you must… Just grab a used card from ebay that matches the cpu e.g - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gigabyte-9800GTX-512mb-/111153050…

  • biozet on 30/08/2013 - 08:30

    Sapphire HD7790 DUAL-X OC 1GD5 1G DDR5 7790 PCI-E VGA Card $129
    msy clearance

  • umartsydney on 06/09/2013 - 09:58

    Umart Online Sydney

    Around that budget, I may get Asus GF GTX650 Ti 2G $155

    Another one I was looking at would be

    Power Colour AX7850-2GBD5-2DHPPE OC UEFI 1000Mhz,2G $185

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