What video card should I get with $500 budget?

Bailout · Apr 6, 2013

I haven't upgraded my computer since 2008 and was looking for some help on what new graphics card to get.
My specs are:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad QX9770 Extreme 3.20Ghz
Motherboard: nvidia 780i Core 2 quad
Power Supply: 1000w
Video card(s):2 9800GTX in SLI
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanatos Telos · Apr 6, 2013

GPU will be bottlenecked at that price range. Personally, I would build a new PC with a cheaper GPU.
Get the build here, with this HDD:http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex
And if you can afford it, this CPU:http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i33220 , which is 45$ more expensive.
This build should run on mid-high settings easy.

hang-the-9 · Apr 6, 2013

You won't get much increase in video performance in many games due to the CPU. Although it's a good speed, it will not keep up with the newer video cards. I'd keep the same box till you can replace the CPU as well.

huilun02 · Apr 6, 2013

It'd be wise to save up some more and make a new PC. You can use your old 1000W and save a bit.

For $600 >> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-gaming-overclock-build-a-pc,3443.html

For $800 >> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/build-a-pc-overclocking-gaming,3440.html

Thanatos Telos · Apr 6, 2013

Sorry, forgot to link the build:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/budget-gaming-do-it-yourself-computer,3364.html

huilun02 · Apr 6, 2013

Thanatos Telos :

Thanatos you might want to look at this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-gaming-overclock-build-a-pc,3443-18.html

Both uses the HD 7850, but you get at least 72% increase in performance if you spend $100 more for a i5-3350P
The Q4 2012 system was already bottlenecked by the Pentium G850. That's sabotage considering the OP might wait another few years before another upgrade.

Instead, he could bring over his old PSU, hard drive, and optical drive. That would have brought the $600 down by over $100

Bailout · Apr 6, 2013

I was looking at something like a GTX570 but I wasn't sure if that was going to be bottlenecked.

Thanatos Telos · Apr 6, 2013

Bailout :

Probably will be. You really should just build a new PC.

Bailout · Apr 6, 2013

Thanatos Telos :

Alright I'll save up some more money and build a new PC. Thanks for the help.

Greatatlantic · Apr 7, 2013

Even with your current budget, you can do pretty well in the upgrade department, assuming you can salvage your case, your PSU, your Operating system, and your HDs.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/OYC2

This gives you a new motherboard, RAM, CPU, and GPU. It should play most games on high settings, with newer titles possibly requiring medium settings to maintain frame rates at 1920x1080. Total cost is $460, so you'll have some head room and will represent a substantrial graphics improvement. Simply put, games don't need really expensive graphics cards to look really nice at common resolutions. The more expensive hardware is about adding some additional tweaks that don't have a major impact on visuals, or playing with multi-monitors or more expensive, higher resolution monitors.

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What video card should I get with $500 budget?

Bailout

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Thanatos Telos

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hang-the-9

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huilun02

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Thanatos Telos

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huilun02

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Bailout

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Thanatos Telos

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Bailout

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Greatatlantic

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