Which video card is the best bang for $ with decent performance

drunkducki · Jun 5, 2013

Im in the market for a new video card. My current setup is:

i5 2500k 4.3GHz
2x4gb g.skill ripjaws X 1600
ASUS gtx 460 1GB Directcu II @ 850mhz
PC Power & cooling silencer mk II 750w 80+ Silver
ASUS VW246H 1080p

I want the best performance/dollar and would like to keep it under $250 max.
My options are 7850, 7870, 650ti boost and 660.

Evga 650ti boost 1gb - $159.99
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=82706&vpn=01G-P4-3655-KR&manufacture=eVGA

Gigabyte 650ti boost 2gb - $174.99 (free 2 play bundle)
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=81621&vpn=GV-N65TBOC-2GD&manufacture=Gigabyte

XFX 7850 1gb - $164.99 (3 games + $20MIR)
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=77797&vpn=FX-785A-ZNL4&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1322

gigabyte 7850 2gb - $179.99 (3 games)
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=69494&vpn=GV-R785OC-2GD&manufacture=Gigabyte&promoid=1288

ASUS 660 2gb - 214.99 (1 game + $20MIR)
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=76367&vpn=GTX660-DC2O-2GD5&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1322

XFX 7870 2gb - $234.99 (4 games + $20MIR)
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=69828&vpn=FX787ACNFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1322

which one would you pick??

ksham · Jun 5, 2013

Best price/performance is the GTX 650 Ti Boost. But depending on the games you play, I would suggest that you get the HD 7870 or HD 7870 XT.

maestro0428 · Jun 5, 2013

The 660 is probably the best value out of the cards you have chosen. I went with two for SLI and am very happy with them. I picked them up for 186 each at newegg.com. The 7850 2GB is a great card too, but its no longer as good of a value unless you can find it for less than 200 bills. The games are a great addition if you don't already own them though, so that is something to seriously consider.

Shallowmist · Jun 5, 2013

Between all of those. I would go for the

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=69828&vpn=FX787ACNFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1322

The GTX 660 is also solid. However you gain 4 GAMES which obviously is a huge bonus and 20$. Only the games if there are at least 2
AAA games than you get 150$ right there as cash back for it. So u almost get half off the money as bonus.
Than the card on it self is faster than the GTX 660.

The only downside would be the evident lack of physic's however if you were to crank them up on single 660 you would lag out in more demanding games. And i hear overall performance the card would be better. To support my claim i present you with this.

http://www.game-debate.com/gpu/index.php?gid=1502&gid2=1162&compare=radeon-hd-7870-xfx-core-edition-vs-geforce-gtx-660-direct-cu-ii-oc-edition

Also please note:
ATI has been known to have notorious drivers, but if u have used one before you should be used to it by now and there is nothing else to say.

Nvidia does have physics and 3D vision and great drivers but aside from that ATI is better.

Best Regards
SHallowmist

maestro0428 · Jun 5, 2013

I have used both AMD (from the ATI 9000 to the 7850 2GB) and Nvidia (from the 5200 to 660) and the only time I have had driver issues was when I ran multi card set ups (from both sides). I wouldn't worry about AMD's drivers as they have improved a great deal.

I wouldn't worry about Physx either as its for the most part marketing. There just are not enough games that support it. As for mulit screen gaming, they are both good (I run Nvidia Surround now and love it), but you will need a multi card set up to really enjoy it.

Shallowmist · Jun 5, 2013

maestro0428 :

Than you are more fortunate than i have been in the past i've had terrible terrible problems with ATI 4000 and 5000 series. Since than i've moved to Nvidia. And indeed single card they seem to be less but i still had many driver crashes over the years. Ever since i got Nvidia i have not experienced the joy of (Ati catalyst has stopped working)

As to the physx indeed they are mostly bullshit but sometimes a nice extra to have if properly implemented.
Still i would go for the 7870 card as it is clearly sweeter deal.

ikaz · Jun 5, 2013

I actually would look at this if you looking at this

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=80887&promoid=1322

Thats a nice card as far as best bang for your dolar at the "mid-end"

Lowend would be the 650ti boost, however if you place to SLI/xfire with in the next 1-2 years I would go with Nvida they just have better SLI drivers right now.

Shallowmist · Jun 6, 2013

Solid card but i maintain my original choice.

drunkducki · Jun 6, 2013

Thanks everyone. nvidia has solid cards (owned 8800gt and gtx460) but i think im going to go with amd this time for the extra games.
tahiti is great but i'm hesitant with powercolor.

I have narrowed down my choices to 7850 1gb vs 7870 2gb. do you think 7870 really worth $70 over 7850? consider 7850 is only $165 so the difference is almost half the card.

ikaz · Jun 6, 2013

In the long run yes you could get by on the 7850, but having two 2gig will help with game in the future. Now if thats the 7870 xt/le then for sure it worth the extra money not only for the extra memory but that version is actually a slimmed down version of 7950 which is a topend card.

Shallowmist · Jun 7, 2013

Yes it's worth it. Absolutely 100%. Why you ask well because first of all it's a GHZ edition card so it's much faster. And with games there is a limit a limit that when crossed you will end up regretting the purchase. That limit my friend is the 7850. It is a card that will be good enough now and be horrible in a few months with the new games. Get your self a nice 7870 GHZ edition that is amazing and almost if not faster than 7950. It will last you a long time and later u can add another one to it if you feel slow and don't want to spent much cash.

I stand by the ATI 7870 GHZ edition 100% and recommend it. Even though i own Nvidia GTX 680. I would still pick ATI 7870 over GTX 660 in this scenario. Also better spent 70 now instead of regretting not spending them in the long run. Don't cheap out on the most important component.

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Which video card is the best bang for $ with decent performance

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