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Basic Mid-level Gamer Needs Video Card Upgrade?

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  • Performance
  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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December 6, 2013 9:22:51 PM

I have a couple year old build that is in need of better graphics and an overall boost in performance. I have a GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H motherboard, 4gb DDR2 1066 memory, an AMD Athlon II X3 445 processor, 120 GB SSD +500 GB spinning HD, with a 420 watt PC Power and Cooling power supply. The computer is mostly used for web browsing and photo editing and an occasional game. I'm not a serious gamer nor do I plan to be but I would like to be able to play most common popular PC video games (WOW, CIV5, C&C) . I don't need to play on the highest graphics setting but smoothly at mid levels would be nice. I was going to add more memory but the cost of DDR2 would make it cheaper to buy new motherboard and DDR3 (which is an option). I'm thinking a decent video card would possibly take care of my current issues. I don't have a budget per say but throwing this in the dumpster and starting fresh isn't really an option either.

My question essentially is this, what video card would provide a significant upgrade to my current setup? I'm thinking something in the $100-$150 area... my concern is would it be worth the upgrade? Is there another way that I could better my performance for a similar price?

I know people say it doesn't matter but as a reference my windows user experience score is a 4.3 based on the low score of graphics.

More about : basic mid level gamer video card upgrade

a c 206 U Graphics card
December 6, 2013 9:26:18 PM

Something like a HD7790, R7-260X, or GTX650Ti would be decent matches for your system, that you could carry forward to your next rig. They'll run on your existing PSU, needing only a single PCIe power cable.
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December 6, 2013 9:45:54 PM

Onus said:
Something like a HD7790, R7-260X, or GTX650Ti would be decent matches for your system, that you could carry forward to your next rig. They'll run on your existing PSU, needing only a single PCIe power cable.


My board is has ATI crossfire would I be better off with a video card that supports that or is that not all that effective? i.e.> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121772
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a c 206 U Graphics card
December 7, 2013 1:22:19 PM

You won't be running a pair of cards. Your board has a single PCIe slot on it.
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a b U Graphics card
December 7, 2013 1:48:56 PM

Get a 7750. You'll be bottlenecked with a 7790. I had an athlon x3 and it bottlenecked a 7770 quite a bit.
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a c 206 U Graphics card
December 7, 2013 2:42:00 PM

A HD7750 you'd be less likely to want to carry forward though. It isn't a bad choice for this rig if there were no future rebuild plans, but not the best use of money if you want something you can re-use later.
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