mid $400s budget pc Graphics Card decision help

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

I'm looking to build a budget PC in the near future. I have my whole build decided..except the graphics card. There's so many to pick from and graphics cards are not something I'm most informed on. I'd like to keep it under $150.

A few questions to kick things off if someone in the community doesn't mind explaining.
What do the numbers mean? I assume more is better.
Core clock? Boost clock? Cuda cores? Stream processors?

My build so far:
CPU - AMD Athaon X4 750k 3.4ghz quad core
RAM - G.Skill single 4GB stick
MB - MSI A55M-E35 FM2+/FM2 Micro ATX
PSU - Raidmax Hybrid 2 RX-530SS 530watt
HDD - Wester Digital WD Blue 1TB
Case - Rosewill LINE GLOW ATX Mid Tower (could go cheaper on a budget build but 4 fans are included)

If someone could just point me in the right direction with the best graphics card for $150 and under?

firo40 · May 5, 2014

OK first off if you are going to build a budget computer with a gpu. get a fx 6300 intead of the athlon 750k. It will give you way better preformance for the same price. In order to recommend a gpu your location will be needed aswell

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

OK first off if you are going to build a budget computer with a gpu. get a fx 6300 intead of the athlon 750k. It will give you way better preformance for the same price. In order to recommend a gpu your location will be needed aswell

I am in Florida
The CPU that I picked is $80, the one you suggested is $120.

chargeit · May 5, 2014

$150 and under, 750 ti

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121855

That one is also 7% off.

This one doesn't require a PCIE power connection, and is $139 after "MIR"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487024

Don't buy a "Raidmax" PSU (or anything Raidmax)... Get this one, Corsair CX430. Should be more then enough if you stick to that 750 ti..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

firo40 · May 5, 2014

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009O7YORK/?tag=pcpapi-20 its 109$ and its well worth the upgrade get with this motherboard http://www.microcenter.com/product/379475/M5A78L-M_LX_PLUS_Socket_AM3_760G_mATX_AMD_Motherboard

NiCoM · May 5, 2014

Core clock is the speed of the gpu (in some way), you can use it to find out which card, within one type (etc a GTX 750ti), is the fastest. you cant compare two different models clocks (etc a GTX 760 and GTX 770) since the cards are made differently.

boost clock is the same, just a value the card can boost to if the performance is needed.

Cuda Cores are Nvidia cards "processors", whereas stream processors is the AMD version of this. CUDA tends to be well used in programs.

I think this would be a clear winner in your budget, the GTX 750ti, would easily run on your psu even if it's very low end:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx750tioc2gd5

firo40 · May 5, 2014

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r72652gd5oc its stonger then the 750 more around a 750 ti for 149$

chargeit · May 5, 2014

NiCoM :

Core clock is the speed of the gpu (in some way), you can use it to find out which card, within one type (etc a GTX 750ti), is the fastest. you cant compare two different models clocks (etc a GTX 760 and GTX 770) since the cards are made differently.

boost clock is the same, just a value the card can boost to if the performance is needed.

Cuda Cores are Nvidia cards "processors", whereas stream processors is the AMD version of this. CUDA tends to be well used in programs.

I think this would be a clear winner in your budget, the GTX 750ti, would easily run on your psu even if it's very low end:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx750tioc2gd5

Thanks for saying what I said... Really helpful.

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009O7YORK/?tag=pcpapi-20 its 109$ and its well worth the upgrade get with this motherboard http://www.microcenter.com/product/379475/M5A78L-M_LX_P...

Keep in mind the price has to stay low. Getting a $150 graphics card will already bump the price higher than I'd like it to be as it is. The motherboard you suggested only has a max of 8gb of RAM and the most attractive part of building a pc (in my personal opinion) is the ability to upgrade. I'll for sure be upgrading and adding on as time passes.

chargeit · May 5, 2014

aaroneugenee :

Look at what I posted... The GPU is $150 + 7% off right now... That PSU is 6 bucks cheaper then the one you wanted, but by a better brand, and more then enough for your build.

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

$150 and under, 750 ti

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

That one is also 7% off.

This one doesn't require a PCIE power connection, and is $139 after "MIR"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Don't buy a "Raidmax" PSU (or anything Raidmax)... Get this one, Corsair CX430. Should be more then enough if you stick to that 750 ti..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Saving me a few bucks and suggesting something better.. appreciate it!

NiCoM · May 5, 2014

chargeit :

Yes? i recommended the same gpu?? and so what?

and it's not the same, since i actually took the time to explain all the differences on gpus he wanted to know about.

chargeit · May 5, 2014

NiCoM :

chargeit :

Yes? i recommended the same gpu?? and so what?

and it's not the same, since i actually took the time and find this gentlemen a $139,50 GTX 750ti...

Off of PC part picker? I bet it comes out to more after tax... Newegg doesn't charge tax, and is selling the GPU I mentioned for 7% off.. Oh, and it's free shipping...

firo40 · May 5, 2014

Does anyone else agree that using an athlon over a 6300 is a waste in this configuration?

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

NiCoM :

chargeit :

Yes? i recommended the same gpu?? and so what?

and it's not the same, since i actually took the time to find this gentlemen a $139,50 GTX 750ti. AND explain all the differences on gpus he wanted to know about.

Indeed you did, thank you.
Chargeit, you found me a good (probably obvious) choice for a PSU, so I thank you for that.

chargeit · May 5, 2014

firo40 :

Yea, I'd go for the FX 6300, have one in my ol'ladys rig with a HD 7850, and it's a good budget gaming rig.

*Yea, np about the PSU. That CX430 will meet your needs and then some man.

NiCoM · May 5, 2014

chargeit :

NiCoM :

Off of PC part picker? I bet it comes out to more after tax... Newegg doesn't charge tax, and is selling the GPU I mentioned for 7% off.. Oh, and it's free shipping...

Stop ranting, its not helping anyone... and its the same site we linked, just different methods of finding it. Let's all be good friends here and help this guy out

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

chargeit :

NiCoM :

Off of PC part picker? I bet it comes out to more after tax... Newegg doesn't charge tax, and is selling the GPU I mentioned for 7% off.. Oh, and it's free shipping...

Haha settle, gentlemen. It isn't that big of a deal. I would have chosen the cheaper one after tax/shipping anyways

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

chargeit :

Getting the 6300 and the motherboard firo suggested would put my build at $516 before any shipping, which is over my mid 400s range, AND limits me to only 8GB of RAM if I ever decided to upgrade.

firo40 · May 5, 2014

You will not need more then 8 gbs of ram for gaming only for editing. If you decide to take the athlon it will work but you will be way more bottlnecked in games then if you went with a 6300. Im just trying to save you buyers remorse as the platform you are using is more meant for APU's not a dedicated cpu and gpu.

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

If I get the 6300, I will most likely go with this mb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130657

It gives me 16GB Ram to work with, which if I ever did add ram I doubt I'd pass 16g for a looong time.

But this also puts me at $371 without a graphics card. Now I kinda wanna put the graphics card at a $120 limit.

I should add I'm in no rush to play the latest games on ultra and 1080p. I'm very used to playing things like skyrim on medium and lowered res for example. Playing on high at 40-50fps would feel like heaven to me.

Updated build:
CPU - AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5Ghz 6-core - $119.99
RAM - G.Skill single 4GB stick - $38.99
MB - MSI 760GM-P34 (FX) AM3+ - $52.99
PSU - Corsair Cx430 - $44.99
HDD - Wester Digital WD Blue 1TB - $59.99
Case - Rosewill LINE GLOW ATX Mid Tower - $54.99

NiCoM · May 5, 2014

aaroneugenee :

Then non-ti for you!

GTX 750 is $115
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-01gp42751kr

removing the ti version for a better cpu (FX6300) i a valid choice.

EDIT: you can get it at newegg for 120: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487027&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

Also, strictly newegg because shameless newegg fanboy

boosted1g · May 5, 2014

Agree with the 6300 cpu.

I know it puts you over your budget, but isnt it worth it to spend a little more now, even if it means waiting a little longer to buy something today that is not nearly as good. When you do upgrade in the future that 760k is going to be a bottleneck and then you will have to buy a new cpu and motherboard which will be way more costly down the road then the $40 price difference in the CPU.

aaroneugenee · May 5, 2014

At this point I don't even mind. The 750 looks good to me

I'm excited.

Also, another noob question.
Where it says "expansions" under motherboard specs, is that extra? or are those the main slots?
The GTX 750 says PCI express 3.0 but the chosen motherboard only has
PCI Express 2.0 x16 - 1
PCI Express x1 - 1
PCI Express - 1

mid $400s budget pc Graphics Card decision help

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