Best Graphics Cards for the Money (April 2009)

[r_manic]

To recap, here's what the article listed:

For ~$65: Radeon HD 4670
For ~$80: GeForce 9600 GT
For ~$95: Radeon HD 4830
For ~$130: GeForce 9800 GTX+ / GeForce GTS 250 or Radeon HD 4850
For ~$160: Just spend $25 more
For ~$185: Radeon HD 4870 1GB or GeForce GTX 260 (Core 216)
For ~$260: Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB
For ~$360: Two GeForce GTX 260 (Core 216) cards in SLI Configuration or Two Radeon HD 4870 1 GB in CrossFire Configuration
For ~$430: Radeon HD 4870 X2
For ~$520: GeForce GTX 295

Any observations, questions, or violent reactions?

 

[FredSRichardson]

You can actually get a 4890 for $185 right now, though that deal may end soon. Even then, I would take a single 4890 at $220 over a 4850X2 at $260, but that's only because I don't like those dual GPU cards

 

[RazberyBandit]

You can actually get a 4890 for $185 right now, though that deal may end soon. Even then, I would take a single 4890 at $220 over a 4850X2 at $260, but that's only because I don't like those dual GPU cards

Where?!

 

[r_manic]

Yes, where! We demand you link to it!

 

[AKM880]

Look at this thread, its an OC 4890 from MSI.

http://m.slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1290987

 

[r_manic]

Shared that with the rest here. Great deal, even without the Live Cashback, thanks man!

 

[AKM880]

Is MSI a reliable brand though?

 

[RazberyBandit]

MSI seems to get mixed reviews. I think they're a fine brand. I just wish they'd do more internal testing before they release products, especially motherboards, as their releases seem... hurried. Meaning, internal testing seems not quite as thorough as one would hope, indicated by MSI often releasing several different "revisions" of previously released products.

Of course, this is my purely biased opinion as I've got a K9A2 CF mobo, revision 1, which doesn't support 125W AMD CPUs, while the revision 3 does... Translation: No Phenom II 940 for me! GRRR! LOL

 

[AKM880]

So if I were to get a X58 mobo, would a Asus be better than the MSI? I have a old system with a MSI motherboard and its great. But I wasn't so sure on GPU's

 

[RazberyBandit]

I don't know which would be better. My personal preference right now is Gigabyte with their Ultra Durable 3 boards. The added copper in the PCB seems ingenious.

 

[jitpublisher]

I simply don't like SLI or Crossfire being recommended as a "best buy" for the money.
The reason is because the performance benefit varies more widely over a single card setup depending on the games you run. Certain games may actually perform better on single lower cost card solution than a multi-card solution.
My 2 cents, always, always buy the very best single card solution you afford.
Then later when you feel the need for a boost, and the price of the card drops a little, add another one.