$200 Dollars to spend on new Graphics Card/PSU

[Eebado]

Alright so for Christmas I have around $200 to buy a new graphics card, but I know I need a new power supply too so i'm wondering what graphics card/PSU I should get. I was thinking about just getting an HD 5750 card but that is cutting it really close with my crappy power supply.

My Specs now are:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 @ 2.66 GHz
2 GB DDR2 Memory
430W Antec Ea430 Power Supply
Intel DG31PR Mother Board
Nvidia GeForce 7300 GS Graphics Card

I'll probably buy them off of new egg.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[jerreece]

NewEgg.com Combo Deal
AsusDirectCU GTX 460 768MB + CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W PSU $205 ($165 after Mail-In-Rebates)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.567276

VERY good power supply, and a MUCH faster video card than the ATI 5750 you're considering. Though I usually recommend the 1GB GTX 460, at lower resolutions the 768MB does very well. With an OverClock on your CPU you should do pretty well.

 

[jerreece]

MSI GTX 460 768MB Cyclone Edition $149.99 - $30 MIR = $119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127512&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=1727683&SID=

Antec NEO 520W PSU (80+ Certified) $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030

Total: $204.98
After Rebate $174.98

Honestly, I'd probably go with the first one I listed though. The MSI Cyclone is a great video card, but so are the Asus DirectCU cards. However, for the price, the Corsair 650W is the better power supply long term. It's way more power than you need, which means it'll handle more stuff long term (i.e. more upgrades).

 

[photonboy]

Look at the benchmarks here at Tomshardware for graphics cards and choose the best one in your budget.

The NVidia cards use significantly more power so in your case I'd recommend an HD5xxx ATI card in your price range.

Your PSU is adequate for the ATI cards that are $200

 

[photonboy]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-radeon-hd-6870-radeon-hd-6850,2782-4.html

I think the HD6850 if prices are as indicated.

*Note that it's likely a $200 video card will probably max out your CPU and a better card would make no difference with the CPU maxed.

You can Google "CPU performance chart"; for example, I calculated that the HD4770 would max out an X2-4800+ in most games.

 

[jerreece]

If you want to go the ATI 6850 route like photonboy suggested, this is likely the least expensive way to go:
XFX 6850 $180 + Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161348&cm_re=ati_6850-_-14-161-348-_-Product

However, ATI recommends a 500W PSU. You've got a decent quality PSU, but it's 430W with a MAX 360W on the 12V rails.

According to bit-tech.net the ATI 6850 and GTX 460's power consumption is listed here:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/10/22/ati-radeon-hd-6850-review/9

They also list GPU temps, and it appears the 460's run cooler. So there's a plus there. Although the 6850 will be faster than the GTX 460 768MB version.

 

[jerreece]

Here's the best way to find out.

http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

Based on my playing with that Power Supply Calculator, you should be able to get away with a 6850 or GTX 460 with your existing power supply. Assuming it's not too old (as they degrade over the years).

The GTX 460 recommended 322W and the ATI 6850 recommended 290W according to that calculator.

 

[Onus]

The EA-430 is not a crappy PSU, even if it's the older version. Your existing system would not have stressed it at all, so capacitor aging should not be an issue for you either. You will have no trouble at all with a GTX460; you'll note that this month's $500 SBM article pairs one with the 380W Earthwatts, and their load table shows a max. draw at their highest overclock of 341W at the wall, which at 85% efficiency means only 290W from the PSU.

 

[yesitsmario]

I recommend the 6850, you're PSU is enough.

 

[Eebado]

I don't know sounds like i'm cuttin it close with the voltage. I think i'm going to go with that first combo deal it looks pretty good. A lot better then what I have now.

 

[Eebado]

Best answer selected by Eebado.