What Graphics Card Should I Buy (single monitor)

thezackperry

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Apr 3, 2011
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What card would you suggest for me, I don't need it for multiple screens, just able to play games on high/ultra. I'm looking at a Sapphire Radeon HD5770 Vapor-X 1 GB DDR5 right now but i don't really have much experience with these but I know I'm looking to crossfire later on if i have to for Skyrim. I know I might have to get a different power supply but I really don't want to iunless I absolutely have to.

My mobo is an ASUS P8H67-M
My CPU is an i5 2500k @ 3.7 gHz
Memory is Corsair 8gb XMS
PSU is a Corsair TX650w
 
Solution
Would need to know the resolution you are aiming for gaming wise, and also your budget. The 5770 is a great card in its own right, but if you are gunning for a constant 1920x1080 type resolution at high details and fsaa on your games, then you may want to consider another card like the 6850 or 6870. If you are planing to play at something like 1440x900, 1360x768, or 1280x1024, then the HD 5770 is a safe bet with a good bang for the buck performance ratio. Cant comment on Skyrim performance with any given card however, because the game is not out yet.

professorprofessorson

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Jan 24, 2011
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Would need to know the resolution you are aiming for gaming wise, and also your budget. The 5770 is a great card in its own right, but if you are gunning for a constant 1920x1080 type resolution at high details and fsaa on your games, then you may want to consider another card like the 6850 or 6870. If you are planing to play at something like 1440x900, 1360x768, or 1280x1024, then the HD 5770 is a safe bet with a good bang for the buck performance ratio. Cant comment on Skyrim performance with any given card however, because the game is not out yet.
 
Solution
With $250 to spend ....the 6850 gets toasted by the 560 TI ...especially the 900 Mhz model which beats the 6950... and its only $215.....more than the 6850 but well below your $250 limit

$215 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363

The factory OC'd 560 Ti's perform very close to the 570's. Guru3D uses the following games in their test suite, COD-MW, Bad Company 2, Dirt 2, Far Cry 2, Metro 2033, Dawn of Discovery, Crysis Warhead. Total fps (summing fps in each game) for the various options (single card / SL or CF) are tabulated below

6850 (371/634)
6950 (479/751)
560 Ti (455/792)
6970 (526/825)
560 Ti - 900 Mhz (495/862)
570 (524/873)
580 (616/953)
6990 (762/903)
590 (881/982)

On a side note, regarding your CF reference, I see that the 2nd GFX slot can only do x4, for GFX use, ideal is x16 x16, but x8 x8 is considered the minimum.

Expansion Slots

PCI Express 2.0 x16
2 (x16, x4)