Budget Video Card for Starcraft 2?

[cherrypepsi]

Hi, I'd like your recommendations on buying a budget video card for my current rig (details below). All I am interested in is playing at high settings in 4v4 situations with no lag. I'm not worried about future compatibility issues. Starcraft 2 only

Current rig:
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 450 3.20 [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886]
Video: EVGA GeForce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130238]
RAM: GSkill 4GB DDR3 1333 [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253]
Mobo: ONE slot for PCI-E x16 / TWO slots for PCI-E x1
PSU: Earthwatts 450W


Budget/Etc: $50 or less, preferably. I don't particularly care for HDMI.

Based on my current rig, I believe that my video card is my bottleneck. I play fine at low settings (no lag), but recently my computer has been freezing for ~5-15 seconds, several times each game. My fps also seems lower in high-food situations (compared to several months ago when I installed my new CPU/mobo, when my video card was cleaner). I'd probably get better performance by cleaning out the fan in my video card, but if I'm going to go down there, I might as well install a new video card that will let me play at high settings. I'm getting bored with low settings

I can't tell what's good on newegg anymore. There seem to be a lot of cards suitable for HTPC/other rigs that might not work for me? Or maybe a HTPC-suitable card will be fine for my needs, I just don't know. I don't want to get fooled by misleadingly high RAM/CPU specs.

 

[mute20]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874&cm_re=5570_radeon-_-14-102-874-_-Product

This should be good its slightly above ,but I doubt anything less will be effective enough to play at high.

 

[iam2thecrowe]

for $50 you can forget it. You should be getting no less than a gts450 or ati 5770.

 

[Guest]

Get the 6770!

 

[AstroTC]

You can use this HD 5670 for $49.99
http://www.epartsandmore.com/product_info.php?cPath=76_97&products_id=2618

or something a bit beefier an HD 4850 for $49.99
http://www.epartsandmore.com/product_info.php?cPath=76_97&products_id=2397

I would not spend more on a mid-ranged card just save up for ur next major upgrade

 

[Archean]

A 5670 should be able to give you 30+ FPS at 1920x1200 resolution with visuals settings at High (if you are planning to play at a lower resolution, then FPS will increase). Having said that Greg's recommendation of 5750 will be bit more appropriate IMO, and your PSU should be able to handle either of these.

 

[Guest]

^+1

 

[vladislav227]

get some more money and buy the 6970HD then you can play all games on max
http://www.amd.com/uk/products/desktop/graphics/amd-radeon-hd-6000/hd-6970/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-6970-overview.aspx

 

[cherrypepsi]

Best answer selected by cherrypepsi.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey