Best PCI E x16 Graphic Card

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 @ 1920 x 1200) for the various options in parenthesis (single card / SL or CF) are tabulated below along with their cost in dollars per frame single card - CF or SLI:


$ 155.00 460-768 MB (314/592) $ 0.49 - $ 0.52
$ 155.00 6850 (371/634) $ 0.42 - $ 0.49
$ 160.00 6870 (434/701) $ 0.37 - $ 0.46
$ 220.00 6950 (479/751) $ 0.46 - $ 0.59
$ 240.00 6950 Frozr OC (484/759) $ 0.50 - $ 0.63
$ 205.00 560 Ti (455/792) $ 0.45 - $ 0.52
$ 205.00 560 Ti - 900 Mhz (495/862) $ 0.41 - $ 0.48

My recommendations are bolded above:

434 fps at 37 cents per frame (46 cents per frame in CF* )
$160 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

495 fps at 41 cents per frame (48 cents per frame in SLI*)
$205 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

You can't do CF / SLI but I noted the performance numbers anyway in case you upgrade or move cards to a new system.

With your stated price range of $200-250, I'd select the 900 Mhz 560 Ti

When i called Asus to get help.. They didn't say my card slot was PCI e 2.0 just PCI e x16... SO i can't run 2.0 cards right?

PCI-Express is backwards compatible. Your computer will work fine with a 2.0 card.

http://www.10stripe.com/featured/quick/pci-express-2-0....

Just found that.. Helped me alot ! Most probs i see with alot of the cards are they are to hot, To big or to long. Cards you linked have some good reviews and some bad but more good then bad.

In your price range Jack is correct in that the GTX560 Ti and the HD6870 are the best choices. The 560 Ti has an edge but they trade back and forth depending on the game as to the one thats faster.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/330?vs=290

Also make sure that you have a powerful enough powersupply to run the graphics card.
You need about a 450W PSU to run either card.

My power supply sucks.... only 330W. Can i still effectivly run them cards.. if not can I buy a new power supply?'

Rvilkman beat me to it... ya Im only at 30 with 380 peak.

You need a recommended 500w power supply for either card. Corsair, Seasonic, PC Power and Cooling, XFX, Enermax, Silverstone and Antec are all good power supply brands.

Another thing that just came to mind, what size of a case do you have? and does it use standard sized ATX power supplies ?
Since it would seem that the Asus Essentio Series comes in a bunch of different shapes and sizes.

Also take into account that those graphics cards are up to about 10.5" long and take 2 expansion slots.

The cheapest reasonably 500W PSU is the Corsair CX500, which is ~$60 and there is a $20 MIR.
Also still today it has a 15% OFF coupon code.

Well my case is pretty big... its not a slim version. Take into account i have 3 video card slots in my computer empty... 2 PCI and 1 PCI e x16 so im sure a duo card can fit.


And my power supply is big not tiny so i guess its standard xD.

All the versions of your PC I saw were a standard ATX case so you will be fine with a standard power supply.

So my motherboard can handle a increased power supply?

Your motherboard can handle a 1500w power supply if you just wanted to blow $350 on one. The parts only pull as much power as they need and the PSU only supplies as much as the parts pull. There are no power supplies that are "too much" for any motherboards.

Awesome!! Im just making sure thats if i buy a graphic card and extra on a fan.. it will work.

Actually i meant power supply but who knows i might need to get a fan to lol.

I listed good brands above if you want to shop around. You have not said where you would be buying from but if you are in the US and use newegg then rvilkman posted a great deal although he did not link to it. The CX series are not best PSUs ever but they are solid and can't be beat for that price.


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

I want something thats not gonna crap out on me .. for a PSU... atleast under 80 i say... Good enough to run my card and my system and not be loud or anything like that.

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

Because my price range changed when i had to buy a new PSU

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

Cause it looks awesome *no free shipping* :-(

Links do not work. The Corsair 500CX is the cheapest 500w power supply I would buy if your budget went down.

Fixed the link. I went with the 2nd one you linked and the ATI graphic card.

O dang i re checked the pick.. I have a little heatsink above the PCI slot... and the 2 empty freaking PCI slots are below it.... Still wonder if its gonna work .

All motherboards have that heatsink on the Southbridge chip. It will fit fine.

Great power supply choice.

If you look at the way graphics cards are made they are even with the PCI-E slot on top and the big part of the card is below the slot.

Ok then im good if the big part is better! Ty so much!

Best answer selected by ImNumBA-1.

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey