What Graphics Card is for me?

[draven714]

Hello,

I am building myself a new computer this year and my first purchase is going to be a $250-300 graphics card so I can have it for when Diablo 3 comes out.

I've been doing research for awhile on the "best cards for your buck" and had decided on a Radeon 6950 but they can not be found anymore so now I'm thinking about getting a 7850. But one thing has been bothering me... I haven't been able to find a good answer on the difference between GeForce vs Radeon. Is it ONLY budget? Or components? Should I be thinking about getting a GeForce 560 Ti instead?


Here is my current setup:
Motherboard: GA-890GPA-UD3H
CPU: Phenom II X4 Black Edition 965
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB
PSU: Thermaltake 850W


I am upgrading to:
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z or ASUS P8Z68 DELUXE/GEN3
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL (Not 100% sure yet)
PSU: CORSAIR HX850 or CORSAIR HX1050

 

[Rockdpm]

Well how much are you willing to spend. there are several GPU's in different price points for your buy.....

 

[draven714]

Hello Rockdpm,

My first sentence gave the budget for the graphics card. $250 - $300.

I did forget to mention, although I find it obvious, that the graphics card will need to work in my current system as well as what I am upgrading to.

 

[Rockdpm]

Yes i can work with that..... Here is my suggestion....Either a GTX 570 or a 580 (if you can stretch it a bit) but the thing is the NVIDIA GTX 600 series will be out in a month, or well the rest of them. ANd will be the new Bargain for Buck cards.

 

[einterlan]

If you wanted a 560Ti, in change you can catch a 7870 from ATI. new fresh stuff. Great card and performance. But if you want a hi-end product, just wait untill GTX 680. but its expensive, a lot.

 

[firo40]

The 570 will be overkill for diablo 2 its engine is that of Sc2 which only needs a gtx 460 and an i5 2500k to max so go with the 560 ti and overclock to match a 570 and save your money for another game or something

 

[Guest]

the 7850
GIGABYTE GV-R785OC-2GD Radeon HD 7850 2GB $259.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125419
will trade blows with the 560ti
GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363

but the best bet is the 570 in your price range.
EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1573-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD $289.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130620

go see all the benchmarks at:
7870 And 7850 Review

 

[Rockdpm]

The 570 will be overkill for diablo 2 its engine is that of Sc2 which only needs a gtx 460

Like i said, for future proof and best money option... the 570 or 580. He may not want to overclock his graphics card

 

[draven714]

Thanks for the input everyone.

A couple more questions:

Is there a reason I should choose GeForce above Radeon, or vice-versa?
Does it matter which brand I go with (MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte, Sapphire)?



Rockdpm, thank you for your recommendations. I might just wait a month for the 600s to come out and see what my choices are then. I'm not a very patient person though


firo40, I don't mind the overkill. I am set on spending $250 - $300. I want a card that will allow me to play games with the best settings possible. D3 isn't the only game I play.

 

[draven714]

looniam, I did read the benchmarks which is what put me onto the 7850 in the first place.


Looking like I have to toss a coin over the 7850 and 570 :s

 

[Rockdpm]

Thanks for the input everyone.

A couple more questions:

Is there a reason I should choose GeForce above Radeon, or vice-versa?
Does it matter which brand I go with (MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte, Sapphire)?



Rockdpm, thank you for your recommendations. I might just wait a month for the 600s to come out and see what my choices are then. I'm not a very patient person though


firo40, I don't mind the overkill. I am set on spending $250 - $300. I want a card that will allow me to play games with the best settings possible. D3 isn't the only game I play.

The 680's are out..... but they are a bit pricey over your budget. If you want a 600 card, you are gonna have to wait as release dates for the rest of Kepler is expected sometime this month or next month

 

[Rockdpm]

looniam, I did read the benchmarks which is what put me onto the 7850 in the first place.


Looking like I have to toss a coin over the 7850 and 570 :s

Right now as it is.... you'd be picked over best drivers with the 570 versus price per performance with the 7850 which comes with 2gb of vram as the 570 only comes with 1.2GB

 

[draven714]

Best answer selected by draven714.

 

[draven714]

Any idea when the rest of the Nvidia GTX 600s will be coming out. I am not sure what site to look at for information like that.

 

[Guest]

not until september(?) . .(don't quote me on that)

 

[draven714]

Oh. Rockdpm had said in an earlier post "NVIDIA GTX 600 series will be out in a month, or well the rest of them.". I was curious if that was still true and where I could find that sort of information.

No point in me waiting until they come out to buy a 7850 then. I was trying to wait to see if the price on them came down.

Thank you looniam!

 

[Rockdpm]

Yea the GTX 600 series (Besides the 680, since its out already) will be here in less than a month. Expected release dates put it right within a week after Ivy Bridges expect launch!