Diablo 3 < $150

[486dx266]

I'm looking for a new graphics card to play Diablo 3. Price range is $150 or less. Here are some options I'm considering (all prices after rebate):

XFX 6770: $95
HIS 7750: $115
HIS 6790: $127
SAPPHIRE 7770: $120
SAPPHIRE 6850: $135
XFX 6870: $150

I'm leaning towards the 6770 or the 7770 -- probably the 7770 since it's a newer card. Here are my current specs:

CPU: E8400 OC to 3.6GHz
Memory: 4GB
Video: ASUS 4850
PSU: Seasonic S12 430w
Resolution: 1920x1200

I'm currently getting about 40FPS in Diablo 3, and would like to get over 60.

 

[monu_08]

well we know 7770 is good clock speed but i think still 6850is best card to check this out http://www.hwcompare.com/11925/radeon-hd-6850-vs-radeon-hd-7770/

 

[hang-the-9]

Diablo is a game that you really should not care about FPS in. 40 is perfectly playable with no lag. So should 30 be for that matter.

 

[pacioli]

The 7770 and the 6850 perform similiarly with the 6850 coming out slightly ahead. The kicker is the 7770 uses a lot less power than the 6850.
I'm loving my wizard btw... he has an awesome attitude problem... so vain...

 

[monu_08]

better go with 6850

 

[486dx266]

Yes, it's playable at 40FPS, but I plan to be playing this game a lot and want the best experience.

According to the TH Diablo 3 benchmark, the 6770 has the same FPS as the 6850. So why spend the extra $40? The 7770 was not included in this benchmark, so I don't know how it compares.

Looking at an overall comparison, the 6850 is better in some games, while the 7770 is better in others (like Skyrim). And the 7770 is lower power.

 

[monu_08]

then go with 7850 less power and out perform gtx 560 ti and 6950 also

 

[pacioli]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/536?vs=539&i=372.373.375.376.378.379.381.382.384.383.387.388.390.392.394.455.398.401.458.403.404.457.456.391.426.406.424.407.422.423.409.413.412.414.415.416.417.418.419.420.421
They trade blows in a lot of things... but note the Starcaft 2(another Blizzard game) benchies... 7770 gets 72 FPS While the 6850 get 78 FPS. When 4x AA is turned on the 7770 performance drops a lot while the 6850 not as much.
Blizzard games tend to prefer Nvidia cards... but at that price point there are not a lot of cards from Nvidia to recommend... The GTX 550 Ti... yuck...
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/AMD-Radeon-HD-7770-GHz-Edition-Video-Card-Review/1489
The GTX 460 1 Gb would be better than them all on Diablo 3
$99 after MIR at newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127646

 

[motorneuron]

You should get the 6870. 7770 is lower power, yes, but it's much worse performance. The problem is that AMD has no 7000 series card right now that fits in the 6870's niche. And given its discount, the 6870 is a great value card.

 

[internetlad]

I'm pretty sure you could play D3 on a leappad.

Seriously though, If the fight is 7770 vs 6870 i'd grab a 6800 series card

 

[486dx266]

The 7850 is out of my price range at $250.

The XFX 6870 says a 500w power supply is required. Would my Seasonic S12 430 be up to the task?

 

[internetlad]

With any brand other than antec or seasonic I'd say no, but in this case I think you're okay.

 

[486dx266]

I would also like the card to be fairly quiet, especially at idle.

 

[486dx266]

With any brand other than antec or seasonic I'd say no, but in this case I think you're okay.

My PS only has a single 6-pin connector, while the 6870 requires two. I suppose I'd need to use one of the 4-pin to 6-pin adapters?

 

[jessterman21]

I'm pretty sure you could play D3 on a leappad.

Seriously though, If the fight is 7770 vs 6870 i'd grab a 6800 series card

+1 LOL

For your resolution, an HD 6870 is a great choice. It will crush Diablo 3 and be able to play every other game on high settings as well.

 

[internetlad]

one might even come with.

 

[pacioli]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/AMD-Radeon-HD-7770-GHz-Edition-Video-Card-Review/1489
The best bang for your buck is going to be the GTX 460 1 gb card for $99
In D3 it will outpace the 6850 see review above.
Overall the 6850 will win as it has higher performance.
It is just that D3 will run better on Nvidia
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/5051875461

 

[Sunius]

I approve going with GTX 460. It's faster, cheaper and has better drivers.

 

[internetlad]

in my experience, noise is often directly related to design and heat, since the design of any non-reference heatsink will differ, it will come down to heat, and since a card that uses more juice runs hotter, the 7770 will generally be a quieter card, but the 6870 will be a far better performer.

 

[internetlad]

I approve going with GTX 460. It's faster, cheaper and has better drivers.

I'll give you cheaper, and I don't have any experience with Nvidia drivers, but i've had fine luck with ATI drivers.

Where are you getting faster though? 460 vs 6870- the 460 falls 2 teirs below the 6870 on the toms hierarchy chart.

 

[486dx266]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/AMD-Radeon-HD-7770-GHz-Edition-Video-Card-Review/1489
The best bang for your buck is going to be the GTX 460 1 gb card for $99
In D3 it will outpace the 6850 see review above.
Overall the 6850 will win as it has higher performance.
It is just that D3 will run better on Nvidia
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/5051875461

That review shows the 460 as better in SC2, but the Tom's Hardware Diablo 3 benchmark shows the 6770 as better than both the 6850 and 460 in D3:

The 6850 will likely be better in other games.

 

[internetlad]

In either case where are you finding a gtx 460 for 99 bucks, lowest I could find was a refurbished model on newegg for 120. . .