Need help in buying a GPU for my desktop

[Adi999]

Hi, I have a ASUS M5A88-M with FX 4100 and 2x 4GB RAM (1333). I want to replace my old Nvidia 9600GT GPU with a new one. It already has an Integrated ATI Radeon HD 4250 GPU, now should I buy an ATI Radeon or Nvidia GPU? As there is Crossfire x support, will buying an Radeon GPU help in any way?

 

[13thmonkey]

there is no benefit to going AMD because of the inbuilt Ati.

start with your budget, and resolution and work from there.

 

[azathoth]

The best card for you to choose, would be this HD 7770 that is on sale right now for $99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127664
Anything stronger will be bottlenecked by your CPU, and the HD 7770 is still over three times more powerful than the 9600GT

 

[Adi999]

Azathoth if I put an HD 7770, will the on board gpu and this external gpu (7770) work in tandem OR will the HD 7770 work alone? I mean that is what the CrossFireX technology means right? Pls correct me if I am wrong, i'm a bit outdated on these.

Secondly M5A88-M motherboard supports PCI Express 2.0 x16, whereas this HD 7770 works on PCI Express 3.0 x16. Wouldn't this be a bottleneck on the performance?

 

[13thmonkey]

the 7770 is significantly more powerful than the 4xxx series that you have been better pairing with, the benefit you would get (even if it worked) would be tiny.

 

[Adi999]

I understand ur point 13thmonkey. I was also looking at Nvidia GTX 550Ti which seems to be a commonly preferred card by many.
If I were to compare between these 2 (GTX 550Ti and HD 7770) which one should I be going for??
Performance wise I need the better one, cost is not a factor.

 

[13thmonkey]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/536?vs=541

but I'd go for more, I don't believe that bottlenecking will be too much of an issue