What Graphics Card Should I Get?

[blackfire227]

Hey guys, Ill start off with saying I'm new here and I needed help with upgrading my computer's graphic card. I've recently decided to completely upgrade most of it's components due to an increase in my processing, computing, and gaming needs. I'm a computer programmer, more specifically a game programmer so I need enough power to not only create and render games but also play them. I want to build a machine that can push games such as Skyrim, BF3, COD, Crysis 2, etc smoothly and on the highest settings that the card can handle. My price range would preferable be under $200 but if it happens to go a little above that I might consider it. I know it's a tall order but I'm really hoping you guys could provide some input and help me out in deciding how to make my computer better.

Here is my current set up:

- Asus Essentio CM1730-01
- AMD Athlon II X2 220 Dual-Core 2.8 Ghz
- ATI Radeon 3000 256 Mb Integrated Graphics
- AsusTek Computers Inc. M4A78LT-M Motherboard (AM3 Socket Type)
- 4 Gb DDR3 RAM (Expandable to 16 Gb)
- 2 PCi, 1 PCie, 1 PCie 2.0 x16 (Can someone also tell me the difference between these and which is the best?)

I've already decided on some other components I'm going to purchase:

- AMD Phenom II X6 1045T 2.7 Ghz Processor
- 4 Gb Additional DDR3 RAM (8 Gb Total)

Also what PSU would I have to get? The current one I have right now is 350W i think.

 

[dudewitbow]

on 350w oem psu, most thing you can do most likely to be safe is a 7750 unless you upgrade the PSU. the best thing to do in situation imo is PSU+6850 or so

 

[megagabobe1]

power supply first in my opninion, and then get a good gpu, thats what i had to do some years ago in the same situation, now my pc has been able to grow

 

[blackfire227]

What wattage do you guys think i should get to be safe?

 

[dudewitbow]

What wattage do you guys think i should get to be safe?

For example, say you bought this 6850

thats 135$ (120 if you do the rebate) leaving you with 65$

65$ is enough to buy a good psu

but i will have to give you a fair warning. even with a gpub upgrade, in BF3 multiplayer, your dual core athlon will hold you back extremly.


edit: nvm you are buying a quad core processor. your good to go

 

[blackfire227]

on 350w oem psu, most thing you can do most likely to be safe is a 7750 unless you upgrade the PSU. the best thing to do in situation imo is PSU+6850 or so

I took a look at the Visiontek Radeon HD 7750 Eyefinity 6 Edition and it looks good. I might consider that if we can't find something better.

 

[blackfire227]

For example, say you bought this 6850

That bus type is 2.1 though, would it still work? And it's not a quad-core...its a 6-core

 

[dudewitbow]

That bus type is 2.1 though, would it still work? And it's not a quad-core...its a 6-core

pci is backwards compatible(except a few exceptions with 2.1 cards on pci-e 1.0 slot) as for the 7750, its a low powered card. dont expect too much performance with it.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/535

this is a general idea of what to expect

 

[blackfire227]

You think you could explain that whole backward compatibility thing to me? I thought that since the "highest" bus type I had was a 2.0, that 2.1 wouldn't work on it

And oh ok, so you think the 6850 is a better choice? And is there anything better than that that is still within the price range? I've been looking at graphics cards since yesterday but as soon as i think i find one that is good I either find people giving it terrible reviews, not being able to perform the way I want, or find a seemingly better card

 

[dudewitbow]

You think you could explain that whole backward compatibility thing to me? I thought that since the "highest" bus type I had was a 2.0, that 2.1 wouldn't work on it

And oh ok, so you think the 6850 is a better choice? And is there anything better than that that is still within the price range? I've been looking at graphics cards since yesterday but as soon as i think i find one that is good I either find people giving it terrible reviews, not being able to perform the way I want, or find a seemingly better card

General idea of cards at pricepoints


as for backwards compatibility, it basically means if you have a say pci-e 3.0 card and put it in a 2.0 slot, the 3.0 card will turn itself into 2.0.

 

[blackfire227]

Oh ok...so which one would you recommend out of that list?

 

[fantastik250]

This card you may want to consider if you can up your budget.

ASUS GTX 560 Ti ($229.99, $209.99 after mail-in rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425

OR

GTX 480 ($199.99) consumes a lot more power, but if you upgrade your PSU it will be fine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130759

As far as a PSU is concerned
Corsair GS600 (600W) There is a good amount of watts supplied at the 12V rail to support a lot of heavy power cards.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139023

 

[blackfire227]

Those are some nice cards...im liking the GTX 480..the only thing that concerns me is the size of everything including the PSU because my tower isn't the biggest thing in the world Ill try and post the dimensions of it

 

[fantastik250]

Yea, it was more of a suggestion, the card is long.

 

[blackfire227]

Here are my tower dimensions:

Height: 14.2 Inches
Width: 6.7 Inches
Depth: 15.9 Inches

It's a mini tower

 

[dudewitbow]

the better thing to ask is, use a ruler to measure out the distance from the backplate to the first obstruction in the case(its usually the hard drive cage)

 

[blackfire227]

I checked the dimensions and I think it should fit in there snuggly