Need help buying NOW

[gman_42]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: As soon as I can. BUDGET RANGE: Less than $150 without rebates (or with if it brings it down a lot).

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming. BF3 on low to medium, Valve games, Skyrim, Need for Speed series, etc.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Intel G45/G43 chipset (fail) and I will be upgrading my 300W to about 500W

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Intel Pentium Dual Core E5800 (stock clock), Generic Dell Inspiron 560 MOBO, 3GB of DDR3, stock Inspiron 560 case.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Canada Computers. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

PARTS PREFERENCES: I prefer NVIDIA, but I could switch if there was a drastic performance increase.

OVERCLOCKING: Nope! SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Once again, nope!

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1600x900

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The better price and performance the better. If you are having trouble finding it on Canada Computers, please feel free to try any other Canadian retailers.


Thanks!

 

[auntarie]

It's GTX 460 time!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130749

Or maybe 6850 but I personally prefer Nvidia because of their drivers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125353

 

[gman_42]

Could you please give a canadian site/retailer?

 

[bigcyco1]

Are you just looking for GPU for $150 or PSU and GPU because if both you should save more money your not going to even get a mid range gaming card for less than $120-$130 and a decent PSU at the cheapest is $50-$60

 

[auntarie]

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_836&item_id=032907
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_558&item_id=035091

I hope this is a good one. By the way, did you mean not more than 150 USD or CAD?

 

[gman_42]

No. The PSU is seperate.

 

[Sakkura]

It's GTX 460 time!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130749

Or maybe 6850 but I personally prefer Nvidia because of their drivers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125353

Isn't that the "crippled" GTX 460 with a narrow memory bus? I do believe the 6850 is better than that.

 

[gman_42]

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_836&item_id=032907
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_558&item_id=035091

I hope this is a good one. By the way, did you mean not more than 150 USD or CAD?

CAD for sure!

 

[venur]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125353

go for that one if you can afford it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161389
Its worth every extra $ you'll spend.

 

[auntarie]

CAD for sure!

They're still in your budget range then. As Sakkura said, the GTX 460 is a bit cut-down (192 instead of the normal 256) so maybe you would be better off with the 6850.

 

[gman_42]

Good to know!

 

[gman_42]

Any NVIDIA cards other than the 460?

 

[gman_42]

Or how about a 7770

 

[Sakkura]

The HD 7770 is slightly weaker than the 6850 but costs about the same; generally better to go with the 6850.

The GTX 460s available today are the 192-bit variants, which means they're crippled compared to the 256-bit version that was just about equal to the 6850. Since they still seem to cost about the same as the 6850, they're not worth it either.

 

[Sakkura]

As for other Nvidia offerings, the next neighbor down is the GTX 550 Ti which is pretty bad at the price, and the next one up is the GTX 560 which may be a tad above your budget.

 

[gman_42]

You just cant win in todays market

 

[auntarie]

GTX 560 goes for about 190 USD and the GTX 550ti is just too weak. I believe it's a bit weaker than the cut-down GTX 460.

 

[gman_42]

Well, I think I've made my mind up. A 6850 seems like the way to go. One final question tho, Canada Computers has a GTX 470 on sale for $100. If theres any in stock, would this be the way to go?

 

[gman_42]

Best answer selected by gman_42.

 

[auntarie]

Yes. It probably will consume more power and be hotter and noisier than the 6850 but if you're like me and don't care for that stuff then get a 470.

 

[auntarie]

Also, check if there isn't something wrong with it first or that it isn't second-hand. $100 is suspicious. And why can't I edit my own messages >.<

 

[gman_42]

My apologies, its $130 and on clearance.

Proof?
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=030348

 

[auntarie]

http://www.hwcompare.com/8628/geforce-gtx-470-vs-radeon-hd-6850/
Here's a head to head comparison. You decide if it's worth 10 bucks, I really don't know. If it were $100 then surely, but $130...

 

[Sakkura]

You just cant win in todays market

Depends on your point of view. I got my 6850 for around 190 dollars, so those 130 dollar offers on newegg look like a win to me.

(only natural since I bought mine almost a year ago)

 

[gman_42]

None of this truly effects me other than it's Nvidia and that it produces more heat. I can't risk this since my case is a stock Dell. It has very little airflow.