First Graphics Card

[VidusDvD]

Purchase Date: Now to Jan 31, 2013
Usage Most to Least: Homework, Internet, Gaming
Current GPU: onboard Intel GMA 3000
Current PSU: HIPRO 300W PSU
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz
MB: Asus P5BW-LA a.k.a. Buckeye-GL8E
Memory: 4 GB DDR2
Pref. Store: newegg, microcenter
Country: USA
Parts Pref.: none
OC: No
Monitor Res.: 1280x1024
Budget 1: $100-200
Budget 2: $50-100

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
I just want this as a gift for a friend so he can play Magicka, Amnesia, TF2 some other Steam games. The most complex game he might be interested in would be Skyrim or Dark Souls. I also anticipate him buying or building a new computer in 12 months. So transfer to a current machine is a plus.

Post Scritptum
Out of curiosity what would be the card on a $50-100 budget?

 

[rolli59]

His PSU is not going to handle anything more powerful than a GT440/640. His motherboard probably would have issues with ver 2.1 cards like the newer AMD cards.

 

[jaguarskx]

I have not seen any benchmarks about the new nVidia GT 640. However, the Radeon HD 7750 consumes less power than the GT 440 and it also performs much better since the Radeon HD 7750 can outperform a GT 450. For a low quality PSU like the HIPRO 300w PSU, I generally do not recommend anything more powerful than the HD 7750.

Here's benchmarks Metro 2033 which is probably the most demanding game used for benchmarking graphic cards.

You can read the entire Radeon HD 7750 review here:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7750/1.html

 

[AstroTC]

New PSU + GPU then upgrade the rest in the future:

COUGAR RSB400 400 Watt 80-Plus Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817553013
+
HIS iCooler H775FN1G Radeon HD 7750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161418

= $169 - $10 rebate

I chose that GPU because I figured you'll prolly need the VGA connector

 

[jaguarskx]

Okay...

I just Googled for some nvidia GT 640 reviews and the benchmarks indicates that while it is faster than the GT 440 it is slower the GT 450. So... that means the Radeon HD 7750 is definitely faster than the GT 640.

 

[rolli59]

Just a reminder this is going into a HP motherboard with Intel 965 chipset and no BIOS updates if issues for the board.
On the other hand if the friend was building now not later plenty of good cards.

 

[VidusDvD]

Simple bump and new question out of curiosity.

What would be the recommendation for a $50-100 budget?

 

[Sunius]

Just a reminder this is going into a HP motherboard with Intel 965 chipset and no BIOS updates if issues for the board.
On the other hand if the friend was building now not later plenty of good cards.

Remember: HD 7750 is a PCIe 3.0 card, not 2.1 card, and they fixed that incompatibility bug in 3.0 .

 

[rolli59]

Around $100 HD7750 http://www.pcpartspicker.com/parts/video-card/#c=80,79&sort=a5