Need Budget GPU to fit Budget i3-2100, 430W Gaming Rig

[crabapple]

I've tried to keep my costs down as much as possible while still getting decent performance on this gaming rig below...I've purchased EVERYTHING except for the graphics card and my total is about $400.

Monitor: Acer S201HL bd 20-Inch LED (1600x900) $87
Graphic: None yet
PSU: Corsair 430W V2 $25
CPU: i3-2100 $82

Now I need a budget video card that provides a ton of bang for the buck to fit this build. Ideally I'd like to stay below $100 but willing to spend a little more for a large performance increase.

I would like to play GW2, Diablo 3, and whatever else comes out into the future at 60 FPS, even if it has to be on medium to low settings @ 1600x900 resolution.

Thanks for any future input.

Rest of the rig I'm buying/building right now:

CPU: i3-2100 3.10ghz | ASRock H77M | WD 500GB | Corsair 430W | G.Skill Ares (2x4GB) | Acer 20" LED | [Graphics Card goes here]

 

[esrever]

get a 7770 for your price range, its pretty good for its price. If you can afford it tho, a 7850 1gb for about $160 is a huge step up.

 

[crabapple]

Do you think there's anything in the <$100 range that will allow me to get 60 FPS on mediumish settings on current PC games? My resolution is only 1600 x 900.

If not, I'm willing to spend another $60 and get the 7850 1gb.

 

[Guest]

Do you think there's anything in the <$100 range that will allow me to get 60 FPS on mediumish settings on current PC games? My resolution is only 1600 x 900.

If not, I'm willing to spend another $60 and get the 7850 1gb.

a 7770 will get you 60% to 65% performance of a 7850, so it is worth it to step up.

 

[dudewitbow]

7770 should be fine for that resolution I would think. the 7850 would decimate that resolution.


just to clarify, I would think the 7850 1gb should get over 60 fps in most games at that resolution, if not 99% of them. with standard video settings(Ultra + 4x MSAA + 16x AF)

 

[crabapple]

I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and do it! I hate you guys!! lol

 

[crabapple]

7770 should be fine for that resolution I would think. the 7850 would decimate that resolution.

The 7770 is $135ish though (unless you know somewhere where it's cheaper). It seems for another $30 it would be worth it to get the future proof of the much stronger card.

 

[crabapple]

Any chance you think this card might be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper come black friday?

 

[Guest]

Any chance you think this card might be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper come black friday?

i am hoping that quite a few are . .like 7870 hoping myself . . .

 

[DarkSable]

Keep in mind - there's no such thing as future proofing. (Though it is better to go big and wait longer to upgrade.)

Yes. That's a very popular card, and you'll be able to find a sale on it somewhere.

 

[crabapple]

Decisions decisions...

I guess I can just use onboard HD 2000 graphics for the next 7 weeks or so but that seems like a long time.

If it'll save me more than $50 I'd be willing to do it though.

Anybody have past experience with black friday/cyber monday sales and how much a card like this 7850 1gb could be marked down by?

 

[crabapple]

Best answer selected by crabapple.

 

[dudewitbow]

the 7850 was made in February. it never had a black friday, so no one can really say.

 

[crabapple]

the 7850 was made in February. it never had a black friday, so no one can really say.

I just meant generally speaking. A comparably popular card, what kind of discounts could one possibly expect?

I want the card now, but I'm willing to hold out if it will be less than $100 come black friday/cyber monday.

 

[dudewitbow]

card sales are really sporadic. Last i remember, when cards are on sale, its not all the cards, its random cards. Cards that go on sale tend to be the ones that are high in stock. but who knows.

 

[esrever]

Im guessing something is going to be on sale, I mean these are popular cards. They definitely are the kind of stuff for like a 1 day sale. I won't expect to save too much tho. Maybe you can get a 7850 for ~150. Looks like they are all about $170 now for the 1gb models.