Best card for new build

[polsoy]

Purchase Date: this week probably
Budget Range: $150-250
Usage: Media PC (50" TV; Netflix, Hulu, movies, etc), Gaming (Counter Strike, SC2, maybe some other newer games), some work stuff which requires heavier power
Current GPU and Power Supply: Intel HD4000 (integrated), Antec NEO ECO 520W PSU
System Specs: Intel i5-3750 CPU, 2x4GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 RAM, 128GB Samsung 830 Series SSD, ASUS P8Z77 Motherboard, Antec Three Hundred Case
Preferred Websites: Newegg or Amazon
Overclocking: Maybe later, but not right away; no SLI/Crossfire for now, but if that is a good way to upgrade later then sure
Monitor: 1920x1080 (50" TV)
Additional Comments: My current setup is pretty quiet, so I'd rather not have a jet engine of a video card

I just bought all the above parts and have set up my computer. I was going to wait and get a video card later...but now I kind of want one right away.

Looked at a bunch of cards, but not really sure what would be my favorite right now. I was just looking at a couple AMD Radeon cards that were 2GB in the $200-250 range, but I've also looked a fair bit at the GTX 580 Ti. But maybe I don't need that expensive of a card, so maybe more in the $150 range would be better. Any recommendations?

 

[cuecuemore]

I'd definitely recommend the 7870. If you can go to $250 you won't regret it. It's the best value on the market right now and trades blows with the 580 for $100 less.

 

[docxxx]

Purchase Date: this week probably
Budget Range: $150-250
Usage: Media PC (50" TV; Netflix, Hulu, movies, etc), Gaming (Counter Strike, SC2, maybe some other newer games), some work stuff which requires heavier power
Current GPU and Power Supply: Intel HD4000 (integrated), Antec NEO ECO 520W PSU
System Specs: Intel i5-3750 CPU, 2x4GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 RAM, 128GB Samsung 830 Series SSD, ASUS P8Z77 Motherboard, Antec Three Hundred Case
Preferred Websites: Newegg or Amazon
Overclocking: Maybe later, but not right away; no SLI/Crossfire for now, but if that is a good way to upgrade later then sure
Monitor: 1920x1080 (50" TV)
Additional Comments: My current setup is pretty quiet, so I'd rather not have a jet engine of a video card

I just bought all the above parts and have set up my computer. I was going to wait and get a video card later...but now I kind of want one right away.

Looked at a bunch of cards, but not really sure what would be my favorite right now. I was just looking at a couple AMD Radeon cards that were 2GB in the $200-250 range, but I've also looked a fair bit at the GTX 580 Ti. But maybe I don't need that expensive of a card, so maybe more in the $150 range would be better. Any recommendations?

cuecuemore is right but if you want to save some money then go with 7850..(sapphire will be good)
its overclocking beast can reach up to the level of 7870 when overclocked.....

 

[polsoy]

The 7870 looks really good performance wise, but what about some of the "black screen" problems that show up in the reviews?

 

[polsoy]

Also is there a benefit of having 2GB video memory in current games? Someone I was talking to said that right now games only use up to 1GB.

 

[giovanni86]

Also is there a benefit of having 2GB video memory in current games? Someone I was talking to said that right now games only use up to 1GB.

Whoever told you that lied to you. BF3 takes about 1.3Gb's maxed out on my machine. I've heard in some case's it takes more then that.
I'm sure other games will demand more then 1GB of memory.

 

[computernoob29]

definitely get a 2gb card. i would get a gtx 660 or a radeon 7870 if you can it would be worth it. if not i would get the 7850

 

[polsoy]

I ended up ordering the Sapphire Radeon HD OC 7850 2GB ($210 on Newegg). I couldn't justify the extra $50 for the 7870. Thanks for the advice.

 

[polsoy]

Best answer selected by polsoy.

 

[docxxx]

I ended up ordering the Sapphire Radeon HD OC 7850 2GB ($210 on Newegg). I couldn't justify the extra $50 for the 7870. Thanks for the advice.

most welcome.. yea polsoy..way to go....enjoy gaming....peace!!!!!