Need help with choosing an under 100$ Nvidia card

[Artium]

I was looking for a new card (currently I have none) to play some nice games and got lost while searching. It seems like there are plenty of models around and each model have different versions. For example I was looking into this card: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0089KJQFS/ref=nosim/7240466-rg2304-00-20?s=merchant&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Then I read a review that this card is not good because DDR3. So I searched again and found: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-2048MB-Graphics-02G-P4-2643-KR/dp/B0086UXQES/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1353579041&sr=1-1&keywords=geforce+gt+640+GDDR5

Both are GeForce GT 640 but one is DDR3 and the other is GDDR3 and cost 30$ more. There are also versions with 2GB but another review said that the card cant use that much of memory anyway.

This all is very confusing for a layman and makes it hard to compare. I hope you could help me choose a good card for me.

Thank You


---
BUDGET: 100$. Can spend up to 150$, if it is a good deal.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week (but can wait if there are holiday deals expected)

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaminng (Hight priority), Running GPU parallel application (Quite low priority)

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: None (well I have "Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)" if it counts)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E6500 @ 2.93GHz, 2GB of RAM (800Mhz)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Amazon, (but anything with international shipping goes)

PARTS PREFERENCES: The only reason I want Nvidia is because CUDA. If you tell me that OpenCL is sufficient supplement, and that I will be able to run PhysX games (Specifically I was looking forward to play "Trine") on an AMD card, I will look into these cards as well.

OVERCLOCKING: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Not sure how to find it out, linux's xpdyinfo returns the following:
dimensions: 1680x1050 pixels (444x278 millimeters)
resolution: 96x96 dots per inch
depths (7): 24, 1, 4, 8, 15, 16, 32

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: MUST have Linux drivers.

 

[sam_p_lay]

What would you pay for a GTX650 Ti over there? They're great cards if it's not too much money. Why the Linux drivers? You know your gaming options are going to be pretty limited in Linux right? I'm pretty sure Linux uses a UDA (one big driver for all models) same as Windows does. Open source option is called Nouveau, or you can use proprietary nVidia Linux drivers.

 

[djangoringo]

What is your current psu ? name brand, wattage, etc.
The 640gt is a crap gaming card.

If you can spend 150$ :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125451

Bellow 100 $ :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127687

If your psu is crap and don't have pci-e connectors only this gpu :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161427

 

[boyabunda]

BUDGET: 100$. Can spend up to 150$, if it is a good deal.

MSI Power Edition GTX 650Ti ($144.99 after $15.00 rebate card): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127704&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

[sam_p_lay]

MSI Power Edition GTX 650Ti ($144.99 after $15.00 rebate card): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127704&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

+1 to that. At 1680x1050 you should be able to play anything at max settings (except where CPU holds performance back).

 

[djangoringo]

I'd check first the psu if it has pci-e connector if it doesn't...only the 640gt will do.
And for that the amazon msi is the best price : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0089KJQFS/ref=nosim/7240466-rg2304-00-20?s=merchant&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

or amd 7750 at 59.99$

I think it has linux drivers for it google the web.

 

[Artium]

MSI Power Edition GTX 650Ti ($144.99 after $15.00 rebate card): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127704&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Looks very interesting and it also comes with a game I was already planning to acquire.

Few additional questions please:

1. What is a rebate?
2. Does the card come with warranty? If yes how does it work internationally? Please notice the company is not shipping to my country (but I will use a mail forwarding service)
I never bought hardware via online shop before so excuse me for the ignorance.
3. I am not planning to play games on linux, but I do expect it to work properly and also run some desktop visual effects smoothly. That is why I asked about linux driver. So how can I check if it will work with linux?


Thank you!

 

[Hilo1222]

I was looking for a new card (currently I have none) to play some nice games and got lost while searching. It seems like there are plenty of models around and each model have different versions. For example I was looking into this card: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0089KJQFS/ref=nosim/7240466-rg2304-00-20?s=merchant&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Then I read a review that this card is not good because DDR3. So I searched again and found: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-2048MB-Graphics-02G-P4-2643-KR/dp/B0086UXQES/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1353579041&sr=1-1&keywords=geforce+gt+640+GDDR5

Both are GeForce GT 640 but one is DDR3 and the other is GDDR3 and cost 30$ more. There are also versions with 2GB but another review said that the card cant use that much of memory anyway.

This all is very confusing for a layman and makes it hard to compare. I hope you could help me choose a good card for me.

Thank You


---
BUDGET: 100$. Can spend up to 150$, if it is a good deal.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week (but can wait if there are holiday deals expected)

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaminng (Hight priority), Running GPU parallel application (Quite low priority)

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: None (well I have "Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)" if it counts)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E6500 @ 2.93GHz, 2GB of RAM (800Mhz)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Amazon, (but anything with international shipping goes)

PARTS PREFERENCES: The only reason I want Nvidia is because CUDA. If you tell me that OpenCL is sufficient supplement, and that I will be able to run PhysX games (Specifically I was looking forward to play "Trine") on an AMD card, I will look into these cards as well.

OVERCLOCKING: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Not sure how to find it out, linux's xpdyinfo returns the following:
dimensions: 1680x1050 pixels (444x278 millimeters)
resolution: 96x96 dots per inch
depths (7): 24, 1, 4, 8, 15, 16, 32

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: MUST have Linux drivers.

I have a Zotac AMP! edition Gtx 550ti. I am going to be selling it for $90 +shipping, I'm quite sure it has Linux drivers but I can check for you if need be.

 

[sam_p_lay]

I'm pretty sure Linux uses a UDA (one big driver for all models) same as Windows does. Open source option is called Nouveau, or you can use proprietary nVidia Linux drivers.

 

[Hilo1222]

I think Sam is correct in his theory after some research I yielded a similar answer.