Graphics Card Opinion

family682guy

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Dec 24, 2012
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10,510
Hi, I was building a PC a few months ago but stopped because I moved. Well now I'm wanting to finish my project. It's a complete PC but it has some cheapy parts that need to be upgraded, such as the graphics card. I've been looking around the internet at so many cards, it's making my head spin... :pt1cable:

I will post all the specs of my rig when I get home, but regardless of specs, what is the best graphics card for $100-$150? I've also heard that anything over 2gb is just a waste of money and a marketing trick. Therefore, I would prefer opinions on 2gb graphics cards. I'd also like an opinion on whether or not GDDR5 or DDR3 would be best for me. I don't play very many games, but the games I would play would be games like GTA4, Skyrim, and... Minecraft :p. I'm not so much worried about MC because the graphics card I have installed now can beast through it. HAHA.

Let me know your opinion, and like I said, I'll post the specs of my rig when I get home tomorrow.

Thanks in advance!
 
Well, at that budget the best card you can afford would be a 1GB HD7850.
XFX 1GB HD7850. $170 ($20 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150656

For 1080p gaming, you dont need above 2GB yes. But once you start hitting higher resolutions (1440p, Eyefinity/surround gaming) and cranking up the Anti-Aliasing, then the extra VRAM does help.
You are somewhat right though, manufacturers often do include too much VRAM on low end cards to make them seem better. The higher end cards that have double the usual RAM (4GB 670's for example) do have their uses in the situations above, but it is largely aimed at people who think more must be better.

Also if DDR3 was the memory used in graphics cards, you would see much less performance. GDDR5 is much faster and is what prety much all modern cards use nowadays.
 

family682guy

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Dec 24, 2012
6
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10,510
So, from the info given above, I've gathered that I need to find a 1gb GDDR5 card. I dont mind paying over $150 for a card if it's just that worth it. My budget isn't set in stone. I just don't want to buy a card that has far more power than I really need. I would like to have my settings up, but I don't think they'll have to be maxed out. As long as there's no lag.. I HATE LAG.
 

family682guy

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Dec 24, 2012
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10,510
Hey, first off, Merry Christmas to y'all and I really appreciate all the answers y'all have given me already. I've done some scoping and found this and it even comes with a free copy of Assassin's Creed III. Let me know what you think?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500277&nm_mc=OTC-Channel&cm_mmc=OTC-channel-_-Video+Cards-_-ZOTAC-_-14500277&srccode=cii_7240466&cpncode=31-4251326&DEPA=0&refer=channel&CMP=OTC-
 
perfrel_1920.gif

That shows the overall performance of pretty much any graphics card of note at what chances are is your resolution. As you can see the 7850 comes out with 17% more performance overall. You could lower it a bit considering that result was likely based off the 2GB model, but you can see that it still comes out ahead.

Also consider that the 7850 comes with Far Cry 3, so you get a game either way.

EDIT: Here's the review I pulled the graph off, just realized that may be good to show.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/
 

family682guy

Honorable
Dec 24, 2012
6
0
10,510
Well it's settled then, I'm about 95% sure I will be ordering the Zotac GTX660 this week. I appreciate all of the help from you guys.

I'm new to this site, is there some kinda Like/+1/Thank button that I can press for y'all? I see a select as best answer, but I want to give credit to both of y'all.