Best PCIe Card For $170:
Good 1920x1200 performance in most games, some with lowered detail
Radeon HD 4850
| Codename: | RV770 |
| Process: | 55 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 800 |
| Texture Units: | 40 |
| ROPs: | 16 |
| Memory Bus: | 256-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 625 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 993 (1986 effective) |
| DirectX / Shader Model | DX 10.1 / SM 4.0 |
The Radeon HD 4850 is the new people’s champion, instantly bringing yesterday’s $300 performance level down to the mainstream $170 price point. The Radeon HD 4850 will usually best the GeForce 9800 GTX, and even the more expensive 9800 GTX+. This card has a lot of potential when used on its own, and becomes a devastating force when paired with a second 4850 in a CrossFire configuration.
Best PCIe Card For $260: three-way Tie
Good 1920x1200 performance
Radeon HD 4870
| Codename: | RV770 |
| Process: | 55 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 800 |
| Texture Units: | 40 |
| ROPs: | 16 |
| Memory Bus: | 256-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 750 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 900 (3600 effective) |
| DirectX / Shader Model | DX 10.1 / SM 4.0 |
The Radeon HD 4870 offers the same architecture as the 4850-series paired with its secret weapon: brand new GDDR5 memory. Because GDDR5 provides about twice as much throughput compared to GDDR3, its 900 MHZ clock speed is comparable to a 3600 MHZ effective memory speed. This edge allows the 4870 to up the ante and offer very compelling performance for the price, and in some titles competes with the more expensive GTX 280.
GeForce GTX 260
| Codename: | GT200 |
| Process: | 65 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 192 |
| Texture Units: | 64 |
| ROPs: | 28 |
| Memory Bus: | 448-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 576 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 999 (1998 effective) |
| DirectX / Shader Model | DX 10 / SM 4.0 |
The GeForce GTX 260 offers compelling performance now that its price has been reduced to the $250 price point, allowing it to trade blows with the Radeon HD 4870 on its own turf. This is one of those situations where a buyer really should examine the game titles they plan to play and do some research into which performs better, although you really can’t go wrong with either card.
GeForce 9800 GX2
| Codename: | G92 |
| Process: | 65 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 256 |
| Texture Units: | 128 |
| ROPs: | 32 |
| Memory Bus: | 256-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 600 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 1500 (3000 effective) |
| DirectX / Shader Model | DX 10 / SM 4.0 |
The GeForce 9800 GX2 competes at the same price point as the Radeon 4870 and GeForce GTX 260, but with a very different technique: instead of a cutting edge GPU, the GX2 uses two previous-generation GPUs in tandem. The end result is a graphics card that isn’t quite as consistent as the Radeon HD 4870 or GeForce GTX 260, but in the titles that support SLI drivers well, the 9800 GX2 can be a devastating force and beat both of the next-generation cards. Once again, the buyer should look into benchmarks of his or her favorite titles when considering which of these three cards to purchase.
adventure :
Scoobydoo: Episode 2
The sequel of Scooby and Sammy's adventures. Same principle as in the previous episode (available on this website). Click on "Instructions" to see...
crazy :
Xiao Xiao 7
A great fight scene from the animation movies Xiao Xiao.
Nice, glad to see a Tom's article actually acknowledging the existance of the 4870X2. Biggest complaint, you put a $340 config in the $350 and up section...
Well if you recommend that we should check how the graphics card work in the games we want shouldn't you also recommend a site where the GPU charts aren't bias. For example Every other site except tom's. BTW people at tom's, how are thous new Computers from INTEL and NVIDA?
I like how you guys added relative resolution/performance estimates. It's good to see 1920x1200 wide screen LCD's starting to flirt with the $300 mark. Five years ago I paid what I did for my KDS 24 inch wide screen for a regular 19 inch LCD with only a resolution of 1280x1024. I'm not going to hold my breathe on resolutions greater then 1920x1200 though with the price mark around $1,200!
You guys may want to also consider wide-screen resolutions for performance estimates as well. Oddly enough I fired up Warcraft III and it doesn't have a 1920x1200 option though rather 1920x1440? Thanks for the article, it's one of my monthly joys to watch the prices fall. :-)
Would be nice if you guys included the 9600M GT and 9800M GTS in your hierarchy there, laptops have been shipping with them for the last few months.
I don't see how you cannot recommend a 4870x2 for folks serious about gaming, especially when $1800 easily gets you a "complete" gaming rig to your door with one of those in it. You may think it's overkill, but with all the newer and more demanding games coming out, you want a video card that can scream framerates and eye-candy, not bog down and force you to upgrade a year from now.
YES!!! GOOD ARTICLE! Thank you so much for including the 4870X2! Although it sounded like you are was being pulled, I am just glade that you guy put it in there.
the best GPUs for the buck are:
1-HD4870x2 > 280gtx in SLI in all the games.
2-HD4870 1 GIG version >280gtx in all the games at 2560.1600 RES.
3-HD4870 512 version>280gtx at 1680.1050 and 1920.1200.
4-HD4850 devastating power for 150$>9800GTX+ in what ever you want.
5-HD4670 >>>>>>>>>>>>>9600GSO for LOVE.
Minor nitpick: The table for the HD3870 incorrectly states that it's a 128 bit card :-/
For the record I just ordered a factory OCed GTX260 for $240, $199.99 after rebate! I think I'll actually send this rebate in just say I got a GTX260 for $199.99
Hehe !! love the 1-5! and I love my 4870!! DONT TOUCH MY PC now!! AHAHAHAHAHAH it will vaporize you!! Yes thats how powerful it is!!! dont F with me!! no I really love my card!! Yes I would marry it!!
Good article. Not much change from last month, as expected. I'm also glad to see 4850 CF is still a good choice, I plan on upgrading my rig eventually, just need to get that other 4850.
Yes, thank you for mentioning the 4870X2 Toms. I hope they continue to include the top ranking card in every "best card for the money" articles, because let's face it: if I have pleanty of money in my pocket, the best card for my money is the best one.
im probably gonna sound like an idiot but what was the conclusion for the best card?
what about the gtx 280 core 216? great article though
the best card 10boohee depends on your price range. i have 8800gt 512mb and i love it! crysis maxed out 1240x768!!!
[citation][nom]Duncan NZ[/nom}Biggest complaint, you put a $340 config in the $350 and up section...[/citation]
Not $350 and up... it's ~$350
"~" means "about"
You may think it's overkill, but with all the newer and more demanding games coming out, you want a video card that can scream framerates and eye-candyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_candy , not bog down and force you to upgrade a year from now.
Well... IMHO, two 4850's aren't going to become obsolete notably faster than a 4870 X2.
But you guys wanted the recommendation, so there it is! Nobody can say I don't listen to the readers.
Good to see the 1gb 4870 in there...Just bought one lol. should have it tomorrow.
Biggest complaint, you put a $340 config in the $350 and up section...
Ah crap, I see what you mean. i'll fix it.
I am surprised you didn't take power consumption into consideration when rating these cards. The HD 4670 is a 60W card so it only needs a standard power supply and no external power connector - that is very appealing for a 75W and requires a non-standard power supply and external power connector - very unattractive at this price point.
I am surprised you didn't take power consumption into consideration when rating these cards.
The monthly list is about performance per dollar. I try to focus on that, I sometimes mention HD video playback or power consumption but those are really side issues when dealing with performance per dollar, IMHO.
The monthly list is about performance per dollar. I try to focus on that, I sometimes mention HD video playback or power consumption but those are really side issues when dealing with performance per dollar, IMHO.
Ah, but where I live power costs dollars
Just joshin, I genuinely have no complaints about this month's list... aside from the error in the 3870 specifications table