Best PCIe Card: Over $400
Best PCIe Card For ~$400: None
Honorable Mention: Radeon HD 5870 (Check Prices)
Good 2560x1600 performance in most games
| Radeon HD 5870 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | RV870 "Cypress" |
| Process: | 40 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 1600 |
| Texture Units: | 80 |
| ROPs: | 32 |
| Memory Bus: | 256-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 850 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 1200 (4800 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 11/SM 5.0 |
For $100 less than the price of this card, a couple of Radeon HD 5770s (or a single Radeon HD 5850) can easily deliver exceptional performance in the games that matter today. From a raw price/performance standpoint, this makes the Radeon HD 5870 a harder sell. But that is not to say this card is underpowered: it is the fastest single-GPU Radeon option available, sporting relatively low power usage (remarkably low at idle), and the hardware prowess needed to accelerate DirectX 11-based games. For folks without a motherboard that supports CrossFire and a hefty power supply, the new Radeon HD 5870 is definitely a more-than-viable option.
For those thinking at the other end of the performance spectrum, a pair of Radeon HD 5870s in CrossFire is an attractive option.
Read our full review of ATI's Radeon HD 5870 for more information on the card and its accompanying architecture.
Best PCIe Card For ~$460:
2 x GeForce GTX 460 1 GB in SLI Configuration (Check Prices)
Exceptional 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance in most games
| 2 x GeForce GTX 460 1GB in SLI | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | GF104 |
| Process: | 40 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 672 (2 x 336) |
| Texture Units: | 112 (2 x 56) |
| ROPs: | 64 (2 x 32) |
| Memory Bus: | 256-bit |
| Core/Shader Speed MHz: | 675 / 1350 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 900 (3600 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 11/SM 5 |
Two GeForce GTX 460 1 GB cards in SLI easily beat down a single GeForce GTX 480, as demonstrated in this article by Thomas Soderstrom. And, based on conjecture, they might even challenge more expensive CrossFire setups. We'll be investigating this in the near future.
But in the meantime, two GeForce GTX 460s in SLI take a solid recommendation at the $460 price point.
Read our full review of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 460 for more information on the card and its underlying architecture.
Honorable Mention: GeForce GTX 480 (Check Prices)
Good 2560x1600 performance in most games
| GeForce GTX 480 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | GF100 |
| Process: | 40 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 480 |
| Texture Units: | 60 |
| ROPs: | 48 |
| Memory Bus: | 384-bit |
| Core/Shader Speed MHz: | 700 / 1401 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 924 (3696 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 11/SM 5.0 |
While the Radeon HD 5970 maintains its title of "fastest video card in the world," Nvidia has reclaimed the honor of selling the fastest single-GPU board. This is, of course, the GeForce GTX 480, which performs notably faster than the Radeon HD 5870, on average.
At the same price as a pair of GeForce GTX 460 1 GB cards in SLI, it is difficult to recommend a GeForce GTX 480. But for buyers uncomfortable with dual-card setups, the GeForce GTX 480 is a viable option, and it delivers undeniably-impressive performance for a card with a single GPU.
Besides, SLI compatibility is less common than CrossFire support, so a GeForce GTX 480 might be the only way to go for many enthusiasts.
Read our full review of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 480 for more information on the card and its underlying architecture.
Best PCIe Card For ~$600:
2 x GeForce GTX 470 in SLI Configuration (Check Prices)
Exceptional 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance in most games
| 2 x GeForce GTX 470 in SLI | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | GF100 |
| Process: | 40 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 896 (2 x 448) |
| Texture Units: | 112 (2 x 56) |
| ROPs: | 80 (2 x 40) |
| Memory Bus: | 320-bit |
| Core/Shader Speed MHz: | 607 / 1215 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 837 (3348 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 11/SM 5.0 |
Two GeForce GTX 470 cards are a potent combination when paired in SLI mode, delivering more graphics muscle on average than a single Radeon HD 5970 or even a pair of Radeon HD 5850 cards.
The caveat here is formidable power usage. But from a pure performance standpoint, a couple of GeForce GTX 470s makes for an undeniably-sweet setup.
Read our full review of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 470 for more information on the card and its underlying architecture.
Best PCIe Card For ~$680: None
Honorable Mention: Radeon HD 5970 (Check Prices)
Great 2560x1600 performance
| Radeon HD 5970 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | 2 x RV870 "Cypress" |
| Process: | 40 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 3200 (2 x 1600) |
| Texture Units: | 160 (2 x 80) |
| ROPs: | 64 (2 x 32) |
| Memory Bus: | 256-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 725 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 1000 (4000 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 11/SM 5.0 |
3200 shader processors. There isn't much more we need to say about the brutal rendering muscle that characterizes the world's fastest graphics card, the Radeon HD 5970. With two Radeon HD 5870 GPUs onboard, the only things we can complain about are scant availability and an extremely high price tag. Availability has improved over time; the price not so much. But if you're in the market for this card, price probably isn't an issue.
Read our full review of ATI's Radeon HD 5970 for more information on the card and its accompanying architecture.
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The chart at the end puts the 460 a bit low doesn't it? It benches at 285+ levels, leastways the 1GB one does (and ~260 SLI). Perhaps split the two up? 1GB gets bumped up one level and the 768 stays down a bit?
Although without OCing it doesn't quite match a 5850 sooo...
If you don't need DX 11 support then the ATI Radeon 4770 is the best value. The Radeon 4770 is a budget graphics card only by its price tag, not by its performance. I've yet to find a DX 9 or 10 game that isn't playable at 1920x1080 resolution (single display) with 8x AA, and 16X AF. Clearly the numbers on the benchmarks don't tell the entire story. If ATI did as good of a job with the Radeon 5750 then there's probably no reason to spend more than $150 on a graphics card if you only use a single display.
@techguy378: since the 4850 costs pretty much the same as the 4770 but is, in most cases, a bit to quite more powerful, then no, the 4770 is not that good a deal. Not that it's BAD, mind you, it's just not the best deal.
Well, my 4850 is no longer on the list: I have the 512 Mb version, and now only the 1 Gb version is recommended. I don't mind, 3 years as a recommendation is good enough.
where did ATI Radeon 5850 go o.O
Yeah...I think the ~$280 5850 doesn't deserve to be kicked off the list guys. Did you forget to add it in?
Yeah...I think the ~$280 5850 doesn't deserve to be kicked off the list guys. Did you forget to add it in?
perhaps the falling price of 470 along with driver improvement
I appreciate these guides as much as the next guy, but you shouldn't assume that everyone buys from newegg. I personally buy from the local fry's electronics and the sub-90 gpu prices claimed here are way different.
A great read as always
Thanks for including the Intel CPU graphics on the hierarchy chart.
A much-valued guide as always.
But you forgot the GTX 460 X2.
edit: don't know why I'm getting so many red marks. The GTX460 X2 is missing from the hierarchy chart. Sure there's a review but surely we must also see it on the actual final chart!
How is the 5870 on the same level as the 4850 x 2, using 9.1 drivers or something a 5850 was faster then that I think. 5870 easily compares to the 4870x2 and with the newest drivers it should be faster.
Hmmm... I think the 5850 actually should be on the list as a 280$ card. The HIS iCooler V on newegg is near only 280$. Plus, it's temperature and overclock ability is much better than the 470. Since you can actually OC the 5850 to the point of a 5870. Plus the 470 is FREEAAKING ON FIRE. Well it's just that it runs very hot.
Yay GTX 460!
Thanks
but nVIDIA 460GTX 768 MB in sli better than ATI 5870 at the same price (400$)
Competitors innovate and try to attract customers...
Consumer wins!
"But not even the new GeForce GTX 460 can cop an easy win compared to the cheaper Radeon HD 5570."
Is this a typo? You meant the Radeon HD 5770, right?
I wish I could remember where I read the benchmarks, but it looked like Intel's new HD graphics were in many cases slightly ahead of the AMD HD4200 and even HD3300 IGPs. I'll try to find it, although I'm getting ready for work now.
I appreciate these guides as much as the next guy, but you shouldn't assume that everyone buys from newegg. I personally buy from the local fry's electronics and the sub-90 gpu prices claimed here are way different.
... Why wouldn't you buy from newegg? From my experience, newegg charges 30% less on computer parts than any brick and mortar store. If not cheaper.
newegg doesnt ship internationally as far as i know. if they did the cost of shipping would outweigh thte difference. I dont like buying online either, i prefer if i have a problem with the card, to take it back to a store. HD4xxx series should not even be included in this list, they dont even sell that old tech where I live anymore.
oh my god! i have the ati radeon 4670 1gb from msi GDDR3 i have it 2 years and i still find the 4650 in the list of best buys here!
im happy i didn;t throw much dollars and i have a good VGA than im happy to play with!
here's what the specs are from gpuz!
55nm process gpu clock 750mhz memory 873 mhz
bandwidth 27.9 GB/s shaders 320 and all this for just 55 euros(72 dollars)
The 5850 is perhaps not here because the GTX 470 gives much better performance for a few bucks more.
I think Raedon hd 5850 will be the best choice intihis range of buget