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Tom's Graphics Card Guide: 32 Mid-Range Cards Benchmarked

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Benchmark Results: DirectX 10 Games

DirectX 10: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

DirectX 10: Call of Juarez

The red and green distribution is almost the same as it is under DirectX 11, except in Call of Pripyat, where even a Radeon HD 6850 works well with the enthusiast settings. Only the GeForce GTX 550 Ti and Radeon HD 6790 fail to reach our target performance levels.

However, in Call of Juarez, all of the cards pass both benchmarks. Mid-range cards, from about $120 and up, seem capable of rendering 3D graphics well enough that average user has little to complain about. DirectX 10 is old enough now that you can get good value for your money with a modern card in most games based on that older API.

117 Comments Comment from the forums
  • yukijin 20 July 2011 11:17
    This confirms that the 560 ti belongs in TH best graphics cards for the money ( they werent recommomended the past 2 months)
    Reply
  • Inf3rn0_44 20 July 2011 11:19
    560ti is an amazing card for the money
    Reply
  • KrazerSK 20 July 2011 12:02
    arent the 6950s in this price range also? there are 2gb ones going for $250
    Reply
  • whysobluepandabear 20 July 2011 12:14
    You have a 560 Ti eVGA Superclock for $215~ after rebate on Newegg. Then you have the 6870 from a few various brands for about $169~ after rebate.


    Is the TI worth another 40+ dollars?
    Reply
  • dco 20 July 2011 12:14
    In every benchmark its the souped up overclocked versions of the GTX 560 Ti that are on top.

    The standard Geforce GTX 560 Ti is still getting beaten by the standard Radeon 6950
    Reply
  • SteelCity1981 20 July 2011 12:23
    The GeForce GTX 550Ti wiould be a bargin if nvidia put the price below 100 dollars in which it should be considering it's performance doesn't justify the extra 30 or 40 dollars.
    Reply
  • Zero_ 20 July 2011 12:27
    Yup, considering its performance, the GTX550Ti should have replaced the GTS450 price point, which was $110. Since the GTX550Ti was included here, I would have liked to see where the cheaper HD5770/6770 would have placed, probably higher than the GTX550Ti.

    Also, can you guys do a story on how some classic cards match up to modern games? Stuff like 8800GTX's and 2900XT's which used to cost an arm and leg back in the day. Would be cool to see how the fare today.
    Reply
  • fictionforthetame 20 July 2011 12:33
    No aftermarket 6950? Those 560ti cards that are topping the benchmarks are a good $40-$60 more expensive than a stock 6950 here in Oz. I think you should have included an OC'd 6950 (like the Gigabyte) which is still $20 cheaper than those ti's to make this a bit more interesting.
    Reply
  • Lobodomy 20 July 2011 12:53
    Gah, just as I was about to go to bed an interesting review come out... I'll keep it open to read first thing in the morning!
    Reply
  • scrumworks 20 July 2011 12:54
    Geforces dominate benchmarks because we have used 10 variants of overclocked 560Ti cards against stock clocked few Radeons (6950) here and there. And also, we don't show which drivers and control panel settings we have used because that would reveal our trickery. Why is Tom always hating AMD/ATI?
    Reply