Best $250 Max GPU for Gaming?

[mode101wpb]

Set a budget, $250 Max, something that can handle the latest and upcoming FPS games at the higher resolutions and settings AMD or Nvidia.

Will be paired with i5 Haswell

 

[Techhog]

HD 7950 takes the cake there easily, and it actually costs significantly less than that. Mine was $210 ($180 after rebate). There are still a few in the $200 range, but they're selling out like mad.

On the NVidia side, you might be able to find a GTX 760 at $250, but it's equal to the 7950 and will definitely perform noticeably worse than the 7950 in BF4, so I keep my vote on 7950.

 

[EvilNeverSleeps]

+1 for 7950, it's a great card. Just let it flow with some decent overclock and you will be fine.

 

[tential]

HD 7950 takes the cake there easily, and it actually costs significantly less than that. Mine was $210 ($180 after rebate). There are still a few in the $200 range, but they're selling out like mad.

On the NVidia side, you might be able to find a GTX 760 at $250, but it's equal to the 7950 and will definitely perform noticeably worse than the 7950 in BF4, so I keep my vote on 7950.

Ya I want another HD 7950 but I need money.

 

[Teizo]

7950. There is nothing else. The GTX 760 is a good card, and is generally a bit faster at stock speeds, but the 7950 overclocks to near 7970 levels and once you do that passes the 760 by a fairly wide margin.

Problem is, the 7950's that are going for that price right now have coolers and fans that are not so great, so they are going to run hot and loud (going by newegg prices). The Power Color PCS+ for $270 is probably your best bet (has $30 rebate).

 

[Sohaltang]

Give it a couple days and see if you can get a 7970 for that price. There is one on newegg right now for 249 but it has bad reviews

 

[lehtv]

the 7950 overclocks to near 7970 GHz levels and once you do that passes the 760 by a fairly wide margin.

FTFY

 

[Techhog]

7950. There is nothing else. The GTX 760 is a good card, and is generally a bit faster at stock speeds, but the 7950 overclocks to near 7970 levels and once you do that passes the 760 by a fairly wide margin.

Problem is, the 7950's that are going for that price right now have coolers and fans that are not so great, so they are going to run hot and loud (going by newegg prices). The Power Color PCS+ for $270 is probably your best bet (has $30 rebate).

Does the 760 not overclock very well?

 

[Slomo4shO]

PowerColor PCS+ AX7870 MYST Edition is the best buy currently at $140 after rebate.


http://hardocp.com/article/2013/01/01/powercolor_radeon_hd_7870_myst_edition_review/9#.UmgMD1P57Fo

 

[BallaTheFeared]

^ While it will be slower than the 7950 OC vs OC, it is providing a much better perf/$ regardless.

If you're seeking the best perf/$ that would be your best option, 760 has it's own perks, but they aren't perf/$ nor absolute performance vs cards like the 7950 and certainly not much if any better than the 7870 LE.

 

[Teizo]

Does the 760 not overclock very well?

Mine overclock well, but 7950s overclock better. For me though, the 760s were a better choice since they run cooler, quieter, and take less power. And, when I got these 760s 7950s could not be found under $300. I probably still would go with 760s myself now as well personally for the reasons mentioned above (plus the games I play are better optimized on NV hardware), but not everyone has the same criteria that I do.

 

[mode101wpb]

500W PSU for the 7950 and 7870 is about the minimal correct? Not sure on the 760, guess the same?

I am planning on a Micro ATX build, looking at a case that is long enough, but I am not sure yet on this 100%.

I had good luck with Sapphire, never used Power Color. How is the reliability?

 

[Slomo4shO]

For me though, the 760s were a better choice since they run cooler, quieter, and take less power.

Blanket statements such as this one are usually wrong. There are plenty of non-reference 7950s that are both quite and cool :whiste:

 

[Carmen813]

You can grab 7970s under $250 if you keep your eyes open right now.

 

[rgallant]

just pointing out ,amd has 3gb of vram , but no one knows if all of it can be used or not in the up coming next gen. games.2014-2015
it is still something to consider imo.

 

[Ertaz]

$250 is my budget as well. I have a 1440P monitor on the way. I currently have a 6870 Radeon on an i5-2500K. I don't think that combo will push that resolution if I decide to start gaming again with the D3 expansion pack. I have some time, so I can lie in wait for a good deal. Is it reasonable to expect to game at this resolution at this price point?

 

[Techhog]

$250 is my budget as well. I have a 1440P monitor on the way. I currently have a 6870 Radeon on an i5-2500K. I don't think that combo will push that resolution if I decide to start gaming again with the D3 expansion pack. I have some time, so I can lie in wait for a good deal. Is it reasonable to expect to game at this resolution at this price point?

For 1440p, I would not go lower than a 7970/R9 280X.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Even a 7850 would handle D3 at 1440.

 

[Ertaz]

For 1440p, I would not go lower than a 7970/R9 280X.

Well, Maybe I will see one of those below $250 before black Friday.

Even a 7850 would handle D3 at 1440.

I think I want all the AA and eye candy turned on too. I knew the game wasn't too demanding but it seemed to look a lot better on my Dad's 670 than my 6870 at 1080P. Maybe that was the Phsyx stuff.



Thank you both very much for replying.

 

[Ertaz]

Whoops, forgot to add total war: Shogun 2. I know it brings my frame rate down really low now.

 

[Meghan54]

PowerColor 7950....$209.99, $179.99 after $30 rebate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131499