Best card for $100-$150

[madbutcher88]

What's a decent graphic card I can get for my PC? I don't want to spend too much on a card so I'm not looking for top of the line but I'm looking for something that would allow me to play games with capabilities of Fallout 3 or Bioshock.

for $100-$150 price range

 

[angry hampster]

Wait a couple weeks and pick up an HD4870.

 

[s44]

Depends what PSU you have

 

[Wreckage]

GTS250

Fallout 3 scores:
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/16504/7

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
Wait a couple weeks and pick up an HD4870.

yep.

 

[MegaWorks]

4870

 

[MarcVenice]

Resolution? A single HD4850 can play both games at 1680*1050 just fine. That means a GTS250 could do too. So whichever is cheaper.

But if you have $150 to spend, might want to pick up a HD4870, especially if you play at 1920*1200.

 

[Tempered81]

4870

 

[UberNeuman]

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=2283662&enterthread=y">This link is from Hot Deals for a GTX 260 - 192
for about 150.00 after rebate</a>

I have this card I recommend it for the games you asked about - Bioshock isn't as taxing as Fallout 3 - but I've played and finished Fallout 3 with everything cranked up at a 1650x1050 rez at a great framerate...

 

[mhouck]

wait for the price cut on the 4870 no matter what the resolution because it's going to be in the price range you set and performs better than the other options (4850, 250 gts)

 

[TidusZ]

Both games ran great on my old 8800gt, so pretty much anything in that range should do nicely.

edit: @1920x1200

 

[madbutcher88]

thanks for the quick and good reply's guys, I actually already have a 4870 but Ive been out of the loop since I built my rig and a friend wanted to upgrade

 

[exar333]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Resolution? A single HD4850 can play both games at 1680*1050 just fine. That means a GTS250 could do too. So whichever is cheaper.

But if you have $150 to spend, might want to pick up a HD4870, especially if you play at 1920*1200.

+1. If you have a choice (and the price is right), get a 1GB card of any of these flavors.

 

[Jacen]

There is no question that the upcoming 4870 price cut is where you want to be baring some massive Nvidia price cuts soon here. Just wait till you can find them around $150.

 

[Leyawiin]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=2283662&enterthread=y">This link is from Hot Deals for a GTX 260 - 192
for about 150.00 after rebate</a>

I have this card I recommend it for the games you asked about - Bioshock isn't as taxing as Fallout 3 - but I've played and finished Fallout 3 with everything cranked up at a 1650x1050 rez at a great framerate...

If you want to buy right now instead of playing the "HD 4870 512MB price drop" waiting game, get this. That's a great deal. I bought an original EVGA GTX 260 last summer (for a lot more) and the rebate came through in 8 weeks without issue. Plays Fallout 3 very smoothly with all eye candy on max on a 22 inch monitor.

 

[Jacen]

Originally posted by: Leyawiin

Originally posted by: UberNeuman
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=2283662&enterthread=y">This link is from Hot Deals for a GTX 260 - 192
for about 150.00 after rebate</a>

I have this card I recommend it for the games you asked about - Bioshock isn't as taxing as Fallout 3 - but I've played and finished Fallout 3 with everything cranked up at a 1650x1050 rez at a great framerate...

If you want to buy right now instead of playing the "HD 4870 512MB price drop" waiting game, get this. That's a great deal. I bought an original EVGA GTX 260 last summer (for a lot more) and the rebate came through in 8 weeks without issue. Plays Fallout 3 very smoothly with all eye candy on max on a 22 inch monitor.

The waiting game eh? So you want him to wait for a rebate and not for a good price?

The good news is almost every single HD4850 at newegg has a rebate right now as well. Some as low as $129.99. So he can wait for a rebate there as well and save $30. The is are a few FPS difference worth $30 to you?

 

[octopus41092]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
Wait a couple weeks and pick up an HD4870.

+1

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Save some cash and pick up a 4830. Plays just a little slower then the 4850 which is more then powerful enough for any game.

I had the money to go $200+ GPU shopping, but after the 4830 your return doesn't even come close to justifying the cost involved.