best current GPU for $150

[futurefields]

My friend is looking to upgrade his stock HP from 2011, which had a bottom tier nvidia card in it.




Moved from PC Gaming

Anandtech Moderator
KeithTalent

 

[Rhezuss]

In this price range...maybe the 650 Ti / HD 7770-7790. I did a quick search over newegg.com to find the best for $150 and looks like it.

If you're lucky you could probably grab a GTX 660 or HD 7850 when a cool sale happens.

 

[nwo]

7770 and 7790 are both sub $100 cards. For $150 I'd say try to get a new/used GTX 660 or Radeon 7850 (2GB) or 7870.

 

[Rhezuss]

7770 and 7790 are both sub $100 cards. For $150 I'd say try to get a new/used GTX 660 or Radeon 7850 (2GB) or 7870.

Great if it's true. I checked newegg.com and could not find 7850s under 179...

7850 2gb prices: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...CH&isdeptsrh=1

660 prices: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=-1&isNodeId=1

Finally, prices for 100-200 video cards: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...deId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20&Page=1

 

[nwo]

660 is a bit over $150, 7850s and 7870s are no longer produced which is why their prices are inflated. You should easily be able to find all 3 aforementioned used cards for $150 or less.

 

[Rhezuss]

660 is a bit over $150, 7850s and 7870s are no longer produced which is why their prices are inflated. You should easily be able to find all 3 aforementioned used cards for $150 or less.

Used, for sure, good point

 

[Bubbleawsome]

The 270 non x can be found for ~$160.

 

[nwo]

The 270 non x can be found for ~$160.

New? Where? Cheapest I have seen is $180.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

New? Where? Cheapest I have seen is $180.

At school so blocked newegg but I've seen them at newegg. Then again last time I looked 270x's were 209, now I see them on amazon for $239. Miners.

 

[3DVagabond]

OP, did/does the original card have any 6pin or 8pin external power connectors? Does the power supply have any unused power connectors? If so, what are they?

Or a description (model number and brand) of the power supply would be useful.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Kind of a switch. A couple months ago, prices were exceptional on amd 7xxx series cards. Now most are badly inflated. I would look for a gtx660.

 

[Ken g6]

OP, did/does the original card have any 6pin or 8pin external power connectors? Does the power supply have any unused power connectors? If so, what are they?

Or a description (model number and brand) of the power supply would be useful.

I would assume a "bottom tier nvidia card" wouldn't have a 6-pin connector. So I'm gonna go with:
7790 ($100AR) +
Corsair CX430 ($44AR with shipping)

 

[nwo]

I would assume a "bottom tier nvidia card" wouldn't have a 6-pin connector. So I'm gonna go with:
7790 ($100AR) +
Corsair CX430 ($44AR with shipping)

May take some work/modding to get that, or any other PSU, to fit into his HP PC if that's where the OP's friend intends to run it.

 

[zShowtimez]

Also be careful of adding a 3rd party PSU to a computer like that. May be a different pinout on the HP motherboard.

 

[bbhaag]

Newegg has an Asus GTX660 2gb version right now for $160 after rebate + free shipping. Only $10 over budget which isn't to bad. Here's the link if you're interested.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I would assume a "bottom tier nvidia card" wouldn't have a 6-pin connector. So I'm gonna go with:
7790 ($100AR) +
Corsair CX430 ($44AR with shipping)

I believe a GT650 doesnt require a 6 pin connector, but has lower performance than a HD7750 which also does not require a 6 pin connector. Any nVidia card above a GT650 does require a 6 pin connector. But since the OP specified a 150.00 price point, I think he wants more performance than either of these will give.

Edit: I did not notice in the OP that it was an off the shelf HP system. Unless it is one of the higher end models, it is likely to have only a PSU of around 300 watts with no 6 pin connector, so unless he wants to replace the PSU as well, he will probably be limited to a HD7750.