Looking for best choice in VC

[Recklesstim]

I built a mid range system a while ago and would like to add the best video card for my money (about $150-$200)
a little about my system
Motherboard: ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
Memory: Corsair PC12800 RAM - 4GB, (2x2GB) DDR3, 1600MHz, Dual Channel, Class 8
PS: Cooler Master RS600-AMBAD3-US Silent Pro M 600W Power Supply
OS: Windows 7 professional 64bit

I'm picking up another 4GB of memory (matching existing)

I was thinking of getting a mid range ATI Radeon now that has crossfireX and pair it up later with another one.

I'm not a gamer but would like to be able to later. Most of my work is with AutoCAD and editing HD videos.

Any help would be appreciated... and if it looks like I need to spend more, than I will.

 

[crisium]

My post when you said $100:
It's pretty straightforward, I think:

Best for ~$100 without rebate: Radeon 6770
Best for $100 AR: Radeon 6790
Only a few bucks more: Radeon 6850

You can find a 6850 for $120 AR. It's probably worth it.

Now that you changed your mind on price, it's even simpler.

Best in the range of $150-$200 is Radeon 6870. You may find a Radeon 6950 1GB for just over $200, your choice if you want to nab it. In general, 6850-6870-6950 1GB each improve 15% on the previous, give or take a few percentage points. It is your prerogative if that increase is worth the extra cash.

 

[Recklesstim]

Now that you changed your mind on price, it's even simpler.

Best in the range of $150-$200 is Radeon 6870. You may find a Radeon 6950 1GB for just over $200, you're choice if you want to nab it. In general, 6850-6870-6950 1GB each improve 15% on the previous, give or take a few percentage points. It is your prerogative if that increase is worth the extra cash.

I keep bouncing back and forth with pricing... If I can get a half way decent card for around $100 and then pick up a matching one a couple of months later I would. But I'm not sure if getting two decent $100 cards can match or outperform a $200 card. Again, I don't game and if I do in the future it won't be much.

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate your take on it.

 

[ITXGamer]

A Radeon 6950 is gonna run you about $250.

A pair of 6750's in crossfire will run you $200 and should be similar in speed to the Radeon 6950

A Radeon 6850/70 will run you $150-$190 and will give you the best single card performance for your money. Add another in crossfire later on and now your in GTX 580 territory, for less money.

 

[Rifter]

6870 for that price range.

 

[crisium]

Is 6750 Crossfire really that fast? When it scales to perfection it can be nearly as fast as a 5870 (which is similar to 6950, true) but not all games scale with perfection. A single Radeon 6870 would be the safer choice as at worst it is a tiny bit slower than 6750 Crossfire, other times it is faster.

But you probably suggested that since he might get one card now, one later. But in that case grab a 6770 as it costs about the same as the 6750 anyway.