What's my cheapest video card upgrade option?

[jimbob200521]

My current card is a Radeon HD6790. It's older, it's slower, it sucks power, and generally doesn't do anything for me.

So my question is simple: what is the cheapest upgrade I can do to get better performance? I will be honest, I want to be fairly cheap about this. I want something that performs a little better but is more modern. I don't generally game (occasionally a Sim City game or racing game will grace my screen) so keep that in mind.

Requirements:

Budget is definitely under $100
Must be an nVidia card
In case I haven't said it, must be a low cost option
Must perform better than my HD6790

So what's out there today that will fit my bill?

 

[Zodiark1593]

Any particular reason for going Nvidia? You severely limit yourself here.

 

[96Firebird]

If you want to buy new - nothing.

Your current card is about on par with a 7850, which is a bit faster than a 750 Ti. The 750 Ti is selling for a little over $100 anyways. The 950 would be a better option, but even further over your budget.

 

[happy medium]

A gtx750ti is your best choice and much faster. I think a gtx750 is also faster.

I think a 6790 = a 7770 ,I could be wrong.
A gtx750ti is much faster than a 7770 according to anandtech bench.

.

 

[jimbob200521]

Any particular reason for going Nvidia? You severely limit yourself here.

I've always been an nVidia guy but came into my current card through chance. I suppose I'd consider an AMD/ATI card if it fit the bill.

If you want to buy new - nothing.

Your current card is about on par with a 7850, which is a bit faster than a 750 Ti. The 750 Ti is selling for a little over $100 anyways. The 950 would be a better option, but even further over your budget.

My current cards cooler is craping out, the fans are starting to make some odd noise. I guess if it isn't that bad I could look into an aftermarket cooler, if there are even any out there. Not sure, haven't looked.

 

[jimbob200521]

A gtx750ti is your best choice and much faster. I think a gtx750 is also faster.

I'd like to snag a 750TI but I don't really want to spend that much right now, especially since I don't stress it all that often. Unfortunately I game mostly on my Xbox One :-/

 

[Silverforce11]

There's nothing NV sells at $100 that's worthwhile "upgrade" for you, it will be downgrades in performance.

This is how it looks at 1080p:

Note the 750Ti is just so gimped you can forget about that.

Power usage, IIRC the 6970 (your card right?) used ~150W in gaming.

Compare your options here:

 

[jimbob200521]

There's nothing NV sells at $100 that's worthwhile "upgrade" for you, it will be downgrades in performance.

This is how it looks at 1080p:

Note the 750Ti is just so gimped you can forget about that.

Power usage, IIRC the 6970 (your card right?) used ~150W in gaming.

Compare your options here:

Correct sir, HD6790 and she likes her juice which is a primary reason for looking into an upgrade.

 

[Silverforce11]

Correct sir, HD6790 and she likes her juice which is a primary reason for looking into an upgrade.

HD 6970 liked the juice... 6790 was it even a thing? heh

Still, the 6970 is ~= 7850 which is the 270/370??

Damn all these re-badges I lost track of what is on the low-end!!

But forget the 750ti, its performance is way below par.

Options: NV 950, AMD 370 or 370X.

 

[happy medium]

Gtx 750ti overclocked for 99$ shipped after rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4487024&cm_re=gtx750ti-_-14-487-024-_-Product

Its just fine for your light gaming needs and uses only 70watts.

Mabe a used gtx660 or 660ti?

 

[Zodiark1593]

HD 6970 liked the juice... 6790 was it even a thing? heh

Still, the 6970 is ~= 7850 which is the 270/370??

Damn all these re-badges I lost track of what is on the low-end!!

But forget the 750ti, its performance is way below par.

Options: NV 950, AMD 370 or 370X.

The Radeon 6790 is a real thing, I believe it is a further cut-back 6850.

 

[Silverforce11]

This just makes it clear how awful the low-end has been for a long time now. Expensive for what is essentially gimped performance.

 

[jimbob200521]

The Radeon 6790 is a real thing, I believe it is a further cut-back 6850.

Yep, real thing.

 

[96Firebird]

My mistake, I thought you had a 6970... The 750 Ti would be an upgrade to your 6790, if you can find one under $100.

 

[crisium]

Even a GTX 750 (without the Ti) should outperform the 6790 while, of course, using far less power. Although right now I think the 750 Ti costs the same, actually, so go that route.

You said you wanted modern, so keep in mind the GTX 750 and 750 Ti are Maxwell V1 which will not have all the features of a newer card like the GTX 950. It won't have the same DX12 support and it doesn't have H.265. It also doesn't have HDMI 2.0 so you'd have to use Displayport if you want 2160p 60Hz. There could be more missing features as well since I'm not fluent in Maxwell. A GTX 950 will be over your budget though.

 

[jimbob200521]

Even a GTX 750 (without the Ti) should outperform the 6790 while, of course, using far less power. Although right now I think the 750 Ti costs the same, actually, so go that route.

You said you wanted modern, so keep in mind the GTX 750 and 750 Ti are Maxwell V1 which will not have all the features of a newer card like the GTX 950. It won't have the same DX12 support and it doesn't have H.265. It also doesn't have HDMI 2.0 so you'd have to use Displayport if you want 2160p 60Hz. There could be more missing features as well since I'm not fluent in Maxwell. A GTX 950 will be over your budget though.

Not concerned about 2160p, as long as I can support 2 displays I'll be happy. HDMI 2.0 isn't needed, either. I'm mostly going for lower power consumption and to get rid of this noisy thing.

 

[SPBHM]

750 ti is a good upgrade from a 6790, double the vram and a much faster GPU (a lot faster on newer games, a 750 TI beats anything VLIW4/5 on some newer games easily, and the 6790 is far from best of the VLIW Radeons), also lower power draw and around the price you want.

6790 was at best a little bit better than a 550 ti when new... it had 16ROPs and 800SPs like a 5770.

 

[b-mac]

Have you considered a used 760 or 7950? Ive seen used ones sell for right around $100 and would be a big upgrade.

 

[cyclohexane]

I don't get the reasoning for the op.

Why upgrade? You don't game or game very little, and the upgrade you are looking for is going to give you a minimal boost in performance, and maybe reduce power draw.

No way are you going to save more than $100 in reduced power usage, so why even upgrade?

 

[XiandreX]

I don't get the reasoning for the op.

Why upgrade? You don't game or game very little, and the upgrade you are looking for is going to give you a minimal boost in performance, and maybe reduce power draw.

No way are you going to save more than $100 in reduced power usage, so why even upgrade?

He mentioned that his fans are starting to make noise (about to die).
I suppose if he could find a replacement cooler it would save him money.

 

[Charlie98]

Have you considered a used 760 or 7950? Ive seen used ones sell for right around $100 and would be a big upgrade.

I agree... at the OP's price point, used is the better choice. Actually, a used 760 wouldn't be too bad, and not such a waste like a new 750Ti or 950 would be.

 

[kommisar]

I've always been an nVidia guy but came into my current card through chance. I suppose I'd consider an AMD/ATI card if it fit the bill.



My current cards cooler is craping out, the fans are starting to make some odd noise. I guess if it isn't that bad I could look into an aftermarket cooler, if there are even any out there. Not sure, haven't looked.

Oil the fans and keep using your current card. Save the money for a bigger upgrade later, say a gtx 970 or r9 280x

 

[skipsneeky2]

Get yourself a used 660/760.Stretch it maybe to $130 or so and pick up a 7970.The 7970 would be a huge upgrade for not much more.

 

[moonbogg]

I vote for the used GTX 760. Also, GTX 670 is the same card and a few people around here have been letting those go for damn near FREE.

 

[Termie]

Buy this GTX 750 Ti and call it a day:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487024&cm_re=750_ti-_-14-487-024-_-Product

Gigantic upgrade from your current card, on the order or 2x faster despite using half the power.

The 760 is not necessary for his purposes, and he probably doesn't want to buy used.