worthwhile upgrade for $100

[kef7]

I'm looking for advice on what video card to upgrade for $100 or less.

Currently running a 4870 512mb, Q6600 on a 1680X1050 display.

This rig choked trying to play RAGE; newer games I'd like to play include Dishonored and Bioshock Infinite.

 

[24601]

Assuming a 3.3ghz overclock.

GTX 460 maximum if you are playing single or double threaded games, GTX 570 maximum if you are playing games that efficiently utilize 4 cores.

I know the GTX 570 is out of your budget, just saying the highest useful card your CPU would pair up with.

If your CPU is stock, I wouldn't go with anything higher than GTX 460.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/859?vs=777

 

[tviceman]

A gtx460 1gb or gtx 560 / gtx560 ti. You can get used gtx460's and gtx560's on this forum for less than $100.

 

[Stuka87]

You should be able to find an HD7790 for that price.

Here is one for $114 AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202029

Thats $14 more than your budget, but its a good card.

Uses a low less power than a 460, is faster in just about every single way, and is brand new, supporting all current features.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/776?vs=859

 

[24601]

You should be able to find an HD7790 for that price.

Here is one for $114 AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202029

Thats $14 more than your budget, but its a good card.

Uses a low less power than a 460, is faster in just about every single way, and is brand new, supporting all current features.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/776?vs=859

GCN is also far more CPU bottlenecked than Fermi.

There's a reason why I didn't recommend a GCN or Kepler card.

 

[Yuriman]

I recently snatched up an HD7850 for $135 to put in my wife's OC'd Q6600 rig. I'd say that's the upper limit of a card I'd pair with that CPU. In some games you'll see a vast improvement, and in others you're probably already CPU limited with what you have (ie Guild Wars 2).

For $100, look for a 7790.

 

[kef7]

Found a 4870x2 for $60 locally; what are your opinions on older tech such as this?

I'm really trying to stay below $100......

 

[DooKey]

Keep an eye out for a 7770 in the FS/FT forum. They routinely sell for under $100.

 

[lavaheadache]

Rage isn't graphically demanding, I doubt the 4870 was the root of your problems, maybe if you were trying to push AA or something. With that said, a 4870X2 is a decent card at $60 (for a collector) but I wouldn't recommend one. There are far better choices that will provide a superior overall experience at a similar price point.

Cards that will do the trick for you and not break the bank

560
470
7770
6870
460 1gb's but I don't think they are substainally faster than what you have
5870 should be attainable for $100


I only recommend dual cards and such when there isn't a single gpu solution available that has the power you need.

 

[lehtv]

Keep an eye out for a 7770 in the FS/FT forum. They routinely sell for under $100.

They routinely sell for under $100 brand new. If buying used I'd probably shoot for a 6870 or 560 ti

 

[FalseChristian]

You should be able to grab 2 GTX 460 1GB SLI for $100. This is what I'll be selling my 2 eVGA gTX 460 1GB for when I finish paying off the 2 GTX 760 2GB I've got on layaway.

 

[Kenmitch]

Tigerdirect has a 7790 for $119.99 shipped before rebate. Includes Bioshock, Tomb Raider, and Fc3 Blood Dragon bundle....The games are worth upping your budget $20.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...677&CatId=7387

 

[Yuriman]

Found a 4870x2 for $60 locally; what are your opinions on older tech such as this?

I'm really trying to stay below $100......

4870x2 is somewhere between a 7790 and a 7850 in performance, on average. Crossfire has some disadvantages though, such as only working when fullscreen and not scaling in some titles (though you'll find most do work, and well). $60 is a bargain for the performance, but you don't have DX11, and it will run loud, hot, and draw a lot of power. You can't really Crossfire it with your current 4870 for TriFire as your current card is only 512MB - it would hurt more than it helps.

At $100, the 7790 is your best bet for a new card. A GTX460 isn't bad but at the same price I'd take a 7790 over it - spring for it if you can find one under $75.

Can you raise your budget a bit if you take into account selling your 4870? It's still worth $40-50. That would put you solidly into HD7850 territory, which currently holds the crown for priceerformance.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Found a 4870x2 for $60 locally; what are your opinions on older tech such as this?

I'm really trying to stay below $100......

That's... interesting. I believe the 4870X2 only came in 2GB (1GBx2) variety, so if your slowdowns are caused by memory limitations that'll solve that. The problem is that if the games you're playing don't have good crossfire scaling, you've basically just paid $60 for a 4870. (Although you can probably get $50 for your 4870.) It's also going to be hot and loud.

But you're probably not going to find anything better than that for that far under your budget. 4870/5770 performance currently is in the $50 range, with cards marginally faster (GTX 460/6850) going for more like $70-$100.

But that 7790 above is really good. It costs twice as much, but no crossfire headaches and three free games.

 

[toyota]

um is the cpu overclocked or not? if not then it badly needs to be or pretty much any gpu upgrade will be a massively underutilized. a stock Q6600 would be like me running my 2500K at 1.6-1.8.

 

[DominionSeraph]

um is the cpu overclocked or not? if not then it badly needs to be or pretty much any gpu upgrade will be a massively underutilized. a stock Q6600 would be like me running my 2500K at 1.6-1.8.

More like 2.0, and in games closer to 2.2.

 

[toyota]

More like 2.0, and in games closer to 2.2.

you are very very wrong if you think a Q6600 at 2.4 equals a 2500k at 2.2. it is around 1.6-1.8 like I said. a 2500k is at least 35-40% faster clock for clock than the Q6600.

 

[DominionSeraph]

you are very very wrong if you think a Q6600 at 2.4 equals a 2500k at 2.2. it is around 1.6-1.8 like I said. a 2500k is at least 35-40% faster clock for clock than the Q6600.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/288?vs=48

 

[toyota]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/288?vs=48

and?

I said the 2500k was at least 35-40% faster clock for clock and it its. look up cpu mark and they show it being over 50% faster clock for clock. so again a Q6600 is technically about the same as a 2500k at 1.6-1.8.

 

[DominionSeraph]

and?

Sure looks like 50% faster clock for clock to me.

 

[toyota]

Sure looks like 50% faster clock for clock to me.

its that a Q6600? AGAIN its a FACT that the 2500k technically is at least 35-40% faster clock for clock than a Q6600. just because they did not use a game where that cpu speed advantage would be shown or a gpu fast enough to show it does not change that.

 

[Leyawiin]

What do you guys think of this for $10 over the O.P.'s price limit?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...irtualParent=1

Passmark shows it at about the same score as an HD 6850 and better than an HD 7770.

http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

Would think it should be pretty good match for his CPU and resolution.

 

[DominionSeraph]

its that a Q6600? AGAIN its a FACT that the 2500k technically is at least 35-40% faster clock for clock than a Q6600.

>Technically

I don't think you know what that word means.

 

[Yuriman]

If OP has a Microcenter nearby, he should get this:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.aspx?sku=498634

 

[Will Robinson]

Well kef I wouldn't go backwards and get a 4870x2, they are old tech and not worth the hassle of dealing with 2GPUs.
The 7790 linked above would be great for your requirements.:thumbsup: